A Life in Art and Education
Ralph Allen was a Canadian painter born in Raunds, Northamptonshire, England. After graduating from the Slade School of Fine Art in London in 1954, he began a significant career in academia and art administration. In 1957, he commenced work at Queen's University, eventually serving as the director of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre from 1963 to 1973. His dedication to art education continued through his tenure as a professor in the Fine Arts department, a role he held from 1972 until his retirement in 1987, after which he became professor emeritus.
In the 1990s, Allen's work was connected to the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at the Queen's Faculty of Education, which included teaching on reserves in Moose Factory and Kasabonika in 1995.
Exhibitions and Collections
Throughout his career, Allen exhibited in 15 shows prior to 1973 and received several Canada Council grants. Following his retirement, he returned to exhibiting with four shows of new works in the early 1990s, including exhibitions at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre in Kingston and at Rodman Hall Gallery in St. Catharines.
His paintings are held in several prestigious permanent collections, including:
Questions & Answers
Can I explore Ralph Allen's works by subject?
The Subject Atlas page maps Ralph Allen's artworks by subject.
How do I find all works by Ralph Allen in a given medium?
Ralph Allen's works can be browsed by medium on the artist's All Medium page.
In which historical period did Ralph Allen work?
Ralph Allen worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.
Can I browse Ralph Allen's works by color palette?
Ralph Allen's works can be browsed by color palette on the artist's By Palettes page.
