
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Rockshop, 2020
Marquetry hybrid
68 x 51 in
172.7 x 129.5 cm
(JCG11857)
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Some Velvet Morning
2019
marquetry hybrid
40 x 30 in.
101.6 x 76.2 cm
JCG11205
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Occam's Razor
2017
marquetry hybrid
75 x 53 in.
190.5 x 134.6 cm
JCG9423
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
GSENM: Slot Canyon #1
2018
Marquetry hybrid
69 x 59 in.
175.3 x 149.9 cm
JCG10045
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
GSENM: Hoodoo #1
2018
Marquetry hybrid
35 x 28 in.
88.9 x 71.1 cm
JCG10043
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Not Pretzel Arch
2018
Marquetry hybrid
21 x 18 in.
53.3 x 45.7 cm
JCG10046
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Fire Wave
2018
Marquetry hybrid
48 x 78 in.
121.9 x 198.1 cm
JCG9741
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reclamation
2013 - 2017
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic
Wall C (5 panels) forest wall- 24 ft x 7ft
Wall B (3 panels) interior wall-12 ft,10in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall A (3 panels) interior wall-12ft 5in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Installation for Cornell Discovery Center on Roosevelt Island, NY
VR photo: Sam Rohn
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reclamation
2013 - 2017
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic
Wall C (5 panels) forest wall- 24 ft x 7ft
Wall B (3 panels) interior wall-12 ft,10in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall A (3 panels) interior wall-12ft 5in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Installation for Cornell Discovery Center on Roosevelt Island, NY
photo: Maris Hutchinson
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reclamation
2013 - 2017
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic
Wall C (5 panels) forest wall- 24 ft x 7ft
Wall B (3 panels) interior wall-12 ft,10in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall A (3 panels) interior wall-12ft 5in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Installation for Cornell Discovery Center on Roosevelt Island, NY
photo: Maris Hutchinson
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reclamation
2013 - 2017
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic
above: Wall A (3 panels) interior wall-12ft 5in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall B (3 panels) interior wall-12 ft,10in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall C (5 panels) forest wall- 24 ft x 7ft
Installation for Cornell Discovery Center on Roosevelt Island, NY
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reclamation
2013 - 2017
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic
Wall A (3 panels) interior wall-12ft 5in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
above: Wall B (3 panels) interior wall-12 ft,10in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall C (5 panels) forest wall- 24 ft x 7ft
Installation for Cornell Discovery Center on Roosevelt Island, NY
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reclamation
2013 - 2017
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic
Wall A (3 panels) interior wall-12ft 5in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
Wall B (3 panels) interior wall-12 ft,10in. wide by 9ft 2in. high
above: Wall C (5 panels) forest wall- 24 ft x 7ft
Installation for Cornell Discovery Center on Roosevelt Island, NY
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Your Eyes Are Open but You Don’t
See Very Far
2017
Marquetry hybrid
72 x 49 inches
182.9 x 124.5 cm
JCG9426
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Sum of It
2017
Wood veneer, acrylic, shellac
72 x 52 inches
182.9 x 132.1 cm
JCG9425
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Forgive me, Mr. Eakins
2017
Wood veneer, acrylic, shellac
60 x 69 inches
152.4 x 175.3 cm
JCG9422
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Desert Inn
2017
Marquetry hybrid
45 x 65 inches
114.3 x 165.1 cm
JCG9421
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Solutionism: Plan B
2017
Marquetry hybrid
21 x 18 inches
53.3 x 45.7 cm
JCG9428
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Reitscape
2017
Wood veneer, acrylic, archival inkjet
on museum board
15 x 18 inches
38.1 x 45.7 cm
JCG9420
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Sam's Town
2016
Marquetry hybrid
47 x 59 in.
119.4 x 149.9 cm
JCG8658
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Cosmopolitan
2016
Marquetry hybrid
59 x 46 in.
149.9 x 116.8 cm
JCG8659
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Gold Spike Afternoon
2015
Wood and acrylic painted paper marquetry on mat board
33 x 27 in.
83.8 x 68.6 cm
JCG8324
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Lookers
2015
Marquetry hybrid on panel
58 x 46 in.
