Tina Allen: Gallery

Tina Allen's creations have appeared in some of the most prestigious galleries in the United States and abroad.

Tina Allen is an internationally renowned sculptor and painter. Her creations have appeared in some of the most prestigious galleries in the United States and abroad. Tina's creative expression began at the young age of 5 when she started painting. She was discovered at the age of 10 by William Zorach, who was at that time, one of the five greatest living sculptors in the world. Zorach continued to encourage Tina through the years.

One of her most memorable moments was when she presented the sculpture The Icon I - Tribute to the African American Man to Nelson and Winnie Mandela during their visit to Los Angeles on June 29, 1990. Her latest works include the conceptual design for the Statue of Liberty project endorsed by the South African Government.

Sculptor Allen's work has developed into two distinctive veins. The first is the Historical Body of Representational Sculptures recording the contributions and aspirations of the African Diaspora. For Allen, molding her lifelike figures is "writing our history in bronze." This need to control the black aesthetic, and to develop a visual landscape that is nurturing and life affirming to people of color, is fundamental in her thinking.

The second personal expression of her work is Symbolic Abstractions, with hints of figurative expressions growing out of the forms.

Allen intentionally emphasizes traditional African features in her works. "When we celebrate our physical looks, we're sending a message to our children to appreciate our features and respect our potential. Our children must be able to say, greatness comes out of people who look like me."

Ms. Allen's career took off by leaps and bounds when she won a national contest that awarded her an $85,000 commission in 1986 to create a nine and one-half foot statue of A. Phillip Randolph (Black labor leader). This was the first statue of many to follow.

Our children must be able to say, greatness comes out of people who look like me."
-Tina Allen

Some of her recent projects have been a 12 foot seated Alex Haley Memorial for the Haley's Square Complex in Knoxville, Tennessee, a 4 story-high pictorial relief for King/Drew Medical Magnet High School in Los Angeles, California.

Tina is the daughter of Gordon 'Specs' Powell, well-known drummer and percussionist (a staff musician with CBS for over 20 years). She grew up around music and art greats such as: Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Gary Moore, Earl Gardner, Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, Billie Holiday, and Diana Washington. Her uncle Carlton Powell was a sculptor and bass player.

Media exposures of Ms. Allen's work include: television shows such as "227," "A Diff'Ren't World," "Generations," "Hill Street Blues," BET's "For Black Men Only," and a full segment focused on her sculptures on "Entertainment Tonight" and "Ebony Jet Showcase." She was a featured artist on the critically acclaimed documentary, "Story Of A People -- Expressions in Black."

For Allen, molding her lifelike figures is "writing our history in bronze."

Articles about Ms. Allen's works have appeared in Upscale Magazine, Ebony, Essence, American Visions, Dollars & Sense, Art Gallery International, BE Magazine, Jet, National Art Museum & Gallery Guuide, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Miami Times, The Metro Chronical, The Los Angeles Sentinel, The Amsterdam News, and numerous other newspapers throughout the world from Japan to New Delhi.

Allen's art interests and projects keep her traveling extensively to many corners of the world; Africa, Europe, and Asia are just a few stops along the way. Ms. Allen has recently returned from a successful showing in Japan where she is preparing a series of sculptures immortalizing the Great Boxing Heavyweights, for worldwide distribution. She is presently preparing for work in South Africa.

Tina Allen, a Los Angeles resident, spent her early years in the West Indies. She has lived in New York City and Mobile, Alabama. Allen is a graduate of Visual Arts in New York and the University of South Alabama. She continued her advanced studies at Pratt Institute in New York, and the University of Venice, Italy.