Rosa Allison (b. 1993, Ōtautahi Christchurch) is a Te Whanganui-a-Tara based artist and a gardener by day. She studied at Ilam School of Fine Arts in Christchurch and later at the Royal College of Art in London. Allison grafts her gardening and painting practices through her budding interest in learning more about the various ways in which lunar phases impact both women’s menstrual cycles as well as planting and harvesting. She has created a witch’s garden in a local community garden, planting healing, poisonous, and magical plants from which she draws creativity and insight.
Education
2018: Masters in Painting, Royal College of Art, London
2015: Bachelors of Fine Art, University of Canterbury
Selected Exhibitions & Awards
2024: The Secret Life of Plants, Melanie Roger Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa
2024: Howling, drive-thru, Pōneke Wellington, Aotearoa
2024: BUNCH, Page Galleries, Pōneke Wellington, Aotearoa
2023: The Witches Herbarium, Chamber Gallery, Rangiora, Aotearoa
2022: Journey to Kilbirnie, Toi Pōneke Gallery, Pōneke Wellington, Aotearoa
2019: Bridge the Channel, Rye Lane, London
2019: Shortlisted, Beers prize
2018: Layover, Versus Art Project, Istanbul
2018: Royal College of Art Degree Show, London
2018: Rosa Allison - Painting at the Pelican, Peckham Pelican, London
2017: Whip, Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art, London
2017: Work in Progress show, Royal College of Art, London
2016: Exercises in Control and Chaos, HANGAR, Lisbon
2015: Expeditionary Force, Suite Gallery, Wellington
2014: Amazon Painters, ‘Birds of a Feather’, Chambers241 Gallery
2014: Paperworks, First Thursdays Gallery
2014: Dirty Laundry, First Thursdays Pop-Up Exhibition