Leroy Allen

Leroy Allen (1951-2007), was an award-winning watercolorist and figurative artist. His realistic style focused on African American life and community, and won him more than 30 art awards nationally.[1]

Leroy Allen
Born(1951-05-24)May 24, 1951
Kansas City, Kansas
DiedMarch 9, 2007(2007-03-09) (aged 55)
Kansas City, Kansas
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Kansas School of Fine Arts
Occupationartist
ChildrenDaughters Jaime and LeTia
Websiteleroyallenfineart.com

Biography

Allen was a Kansas City, Kansas native. He received his first art prize in the second grade when he won a National Scholastic Art Award for a crayon drawing of a horse show called “At the American Royal”.[2] During high school, Allen was hired by the Progressive Shopper News, a black-owned monthly newspaper, to draw a weekly cartoon column. The cartoon was about a character named Sly, an unsuccessful criminal, and was used to discourage young people from a life of crime. In high school, the comic series Allen created became a comic book.[3][4]

Allen joined the Army and served in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1972.[5]

Upon graduation from the University of Kansas School of Fine Art (BFA, 1977), Allen was hired by Hallmark Cards in 1980, where he became a technical supervisor.[6] Over the years, Allen worked with and exhibited with noted Hallmark artists including Thomas Blackshear, Nancy Devard, Henry Dixon, Shane Evans, Cathy Ann Johnson, Jonathan Knight, and Dean Mitchell. He retired from Hallmark Cards after 24 years.[7]

Of Allen's artistic skill, New Orleans art critic Doug MacCash wrote: "Although many people think of watercolor as the genteel choice of Sunday painters, it may actually be the most difficult artistic technique to master. A great watercolorist is able to create a painting with such economy and deftness that the hand of the artist is almost unnoticable - a feat akin to walking across a snowy field without leaving footprints. Both (Leroy) Allen and (Dean) Mitchell can do just that."[8]

Exhibitions
Year Exhibit Venue Notes
1990Reflections '90Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, Kansas City, MOJuried exhibition. Allen's oil painting “Big Wind” features a jazz bassist. Other artists included Richard McGill, Dean Mitchell, and Joseph L. Smith.[9]
1992Gallery '92Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities, Kansas City, MOVirginia Mecklenburg, curator, National Museum of American Art, juror. Allen won one award for the character study, “Ma'am”.[10]
1999The Kansas City Six: A ReunionBruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, Kansas City, MOExhibit featured art by Leroy Allen, Thomas Blackshear II, Henry Dixon, Jonathan Knight, Dean Mitchell, Ezra Tucker.[11]
2000Black CreativityMuseum of Science and Industry, Chicago, ILAllen also was included in the Black Creativity exhibits of 1996, 1997, and 1998.[12]
2002Black RomanticStudio Museum in HarlemAllen's works included were watercolors “Contemplation”, “Sundrops” and charcoal on paper pieces “The Glance”and “Papa Jim”. Other artists included Troy L. Johnson, Kadir Nelson and Kehinde Wiley.[13][14]
2003Celebrations and Investigations: African-American Artists in Kansas City CollectionsGallery at Village Shalom, Kansas City Jewish Museum, MOArtists including Leroy Allen, Dawoud Bey, NedRa Bonds, Sonya Y. S. Clark, Kerry James Marshall, Robert A. Powell, Lezley Saar, Lorna Simpson, Renee Stout, Kara Walker and Carrie Mae Weems.[15]
2003The Light in the Other RoomAmerican Jazz Museum, Kansas City, MOWillis “Bing” Davis, curator. Exhibiting with Allen were 20 artists including NedRa Bonds, Ed Hogan, Lonnie Powell.[16][17]
2004Sacred CenterStella Jones Gallery, New Orleans, LATwo-person exhibit with Dennis Paul Williams.[18]
2004Southern JourneysAlexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria LAAllen is one of 80 artists, including Henry O. Tanner, John Biggers, Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden.[19][20]
2005Second LightCarter Art Center Gallery, Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, MOFourteen artists exhibited including Allen, Dean Mitchell, George Mayfield, and Bonnye Brown.[21]
2007You Know What's RealNerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KSWorks on paper from the museum's permanent collection, including work by Allen.[22]
2009Collaborations: Two Decades of African American Art: Hearne Fine Art 1988-2008Pyramid / Hearne Fine Art, Little Rock, AR57 artists including Leroy Allen, Benny Andrews, Phoebe Beasley, Bisa Butler, Elizabeth Catlett, Frank Frazier, Paul Goodnight, Jonathan Green, Brenda Joysmith, Phyllis Stephens, and William Tolliver.[23][24]
2012Shades of GreatnessCampanella Gallery, Park University , Arkville, MOA traveling exhibition organized by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, 35 pieces, including works by Leroy Allen, Bonnye Browne and Kadir Nelson.[25]
2017A Dazzling DecadeNerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KSArt from the museum's permanent collection, including work by Allen.

