"Beast" Metalcut by Allan Winkler

Although Allan Winkler’s “Beast” has the look of outsider art, this cut-zinc work stems from the art school-trained artist’s interest in the Chicago Imagists. This group of artists added an urban twist to their surreal works by incorporating snippets of popular culture, naïve art, and the gritty detritus of city life. Winkler revels in his imagination with this fanciful animal that’s all shaggy fur and sharp teeth. We love its resemblance to Haitian metal art and the whimsical contrast between the animal’s hulking stature and its lacy surroundings.