Art Biography
Allison Massari’s powerful, intimate, and boldly imagined artwork beckons the viewer - sometimes playfully, sometimes intensely- always with a poignancy that deeply touches the heart. The vulnerability and honesty expressed in her self portraits, the energy and life that flow through her collages, and the unflinching strength and intelligence that can be found in all of her work, show Massari’s commitment to exposing herself in order to find the common thread that connects us as humans.
Primarily a painter, Massari uses “whatever is necessary” to bring her work to life - an interdisciplinary mixture of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and collage. Largely known for her self-portraits and her portrayal of the female figure, Massari offers, “I’ve always been deeply interested in understanding people - and I’m fascinated with the human experience. The self-portrait is the most expeditious pathway for me to reach a vulnerability and an honesty to express myself, and to connect to universal emotions of the human condition.”
After receiving her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, Massari went on to receive an integrated masters degree by combining MFA programs from Parsons School of Design in painting, and the School of Visual Arts in illustration in New York City. Throughout the country, museum exhibitions and private art collectors have embraced Massari’s work. Her collage work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, FL. Her art has earned prestigious honors including awards and exhibits in the Tampa Museum of Art, St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Arts Club Gallery of New York City. She has received two Artist-in-Residence Awards from Anderson Ranch Art Center, and was also named Helena Rubenstein Scholar. Commissioned paintings from numerous corporations include Lockheed Martin, US Airways, AAA Motor Club & General Mills.
In 1998, Massari nearly lost her life in a fiery car accident, which has greatly influenced her life and her work. She views the accident as a tremendous gift, allowing her to find her strength, take charge of her beliefs, and live life by her own rules. She arose from the experience - literally a phoenix from the flames.
The same year of her accident, Massari founded a camp for young teen burn survivors, "The Roger Pepper Adventure Camps" in Crested Butte, CO. Roger Pepper was the brave man who pulled Massari from her car, saving her life and risking his own.
Currently, Massari lives in Novato, California where she is consistently creating artwork and living life with excitement, ferocity, and vigor. Her artwork and her life are a testimony to the opportunities that life gives us, if we are open to receive its gifts.
Personal Biography
Allison Massari is a trusted business coach, personal development expert, international speaker and artist. She has been featured on ABC News, NBC, FOX, and in Family Circle Magazine. Allison specializes in helping people remove blocks to success and to feel passionate in life and work.
Massari’s professional career began with diverse achievements as an entrepreneur. She created four successful businesses over the course of 25 years. It began with a thriving fine arts business and jewelry line, Massari Fine Arts, LLC. She achieved international recognition. Among her accolades were commissions she negotiated for Fortune 500 companies including Lockheed Martin, General Mills and US Airways.
With characteristic vigor, she launched her coaching and speaking career. Within months she was coaching CEO's on how to create success in their businesses, and was preparing to appear in an international documentary focused on overcoming challenges. Within a year and a half, she was invited to give a TEDx talk in Spain on "The Future of Happiness". And within two years she was voted the "#1 Rising Star in Speaking" by the National Speakers Association, and was traveling internationally, speaking and coaching full-time.
Her more serious credentials come from her life experience. Allison Massari found peace, purpose, and happiness after overcoming two extraordinary personal tragedies. In 1998, she survived a 60 mph car crash where she was trapped and burned alive; conscious the entire time. Just three years later she was hit again at 60 mph and sustained a closed-head brain injury.
Allison has always believed in the miraculous. Her fiery determination and the love of family and friends helped bring her to a full recovery years later. She says, “I didn’t want to just heal. I wanted to feel peaceful. I became relentless in my pursuit to find the answers to life and to master it in totality.”
The triumph of her physical and emotional recovery inspired Allison to propel her business to pinnacle achievements. She revived her art business with a 100% increase in sales and was awarded placement in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, FL.
As a sought-after private coach, she specializes in rapidly transforming peoples’ lives and businesses. She is a trusted confidante to CEOs, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and private individuals. She is one of ten people in the world chosen to teach how to successfully overcome challenges in the international documentary film "ReSolve" by Polaris Global (release date soon). The film is hosted by the Head of Special Forces for the U.S. Military in Afghanistan and focuses on solutions to come through post-traumatic stress. Massari is also the founder of revolutionary programs for teenagers with severe burn injuries that continue to transform young people's lives at the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, Colorado. She has become a fiery voice for the potent power of compassion, kindness, and indestructible perseverance.
Allison has dedicated her speaking career to employee engagement and well-being - inspiring employees with tools to more effectively manage their lives. She enjoys delivering keynotes to healthcare audiences - to heal burn-out in medical workers and to enhance patient-centered care. Her message focuses on the power of the human connection. In her own words, “Compassion heals the places that medicine cannot touch.” Her mission is to bring transformation to individuals, businesses and communities.
“I’ve come to a place where my heart pounds with excitement instead of fear. I learned how to transform my pain and how to take control of my life. If I could do this with my own life and under such extreme circumstances...imagine what you can do with yours.” Allison Massari
Allison holds a Masters of Arts degree from School of Visual Arts in New York City and a Bachelor of Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as being the recipient of an adventurous award to study in Brugge, Belgium and La NaPoule, France.
