Visual Arts

Diversity: Paintings by Robert Allen

RECEPTION June 11th at 6pm 

The Fordham University Galleries
Ildiko Butler Gallery
June 5 – August 23, 2026
Fordham University at Lincoln Center map
113 West 60th Street at Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
fordhamuniversitygalleries

I prefer to avoid claiming any profound meaning to be found in the images I create. These
paintings are simply meant to be looked at, and it is hoped that they communicate in a purely visual language, not needing a narrative explanation. Either the work captures a viewer’s imagination or it doesn’t. Frankly, unfortunately, some of that ‘art critique stuff’ can be rather pretentious.

However, I do believe creative acts represent attempts to validate self-worth, or a means of documenting one’s existence, announcing that, for a short time, “I was a part of humanity.” So, these paintings are reflections of my imagination, starting usually as doodles, then turning into temporary obsessions. That said, it would be disingenuous not to admit that I am inspired by the works of other artists, often resulting from a ‘throw-back’ to works seen in museums, galleries, books, then trying to prove to myself “I can do that.” A spark ignited by another artist is then transformed into something derived from my own alchemy of psychological history mixing subject matter, color, design, etc., into something a little different, made up of other’s ideas, but resulting in ‘art’ which I am uniquely responsible for.

This explains why these works seem to lack any central style or theme. I like the challenge of “differences” and not just in art. So, if this exhibit represents anything more than viewers getting lost in the visual language of art, and escaping into something perhaps personally “meaningful,” let it applaud the theme of diversity – an openness to recombining concepts and how we think, transforming old ideas into something a little different, which inherently requires and welcomes sharing, a process which often brings about something positive and worthwhile because it emanates from a collective inspiration. I am happy to share this work, a small contribution, created during my time of ‘being a part of humanity.’

Bob Allen
June 2026