Alphonse Lane
About Alphonse Lane
Alphonse Lane, born in 1961, is an esteemed artist and educator residing in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. His profound journey in the arts began at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), where he obtained a Certificate of Fine Arts in 1986, honing his skills in painting and printmaking. Lane's educational path carried him to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1995, deepening his exploration of mural painting and visual studies. A quest for mastery led him back to PAFA in 2004, where he pursued an MFA with a focus on painting and the complexities of creative pictorial space.
Lane’s artistic style is a harmonious blend of technical precision and imaginative introspection. Influenced by Dutch still lifes, his refined technique roots his subjects in the tangible world, while subtle distortions and symbolic juxtapositions lend his work a psychological and emotional resonance. Everyday objects, such as fruit and flowers, are transformed into metaphors for vulnerability, transformation, and unseen relationships. His compositions challenge viewers to consider the intersection of nature and human experience, where organic forms are imbued with sentient qualities and quiet emotion, bridging the gap between the visible and the felt.
Lane’s dedication to his craft has earned him numerous accolades, including the Charles Firth Award of Excellence and the Tri-State Artist Equity Award. His work has been showcased at prestigious venues, such as the University of Pennsylvania Fox Art Gallery and the Micro Museum in Brooklyn. In 2018-2019, Lane's artistry was further recognized with a grant from the City of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Inspired by the great masters, Lane describes himself as a response artist, engaging in a visual dialogue with objects or artworks that captivate him. His process begins with a birch panel covered with heavy watercolor paper or linen canvas, onto which he applies only the finest pigments, including those from Old Holland and Windsor & Newton. With a career spanning over four decades, Lane continues to create with fervor, aspiring to devote himself entirely to the pursuit of fine art. His work, a testament to his passion for color, design, and the evocative power of visual storytelling, stands as a profound and contemplative celebration of the artistic spirit.