Featured Artist: Rik Allen

Blue Rain Gallery's Rik Allen is at the forefront of innovation and technology through his sculptural glass work.

Rik Allen is a sculptor renowned for his art that seamlessly merges the enduring elegance of glass and metal with the boundless realms of space travel and exploration. His sculptures frequently take the forms of spacecraft, maritime vessels, and organic machinery, embodying a harmonious blend of adventure and a profound connection to the natural world. Rik's artistic journey delves into the themes of exploration, navigation, and purpose, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences and keen observations to craft pieces that resonate on both an individual and universal level. Whether capturing the immense expanses of outer space or the intricate intricacies of the microscopic realm, his sculptures encapsulate a profound sense of wonder and amazement, encouraging viewers to reflect more deeply on their own position in the universe.

Recently, Rik's artistic vision has expanded to encompass a new dimension, as he increasingly grapples with the fragile equilibrium of the natural world and the escalating threats of environmental degradation. His latest creations are inspired by his inquisitiveness and concern for the domains of soil and marine microbiology, plants, fungi, and equilibrium. These themes are masterfully explored through inventive techniques and materials.

Ultimately, Rik's art serves as a testament to his fascination with the world that surrounds us. Through his creations, he extends an invitation to embark on a shared voyage of discovery and exploration, reminding us of the beauty and awe that not only exists within ourselves but also in the world beyond.

Bio: 

Rik Allen, born in 1967 in Providence, holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Franklin Pierce University. He has showcased his sculptures in numerous solo exhibitions across the United States, with notable exhibitions at institutions such as the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the Museum of Northwest Art, and galleries including Traver Gallery, Blue Rain Gallery, Schantz Gallery, and Duncan McLellan Gallery. His sculptures grace both public and private collections, including prominent institutions like the Glass Museum in Tacoma, the Imagine Museum, Toyoma Institute of Glass, Blue Origin, Boeing, Vulcan, Amazon, and SpaceX.

In 2023, Rik, alongside his wife Shelley, unveiled two impressive bronze public sculptures in Downtown Bellevue, WA. In 2018, he received the prestigious "Grand Artist of the Future" Award from the Imagine Museum. Rik and Shelley carry out their artistic endeavors from their idyllic rural home and studio in Skagit County, Washington.