Steve R. Allen (b. 1954, North Carolina USA) is an artist recognized internationally for his bold use of color and ability to create in myriad styles. His work is in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture (https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/collection) which acquired four (4) of Steve’s original paintings, two (2) official Olympic posters (Athens 2004 & Torino/Turin 2006) as part of its Founding and Permanent Collection.
Steve has created work for eight (8) combined Summer and Winter Olympic Games beginning with the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. He has exhibited/presented in Athens, Greece, Beijing, China, London, England, Sydney, Australia, and Salt Lake City, Utah as part of his Olympic journey.
Mr. Allen was invited by the President to the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kinshasa and appointed Cultural Ambassador to the United States in 2006.
Steve’s papers and memorabilia are housed at Emory University’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library (https://rose.library.emory.edu/) in Atlanta, GA. He was also honored in 2019 to have two (2) of his original paintings acquired by the Robert W. Woodruff Library at the Atlanta University Center. (https://www.auctr.edu/)
The “Fractal Afrofuturism and Ancestry” Collection
by Tamara Holmes Brothers, PhD
“Fractal Afrofuturism and Ancestry” presents the work of self-taught artist Steve R. Allen in a collection of designs created from his original paintings. These creations celebrate originality and contribute to the balance of geometric shapes, motifs, and patterns into fractal compositions of ingenuity.
The ancient wisdom of fractals derives from Africa as it was a commonly used technology by people and civilizations throughout history. Bringing together a range of works that vary in this self-similarity from figurative works to digital imagery – Allen’s illustrations and designs create opportunities for the beauty of the most extraordinary scenes to pull the viewer into new landscapes. The knowledge and understanding of fractals and Afrofuturism provide pathways that unlock the doors to successfully appreciate and administer Steve’s designs.
Allen’s vision exists in combining history and fantasy to explore African American experiences aimed to connect those from the Black diaspora with their historically excluded African ancestry. This collection reveals the essence of intentionality within these pieces.
Steve R. Allen’s designs align with his mission to expose the variety of visual contributions of African-American artists to the world.