147.3 x 116.8 cm
JCG7317
Exhibition view at Chateau de Nyon
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
No Side to Fall In
2015
Wood veneer, shellac, oil paint
79 x 59 in.
200.7 x 149.9 cm
JCG7714
Exhibition view at Chateau Nyon
Exhibition view at Chateau de Nyon
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
South 7th
2014
Wood veneer, shellac on panel
47 x 47 in.
119.4 x 119.4 cm
JCG7509
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Kitchen
2014
Wood veneer, oil, acrylic, shellac
92 x 116 in.
233.7 x 294.6 cm
JCG7180
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Midnight Cowboy
2014
Wood veneer, shellac
50 x 48 in.
127 x 121.9 cm
JCG7007
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
El Jamon
2014
Wood veneer, shellac, acrylic, oil paint
58 1/2 x 76 in.
148.6 x 193 cm
JCG6998
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Kelso
2013
Wood veneer, shellac and acrylic on panel
50 x 47 x 1 1/4 in.
127 x 119.4 x 3.2 cm
JCG6509
Exhibition view at Chateau Nyon
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Optimist's Ennui
2013
Wood veneer, shellac and acrylic on panel
62 1/2 x 46 1/2 in.
158.75 x 118.11 cm
JCG6701
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Silver Fox
2013
Wood veneer and shellac on panel
53 x 51 in.
134.62 x 129.54 cm
JCG6702
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Van Cortlandt
2013
Wood veneer, shellac and oil on panel
55 1/2 x 42 in.
141 x 106.7 cm
JCG6638
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Laocoön
2013
Wood veneer, shellac and oil on panel
58 x 76 in.
147.32 x 193.04 cm
JCG6700
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Transparent Eye
2013
Wood veneer, shellac and oil on panel
53 1/2 x 40 in.
135.9 x 101.6 cm
JCG6637
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Brooklyn Navy Yard
2013
Wood veneer, shellac and oil on panel
36 x 30 x 3/4 in.
91.4 x 76.2 x 1.9 cm
JCG6510
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Sebastian
2012
Wood veneer, oil paint, shellac
41 1/4 x 31 1/8 in.
104.8 x 79.1 cm
JCG6423
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Into the Wild
2012
Wood veneer, oil paint, shellac
52 1/2 x 38 1/2 in.
133.4 x 97.8 cm
JCG6179
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Multiple Shots with Knife Slashes
2010
Wood veneer, oil paint, shellac
54 x 41 in.
137.2 x 104.1 cm
JCG4885
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Shotgun Hole with Additional Vandalism
2009-10
Wood veneer, oil paint, shellac
55 1/2 x 38 1/2 in.
141 x 97.8 cm
JCG4601
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Security House
2008-10
Wood veneer, shellac
93 x 122 in.
236.2 x 309.9 cm
JCG4594
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Squatter Doorway
2009
Wood veneer, shellac
53 x 46 1/2 in.
134.6 x 118.1 cm
JCG4492
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Wires Ripped
2009-10
Wood veneer, shellac
61 x 29 in.
154.9 x 73.7 cm
JCG4584
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Breeder
2009-10
Wood veneer, shellac
56 x 45 in.
142.2 x 114.3 cm
JCG4583
Exhibition view at Chateau de Nyon
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Paradise Gates
2009
Wood veneer, shellac
47 x 70 in.
119.4 x 177.8 cm
JCG4246
Exhibition view at Chateau Nyon
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Bombay Beach
2008
Wood veneer, pyrography, shellac
96 x 58 in.
243.8 x 147.3 cm
JCG3914
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Folie a Deux
2008
Wood veneer, pyrography, shellac
35 x 32 in.
88.9 x 81.3 cm
JCG4258
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Hank
2007
Marquetry, shellac
57 x 73 in.
144.8 x 185.4 cm
JCG4283
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Fucminster Buller
2008
Wood veneer, laquer
71 3/4 x 95 in.
182.2 x 241.3 cm
JCG3700
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Room
2007-08
Wood veneer, pyrography, shellac
96 x 120 x 96 in.
243.8 x 304.8 x 243.8 cm
JCG3763
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Room
2007-08
Wood veneer, pyrography, shellac
96 x 120 x 96 in.
