Meet Allison Green

We recently connected with Allison Green and have shared our conversation below.

Allison, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

As both a woman and an artist, I’ve learned to harness resilience by transforming life’s challenges into growth opportunities rather than allowing them to break me. Resilience is fundamental to creating art; each piece is a journey through difficulty and discovery. Every painting I create goes through a phase of frustration, yet perseverance always leads to something unexpected and beautiful. My art is my therapy—a way to “paint through” hope and loss. Beneath the bright and vibrant imagery lies a deeper, personal narrative, waiting to be uncovered by those who truly look.

In my personal life, I’ve faced profound hardships that have ultimately led to incredible blessings. After years of struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss, I found my miracle through the adoption of my daughter, Malia, who came into my life at my lowest point. Her presence reminds me daily of the power of resilience. Now, navigating the pain of a divorce and the scars of domestic and economic abuse, I draw strength from her and from the creative process. Just as in painting, where beauty emerges from chaos, I find that embracing the present moment and dancing through the storm is the path to healing and transformation.

“A mandala is a symbol of the universe in its ideal form, and its creation signifies the transformation of a universe of suffering into one of joy.” This definition, taken from the Asia Society’s website, deeply resonates with my journey. My latest series, inspired by ancient mandalas, is a testament to resilience—an artistic manifestation of healing and renewal. Initially born from personal necessity and made possible by an emergency grant from the Gottlieb Foundation, this series began as an act of self-restoration but has evolved into something much greater. Just as mandalas emerge from intricate layers of intention and devotion, so too has this body of work become a reflection of transformation—proof that beauty can rise from struggle. In my studio, I continue to shape this series, channeling hope and loss into creation. This is where I get my resilience from.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a full-time artist and a self-proclaimed plant-obsessed oil painter! Nature has always been my greatest muse, and the exquisite world of plants serves as the heart of my work. From their diverse and intricate forms to their fascinating and resilient life cycles, my oil paintings celebrate plant life and their pollinators in a larger-than-life, surreal, and anthropomorphic style.

In my studio, I cultivate a lush garden that brims with inspiration. Many of the subjects in my paintings grow wildly around me—an amaryllis that bloomed after years of dormancy, abundant palms, delicate orchids, and narcissus bulbs flourishing in a glass vase. Tending to these specimens is my ritual when I’m not at the easel, connecting my creative process to the living world which inspires it.

I studied painting at the University of Maryland and participated in a study abroad program at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy. After college, for eight years, I worked as an elementary and middle school art teacher in public schools. In 2008, I made the life-changing decision to leave teaching and pursue a full-time career as an artist. My first solo exhibition, Deeply Rooted, debuted in 2011 at Susan Eley Fine Art (SEFA) in New York City, where it was met with an enthusiastic response. Over a decade later, I continue to be represented by SEFA (www.SusanEleyFineArt.com ) where I have had 5 solo exhibitions to date.

My art has most recently been featured in notable group exhibitions including Peaceable Kingdom at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Treasure Gallery, Botanica at Galerie Lucida in Red Bank, NJ, and Shomrei Adamah: Keep the Land That I Gave You at Gallery TSTI in West Orange, NJ.

I’m thrilled to introduce a project close to my heart: a new line of limited and open edition giclée prints featuring my artwork. While my original paintings continue to be available through Susan Eley Fine Art, this collection offers a more accessible way for collectors to bring my work into their homes directly from my studio. Visitors often tell me, “I wish I could afford one of your paintings,” and I’m delighted to now offer a high-quality print option that makes my art more attainable for a wider audience.

This print shop is a special collaboration with my sister and best friend, illustrator Andi Green. A seasoned graphic designer and creator of the award-winning children’s book series The Worry Woos, Andi has been a constant supporter of my artistic journey. She has designed the exhibition catalogs for four of my solo shows and often assists with photographing my work. When I decided to launch this print line, I knew right away that I wanted to partner with Andi—her meticulous design skills and technical expertise made it a perfect fit.

To explore the new collection, visit my website https://allisongreen.net/print-shop or check out my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllisonGreenStudios

Original paintings can be purchased through Susan Eley Fine Art (www.susaneleyfineart.com ) . To purchase a painting or a giclée print, you can always email me directly at allison@allisongreen.net , and visit my website at www.AllisonGreen.net.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three key qualities have been most impactful in my journey—resilience, interpersonal skills, and acceptance. These qualities have shaped not only my career as an artist but also my personal growth as a woman and human navigating life’s unpredictable path.

I’ve spoken about resilience earlier in this interview, but it’s worth emphasizing again—resilience is the foundation of any fulfilling journey. Whether in art or life, challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt are inevitable. I’ve learned that failure is not the opposite of success but an essential part of it. Every rejection, every piece that didn’t turn out as expected, every personal hardship—each of these has been a lesson in perseverance. As an artist, resilience has allowed me to push forward even when the road felt uncertain, and as a woman, it has given me the strength to trust my own voice, even in spaces where it wasn’t always easy to be heard.

Interpersonal skills have also been invaluable. Life, much like art, is not meant to be created in isolation. While self-advocacy can be difficult—especially for women who have been conditioned to downplay their own needs—learning to speak up, build meaningful connections, and surround myself with a supportive community has been transformative. Some of the most pivotal moments in both my career and personal life have come from relationships I’ve nurtured. I encourage anyone, regardless of their path, to reach out to those they admire, build bridges, and create a network that uplifts, supports and inspires.

And then there’s acceptance—learning to embrace the present moment and trust the process. Sometimes, in both our careers and personal lives, things don’t unfold on the timeline we expect. There have been times when I felt impatient, like I wasn’t “where I should be”—but I’ve come to understand that surrendering to the present is a powerful act. The ability to sit with uncertainty, to embrace where we are instead of constantly longing for where we think we should be, is one of the greatest skills we can cultivate.

If you develop resilience, connection, and presence, you’ll have the foundation for a fulfilling journey—both professionally and personally. Whether you’re an artist, a dreamer, or simply someone trying to navigate the complexities of life, these qualities will carry you forward, no matter where you’re headed.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always eager to collaborate with fellow arts industry professionals. Right now, I’m especially excited to promote my new giclée print line and would love to connect with interior design studios, print industry professionals, and influencers interested in partnering on artist collaborations or the release and promotion of high-quality prints of my work.

My original paintings are represented by Susan Eley Fine Art in New York City/ Hudson. Art collectors interested in purchasing a print or an original painting can reach out to me at Allison@allisongreen.net or visit my website at www.AllisonGreen.net.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Photo by Megan Maloy

4th additional image/ Studio Portrait: Photo by Enga Purevjav

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