Brianna M. Allen
Brianna currently resides in Lincolnville, Maine.
She is creating a body of work that is inspired by the women in American history who impacted history by simply existing within the pens of sexism. Illuminating these women, she aims to draw parallels to how we still value women today.
She is pioneering to produce midcoast Maine's first locally grown burlesque show, Summer of 2016.
You can also find her baking, quite often, and on hikes
with Rob and Boone Dog.
Statement and Bio
As a multidisciplinary artist I aim to expand the space of a mother's authentic experience to make way for healing, empathy, and one's own regeneration.
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Representation by mothers in contemporary art has been deficient. Patriarchal society has shifted the neutral position to male, making motherhood unimportant to explore because it seemingly excludes men. When mothers have sanctified platforms to connect through mutual experiences, a rich, cathartic playground of trust emerges among us. Less alone, life is renewed.
My paintings have a raw, palpable schmear, using edges, gesture and linework to address themes of suppression and introspection. Installation work depicts weight and expectations, sheer strength and basic humility of mothering. My performance work is playfully navigates the ironic intersection of motherhood and patriotism today. All of my art practice has been deeply informed by The Momologue Collective; an ongoing social art project which offers a platform and archive for hundreds of short stories (momologues) contributed by American mothers, to be shared anonymously on social media with an aim to build community for mothers through storytelling.
Motherhood has informed my art practice, with agitation and vigor. My work cherishes the place I'm in now; in whatever shape that is. How do I pivot? What do I loose? How do I grow? How is this embodied in myself? My practice constructs an emerging Mother archetype within us all, with insurgence, validation and care.
I graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Studio Art and Entrepreneurial Studies with a concentration in Painting in 2008. I was born in Lewiston, Maine. Homer, Alaska has been her home since 2012. I have two daughters who are 5 and 7. Our best days are filled with baking, cold dipping, potion making, gardening, and tea time.
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CV
Theater, Performance
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​2025 "The Creative Pursuit of Bodily Autonomy", producer and performer, Homer, AK
2025 MOMologues staged reading, Cyrano's Theater, playwright, Anchorage, AK
2024 Mother’s Day Rage + Dip, public engagement, Homer, AK
2024 “Built to Push”, performance and public engagement, San Fransisco, CA
2024 Vagina Monologues, performer, Homer, AK
2023 MOMologues, staged reading, directed by Seward’s Follies, Fairbanks, AK
2022 MOMologues, performance, directed by Pier One Theater, Homer, AK
2021 "Momologue Shorts", directed by Pier One Theater, Homer, AK
2021 Write Your Own Momologue Workshop facilitation, Pier One Theatre, AK
2018 "Cabin Fever", Performance, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer, AK
2014 "Catch & Release", Producer, performer, Bait & Tassels Burlesque, Homer, AK
2013 "Pandora’s Box", Producer, Performer, Bait & Tassels Burlesque, Homer, AK
2013 "Bottoms Up!", Producer, Performer, Bait & Tassels Burlesque, Homer, AK
2012 "Burly Q Review", Creator, Performer, Bait & Tassels Burlesque, Homer, AK
Exhibits
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2023 MOTHER, Group Exhibit, The Bear Gallery, Fairbanks, Alaska
2022 MOTHER, Group Exhibit, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer, Alaska
2019 10 x 10 Member’s Exhibit, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer, Alaska
2017 10 x 10 Member’s Exhibit, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer, Alaska
2014 Northern Latitudes, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Alaska
2012 Nighttime Wardens & Vigilantes, Alaska Pacific University, Alaska
2011 Nighttime Wardens & Vigilantes, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Alaska
2009 Alaska Portraits, Local 188 Gallery, Maine
2008 Footnotes, MidNight Sun Gallery, Anchorage, Alaska
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Publications, Grants, Awards
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2022 Artist of the Year, awarded by Homer Council of the Arts
2022 The Momologue Collective: An Anthology by Self-Identifying Mothers, Published by Brianna Allen
2022 Adaptation and Inspiration Project Award by the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts
2009 "From East to West: Bicoastal Verse," Issue Fall 2009, pages 18- 28.
2007 Department of Art Discipline Award for International Studies, The University of Southern Maine.
Education, Work Experience
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​2025 Writing Mother Hood, Off-Assignment Workshop by Rachel Yoder
2016-Current, Marketing and Development Lead, Bunnell Street Arts Center, AK
2015 Maine Media, Visual Storytelling and Adobe Premiere Workshop, ME
2010-2013 Life Drawing Coordinator, AK
2006 National Latvian Academy of Art, Latvia
2004-08 University of Southern Maine, BA in Painting and BA in Art & Entrepreneurial Studies, Maine