Allen Gallery is pleased to present Merrill Steiger, “From Above,” The gallery’s first solo show for this artist. This is an exhibition of large scale paintings of abstract aerial views. The work is based on areas of New York and experiences of the traveling the globe. The artist creates the work in such a clever way that the viewer may infer any particular location. Through the work the artist fuses the energy of her experience traveling and the calmness of nature. The exhibition will be on display Wednesday, January 7th through Saturday, February 7th.

Merrill Steiger is a graduate of Lehman College and has most recently received in 2008 the Jack T. Stewart Memorial Award, Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Awards, both part of the New York Artist Equity Association (NYAEA).

The following paragraphs are the artist statement for this solo exhibition. “From Above” is a selection of paintings that are a part of a series, “Unseen Universes.” These paintings have a mapping quality or sensation, which implies an overhead bird’s eye view of the world. This suggestion of satellite surveillance cameras hovering over the planet creates politically charged images. These images are thematically organized to conjure up vistas which incorporate urbanized and rural living and motility and are meant to involve the parameters of both wonder and exploration.

Aerial Landscapes are used in order to create varying perspectives that the naked eye never gets to see. This is a way to connect the energy from the universe with nature. I am very interested in capturing the energy that exists in all of nature, in the universe and that is in and around us permeating all living things.