Following service in World War II, Jim Allen studied art in Perugia and Florence, Italy before gaining a Diploma in Fine Arts from the University of Canterbury in 1951. He then studied at the Royal College of Art, London, returning to New Zealand in 1953 and becoming involved in arts education. Allen’s tenure in the sculpture department at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland is regarded as a transformative moment for the development of conceptual and performance-based practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. From 1977–1987 he served as the Founding Head, School of Arts, Sydney College of the Arts (later amalgamated with the University of Sydney).
Michael Lett is a contemporary art gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The gallery represents international and locally based artists at the forefront of contemporary practice, and presents a programme of exhibitions focused on innovative practices from the present day and preceding decades. In addition, the gallery regularly produces art publications, ranging from artist books to collected writings.
