Barbara Allen exhibits recent wood-fired ceramics in her solo exhibition in the Common Ground Gallery.

About the Artist: Barbara Allen is an artist who works with several traditional artists’ materials to create tensions between beauty and imperfection. She seeks patterns or repetitions that are gradually changing. She received her BFA from the SUNY College of Art & Design at Alfred University, and her MFA from American University. Allen was selected for a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for sculpture in 2011, and painting in 2003. She was a grantee of the Japan/U.S. Friendship Commission & NEA Creative Artist’s Fellowship in 2000, and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant in 1998. Allen has been employed as a paper conservator and exhibitions conservator working primarily for the Smithsonian Institution, Yale Center for British Art, and Yale University Art Gallery. More recently she has been an adjunct faculty member at Montgomery College in Rockville teaching drawing. Allen has exhibited her work regionally and nationally. In 2000 her work has appeared in New American Paintings and was reviewed in Art Papers Magazine. Since 1996 Allen has been represented by Marsha Mateyka Gallery in Washington, D.C. barbaraallen.net.

Conversation with the Artist:  Tuesday, November 18, 12 noon.  Barbara Allen talks about the role of imperfection, observation and the choices that are evident in studio work. Allen will share examples of her work and process. Attendees are invited to bring their own work to the talk too.  Join the conversation.