Awards
  • “Nestle in Sunset”, Miriam Whitsett Memorial Award, Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS (2003)
  • “Sundrops”, a watercolor painting, Connoisseur Award, California Watercolor Association's 35th National Exhibition, Academy of Art College Gallery, San Francisco, CA (2003)[26]
  • Jurors Award, Arizona Aqueous XVI 2001 National Juried Exhibition, Tubac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ (2001).
  • “Papa Jim”, a charcoal piece, Best Drawing Award, Bosque Conservatory Art Council's 16th Annual National Art Competition, Bosque Conservatory, Clifton, TX (2001).[27]
  • Merchandise Award, Pastel Society of North Florida at the Fort Walton Beach Museum of Art, “Pastel '98” juried exhibition.[28]
  • “Ma'am” (Tribute to P.H. Polk), Juror's Award of Excellence, Oklahoma Art Workshops' 11th Annual National Juried Exhibition (1994).[29]

Collections
  • Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS[30]
  • Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art[31]
  • Sprint Nextel Art Collection includes Allen's American Sunrise, a still life featuring a blue pitcher with berries.[32]
  • Portrait of first African American mayor of St. Louis Freeman R. Bosley, Jr. by Leroy Allen, St. Louis City Hall, 2nd floor with portraits of past mayors.[33]

Death

Allen died of suicide in March 2007 and is laid to rest in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2008, “This One I'll Do (For Leroy)”, a charcoal portrait of Leroy Allen by artist Lonnie Powell, was included in the exhibit “To Create a Better World: Artists as Educators.”[34]

References
  1. "Presenting the magnificent 7 Emerging artists of 2003". Kansas City Star. 4 May 2003. p. 20.
  2. "Presenting the magnificent 7 Emerging artists of 2003". Kansas City Star. 4 May 2003. p. 20.
  3. "Leroy Allen". Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  4. Johnson, PhD, Eloise (2004). Leroy Allen "Sacred Center". Stella Jones Gallery. p. 2.
  5. Johnson, PhD, Eloise (2004). Leroy Allen "Sacred Center". Stella Jones Gallery. p. 2.
  6. MacCash, Doug (25 June 2004). "Romantic Realists: Watercolorists demonstrate mastery of the medium". The Times Picayune. pp. 18–19.
  7. "Presenting the magnificent 7 Emerging artists of 2003". Kansas City Star. 4 May 2003. p. 20.
  8. MacCash, Doug (25 June 2004). "Romantic Realists: Watercolorists demonstrate mastery of the medium". The Times Picayune. pp. 18–19.
  9. "Reflections '90". Kansas City Star. 9 September 1990. p. 150.
  10. Thorson, Alice (26 Jan 1992). "Faculty exhibit shows astonishingly little vision". Kansas City Star. p. H4.
  11. "Openings". Kansas City Star. 12 Feb 1999. p. I5.
  12. "Peggy Eldridge-Love: A Tribute to Leroy W. Allen". www.peggyeldridgelove.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  13. Kimmelman, Michael (26 April 2002). "ART REVIEW; A Black World Of Ins and Outs". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  14. Black romantic: the figurative impulse in contemporary African-American art. 2002. ISBN 9780942949230. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  15. "Allen, Leroy W". 216.197.120.164. African American Visual Artists Database. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  16. Thorson, Alice (17 Jan 2003). "Sharing the light Black KC artists explore joy and possibility in group exhibit" (Kansas City Star). p. 22.
  17. Trafton, Robin (12 Dec 2003). "Group show shines a light on black artists". Kansas City Star. p. 20.
  18. Johnson, PhD, Eloise (2004). Leroy Allen "Sacred Center". Stella Jones Gallery. p. 2.
  19. "The International Review of African American Art". Museum of African American Art. 2005: 106. Retrieved 27 December 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. "Art Notes". Kansas City Star. 31 October 2004. p. 3.
  21. Cardarella, Toni (1 June 2005). "Gallery's show spotlights African-American artists". Kansas City Star. p. 3.
  22. "You Know What's Real". www.jccc.edu. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  23. "Publication: Collaborations: Two Decades of African American Art - Hearne Fine Art 1988 - 2008". Hearne Fine Art. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  24. Taha, Halima; Smith, Dianne (2008). Collaborations: two decades of African American art : Hearne Fine Art 1988-2008. Blue Lotus. ISBN 9781607251309. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  25. American, Daniel R. Brown Of the St Louis. "Negro Leagues art exhibit barnstorms into town". St. Louis American. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  26. Thorson, Alice. "Art Notes". Kansas City Star (13 April 2003). p. J4.
  27. Thorson, Alice (7 Oct 2001). "Art Notes". Kansas City Star. p. I3.
  28. Thorson, Alice (3 May 1998). "Art Notes". Kansas City Star. p. M3.
  29. "Art Notes". Kansas City Star. 30 Oct 1994. p. J4.
  30. "A Dazzling Decade". www.jccc.edu. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  31. "Leroy Allen". Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  32. Thorson, Alice (8 April 2007). "A huge loss to KC - Artist's works captured the humanity of everyday people". Kansas City Star. p. 6.
  33. "Leroy Allen Unveiling Ceremony". Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  34. "These art teachers are accomplished artists too". Kansas City Star. 21 Aug 2008. p. E23.
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