Steve R. Allen
Steve R. Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 (age 71–72) |
| Notable work | "Uniting Colors of the World" (1996) |
| Website | steverallenfoundation |
Steve Randall Allen: born 1954, is an American painter.[1][2] Mr. Allen is known for his work as the Official Artist of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, beginning with the 1996 Summer Olympics.[3][4][5][6] In August 2021, Mr. Allen began a multi-million dollar initiative to donate selected artworks to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.[7][8]
Early life
Steve was born in North Carolina in a one-room home. He was studying to become an electrical engineer at the time and never showed much interest in anything beyond sketching. Though life and Steve's future had different plans, his initial intention was to work as a customer service representative for the IRS, VA, or another government agency.[4]
His adventure, which was somewhat unexpected, started when he was 38 years old and chose to resign from his job because his employer, whom he calls "Mr. Charlie," wasn't speaking to him appropriately. He then immediately went to the unemployment office to confirm that he had funds in his account. That same afternoon, he began painting.[4]
Later Years
In 2021, a giving effort to help historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) was started by Allen. Five of his pieces, which are housed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture's Founding and Permanent Collection, were produced as "museum editions" as part of the project. Alongside the distribution of the pieces to a few HBCUs, there will be talks, symposiums, and debates on the art industry and increasing chances for black artists.[7]
Allen said that his family's ties to Shaw University, where his mother attended, served as some of the fuel for the project. According to him, the initiative aims to provide students immediate access to original artwork and the opportunity to interact with a working artist.[7]
In 2008, Allen established the Steve R. Allen Foundation. He has arranged art initiatives in the US as well as abroad, such as in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through the organization. Master seminars and educational programs aimed at inspiring young artists have been part of his outreach initiatives.[7]
Allen has also talked openly about his early professional experiences, such as leaving his job as a copier technician to focus on painting full-time. He recognized the encouragement he had in the early years of his creative career from his mother and brother.[7]
References
- ^ "Bio – Steve R. Allen Foundation". Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ Mansion, Kimbeni (1 January 2021). "The "Art" of Seeing Mathematics". In Chahine, Iman C.; Beer, Josef de (eds.). Evidence-Based Inquiries in Ethno-STEM Research: Investigations in Knowledge Systems Across Disciplines and Transcultural Settings. IAP. pp. 193–206. ISBN 978-1-64802-117-6. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
In this chapter I highlight aspects of Mr. Allen's work and connect his artwork to mathematics.... Mr. Allen entered the world on July 10, 1954 in Lillington Crossroads, North Carolina.
- ^ Peoples, Betsy (Nov 1998). "Successful Strokes". Emerge. 10 (2): 13. ISSN 0899-1154. OCLC 5304968288. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
His work had become known around Atlanta and by 1996, he had won the contract to paint the city's 80-feet-by-25-feet Centennial Olympic mural. Allen plans to travel to Australia next year to learn what officials there would like to convey to the world about Australia through his work.
- ^ a b c "Conversations with Internationally Acclaimed Artist Steve R. Allen". Stones In The Color of Rare. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
He is the official artist for the US Olympic Committee and has exhibited eight times for the US Olympic games.
- ^ "Grand Opening of a New Exhibit By Olympic Artist Steve ALLEN At the U.S. Olympic Complex Visitor Center". www.atlanta1996.us. Atlanta 1996: The Living Legacy of the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ "Steve R. Allen: Is he arguably Atlanta's best African American artist?". SaportaReport. 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e McCann, Adron (12 August 2021). "Artist Steve R. Allen Launches Multi-Million Dollar HBCU Gifting Initiative". 90.1 FM WABE. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
Allen's new multi-million dollar gifting initiative to historically Black colleges and universities will put art in schools and provide new opportunities for discussion.... Five paintings of Allen's find a home in the Smithsonian's Founding and Permanent Collection. For the gift initiative, he created new "museum editions" of the five pieces, each of which will be given to a Black college or university.
- ^ "AJC On Campus: UGA, GSU report record giving; Best colleges for vets". ajc. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
Steve R. Allen's artwork has appeared in eight Olympic games, including the 1996 competition in Atlanta in which he was the official artist. His work will soon grace the walls of the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library.