Terry Allen (b. 1943) is a visual artist and songwriter who was raised in Lubbock, Texas, and has worked as an artist & musician since 1966. His legendary story-telling is drafted from historical events, personal memories, theater, song and iconic images from both American TV and the American landscape. Allen’s narratives are endlessly evolving; a painting may lead to a sculpture, which morphs into a song that takes on many voices and becomes a theater piece or video installation.
Allen has received numerous awards and honors, including Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and induction into the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame. His art has been shown throughout the United States and Europe and is represented in major private and public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Los Angeles. He has also recorded twelve albums of original music, including the classics Juarez and Lubbock (On Everything).
Terry recently installed a new work, Scioto Lounge, commissioned by the Columbus Art Commission at the Scioto Mile Park. An exhibition of related public commission drawings was shown at the Urban Arts Space in fall 2014.
Terry Allen sculpture in Columbus, Ohio
photo by Alan Jones