Profile: Marie-Andrée Allison

Marie-Andrée Allison was born in the province of Quebec, Canada. Her formal art studies began at the College des Beaux Arts in Montreal, between 1971-74. In 1976 she settled in British Columbia, where she taught at, and continued studying with various art establishments and international artists. In the early 1980s, Marie-Andrée had the privilege of studying the art of Fresco Bueno with internationally renowned artist Professor Dokinanda Sharma from Banastali, India, and was given permission to teach the art form. She then participated in artist seminars at the Victoria School of Contemporary Art, going on to work with and be featured in exhibitions with several of the artists from this core group, including Suzy Raxlen and other Intaglio printmakers. 

Between 1982-1992, Marie-Andrée was also applying herself to the study of Byzantine Iconography with Princess Eve Galitzine, and was subsequently given charge of a School of Iconography. She continues to paint icons and to teach the art form.

In 2004, Marie-Andrée was invited to participate in the decoration of St. Sophia Church in Victoria, BC. She was granted travel to Ravenna, Italy, to study Byzantine Mosaic Art, where she learned under the expertise and tutelage of Luciana Notturni at the Scuala Arte del Mosaico. The immersive influence and love for the school brought her back to complete several courses between 2004-2013, including Mural, Floor, and Micro Mosaic, as well as Conservation and Restoration of Contemporary Mosaic. She has since returned to Italy to assist in the school and continue her studies. 

In collaboration with the clergy, Marie-Andrée designed and created the mosaics that now decorate St. Sophia in British Columbia. She was responsible for teaching the art of mosaic to the church community and leading the installation of the mosaic murals. St. Sophia has been referred to in one newspaper as “a jewel in Victoria.” 

After meeting Marco de Luca and visiting his atelier in Ravenna,Marie-Andrée experienced a deep emotional connection to the art form, leading to a  new creative approach. Examples of this can be found in her works “Camisa Novella” and “White Wing”, as well as several triptychs and diptychs, such as “Glaciers,” which combines the art of mosaic with encaustics. 

Marie-Andrée has participated in various virtual and live art shows both at home and internationally. In 2022, she was the recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant towards her participation as a speaker and gallery artist at the Mosaic Biennale and AIMC Congress in Ravenna, Italy. In 2023, Marie-Andrée was invited to speak and to exhibit in a juried show of the Mosaic Artists of Canada (MAC). 

Most recently, she has been selected to show her work and participate in the world exhibition of mosaic artists “Opere del Mondo”, (October 2023 - January 2024) in Ravenna, Italy.  

Marie-Andrée Allison resides with her family in Victoria, BC, Canada.