Sculptor Alma Allen has officially joined Galerie Perrotin, a major international blue-chip gallery, ahead of his representation of the United States at the upcoming Venice Biennale. The move follows a period of representation turnover, as Allen was recently dropped by Olney Gleason and Mendes Wood DM after accepting the prestigious commission. Perrotin will provide essential logistical and operational support for the U.S. Pavilion, with Allen’s first solo exhibition at the gallery’s Paris location scheduled for this fall.
This appointment is significant due to the controversy surrounding Allen’s selection for the U.S. Pavilion, which was overseen by the newly formed American Arts Conservancy rather than traditional institutional channels. Allen, a self-taught artist known for large-scale organic sculptures, has faced pressure from art world figures to withdraw amid a fraught political climate and federal cuts to arts funding. His partnership with Perrotin provides the commercial and institutional backing necessary to navigate a high-stakes international debut under intense scrutiny.