243.8 x 304.8 x 243.8 cm
JCG3763
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Room
2007-08
Wood veneer, pyrography, shellac
96 x 120 x 96 in.
243.8 x 304.8 x 243.8 cm
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Wonder Valley
2007-8
Wood veneer, shellac
47 x 70 in.
119.4 x 177.8 cm
JCG3758
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Chainlink
2008
Wood veneer, shellac
34 x 46 in.
36.4 x 116.4 cm
JCG3759
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Era of Argus
2007
Exhibiton view at North Carolina Museum off Art
47 x 70 in.
119.4 x 177.8 cm
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Era of Argus
2007
Wood veneer, pyrography, shellac
47 x 70 in.
119.4 x 177.8 cm
JCG3347
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Slab City
2007
Marquetry, shellac
47 X 77 in.
119.4 x 195.6 cm
JCG3190
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Swimming Pool
2006
Wood inlay, shellac
70 x 48 in.
177.8 x 121.9 cm
JCG2901
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
The Good War
2006
Wood inlay, shellac
60 x 46 in.
152.4 x 116.8 cm
JCG2993
ALISON ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Morning After Pabco
2006
Wood inlay, shellac
41 x 72 in.
104.1 x 182.9 cm
JCG2897
Photograh by Vincent Dilio
Alison Elizabeth Taylor, is an artist known for transforming the historic technique of marquetry or wood inlay into a new form, marquetry hybrid—a novel synthesis of media and process that incorporates inlaid wood, painting, and collaged textures to create a new perspective on painting. Taylor casts a critical and compassionate eye across the breadth of contemporary American experience in works that depict the changing Southwestern landscape and the rural survivalists, hedonists, squatters, and economic misfits of late American capitalism who inhabit it. Taylor pays respect to the innate humanity of her subjects through her choice of this extraordinarily demanding medium. A native Nevadan who grew up through boom and bust cycles in Las Vegas, Taylor derives her tableaux from direct observation. There is a volatile tension between the surface and the subject; as she explains, “The natural beauty inherent in finished wood draws attention to themes more subtle or complex. The splendor of the shellacked wood is an invitation to look at subjects the viewer might otherwise ignore.”
In September 2017, Alison Elizabeth Taylor’s Reclamation, a room-sized permanent installation, opened at the Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Center at the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, NYC. Reclamation is an architectural space on the verge of giving way to the forest. Taylor writes, “Nature never pauses in its race to reclaim, and innovation is the human response against this flow towards entropy. The continual churn of the cycle between nature and human endeavor stands at the core of this work.”
Raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Alison Elizabeth Taylor received her M.F.A. from Columbia University, Graduate School of the Arts in 2005. Selected solo exhibitions include: The Needle’s Eye, Zidoun & Bossuyt, Luxembourg (2019), The Backwards Forwards, James Cohan Gallery (2017); Musée Historique, Chateau de Nyon, Switzerland (2015); Surface Tension, James Cohan Gallery (2013); Un/Inhabited at SCAD, Savannah and Atlanta, GA (2010); Foreclosed, James Cohan Gallery (2010); Alison Elizabeth Taylor, James Cohan Gallery (2008); Idyll, James Cohan Gallery (2006). Important group shows include: Personal Space, Crystal Bridges Museum of America Art, Bentonville, AR (2018); Makeshift, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, WI (2018) curated by Michelle Grabner; I See Myself in You: Selections from the Collection, Brooklyn Museum of Art (2016); Crafted: Objects in Flux, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (2015); First International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena, Colombia (2014); Branching Out: Trees as Art, Peabody Essex Museum, MA, (2014); BEYOND EARTH ART: Contemporary Artists and the Environment, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, NY (2014); Unfolding Tales: Selection from the Collection, Brooklyn Museum of Art (2013); Surface Value, Des Moines Art Center, IA (2011); 185th Annual: An Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary American Art, National Academy Museum, NY (2010). In 2009, Taylor received a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and the Smithsonian's Artist Research Fellowship Program Award. Selected permanent collections include: Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA; Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, AZ; Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY; Crystal Bridges Museum of America Art, Bentonville, AR; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA; Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH; Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL; and The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH. Taylor lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn, New York