Larry Allen
Larry Allen (born c. 1954 in Birmingham) is a ceramic artist and instructor. He is known for wheel-thrown vessels decorated with precise sgraffito inspired by Native American and African pottery.
Allen earned his bachelor of arts at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky in 1978. He partnered with fellow artist Tena Payne to renovate the former Miraflex watch factory at 7575 Parkway Drive in Leeds for studio space. After the September 2001 terrorist attacks, he developed a "Unity" motif, suggesting a ring of people holding hands.
Allen's work has earned him "Best in Show" at Magic City Art Connection three times. The Alabama State Council of the Arts presented one of his pieces to author Harper Lee in 2007. Another was presented to Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that same year. In 2022 some of his work appeared as props in the film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever".
Allen teaches privately through Cahaba Clayworks, and has also taught at Jefferson State Community College.
References
- Steward, Ameera (May 2, 2019) "Larry Allen: Ceramicist who makes something out of nothing." The Birmingham Times
- Perkins, Barton (July 1, 2022) "Alabama Artist's pottery to appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Bama Buzz
External links
- Larry Allen Pottery website