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Mark Allen 🧿

@markallen.ltd

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Expert use of free will. [email protected]
Artist, curator, writer, and realtor @alfordkcrealestate
#endfascism
Pratt MFA ‘26 - Pepperdine ‘13

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Feeling painterly lately - and loving this new set of Japanese watercolors. by @markallen.ltd

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17 hours ago

Wow! We absolutely love Kelly Akashi’s sculptures and were honored to enjoy a private tour with Lisson Gallery director Joel Draper, who offered fascinating insights into her extraordinary practice.

Combining stone, glass, and bronze with remarkable technical skill and sensitivity, Akashi creates deeply symbolic works that explore the beauty, fragility, and impermanence of the natural world. From delicately blown glass flowers to bronze casts of her own hands, her sculptures capture fleeting moments in time, reminding us of the relationship between nature, the body, and mortality.

Central to her practice is the Japanese concept of mono no aware—a wistful awareness of impermanence, or the “pathos of things.” Much like the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, Akashi’s work reminds us to appreciate the beauty of the present moment, knowing that nothing lasts forever.

A beautiful reminder of why we love living with art! Thank you, Joel, for sharing your knowledge and giving us such a special look into Akashi’s remarkable world. ❤️ taken in Lisson Gallery by @markallen.ltd

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3 days ago

Wow! We absolutely loved getting a sneak peek at Barbara Takenaga: Awestruck during the member preview at the beautiful Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art! ✨🎨

What a treat to experience this incredible exhibition spanning 25 years of Takenaga’s mesmerizing abstract paintings—and even more wonderful to have the opportunity to chat with Barbara herself about her work, creative process, and the intricate worlds she creates. Her paintings are truly captivating, drawing you into cosmic landscapes, dazzling patterns, and seemingly infinite spaces.

Of course, it’s always a joy to celebrate the Kemper and all that this incredible institution brings to Kansas City’s arts community! We’re especially excited as we count down to next weekend’s fabulous ArtSmash Gala: Moon Age Dreamscape, inspired by Takenaga’s work! 🌙✨

Be sure to visit Awestruck, opening to the public October 9 and on view through April 11, 2027. It’s an exhibition you won’t want to miss!
#KemperMuseum #BarbaraTakenaga #Awestruck #KansasCityArt #livingwithart by @markallen.ltd

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8 days ago

Fun moment from this summer - seeing the debut of @faust_____specialprojects visual installation at @crossroadshotelkc curated by @petrichorprojectsmx - and always a pleasure seeing @nickcaveart as well, with my friends @quinn.medicine @damianlair et.al.

Be sure to check out the rooftop of Percheron at Crossroads Hotel ! Looking forward to enjoying more sunsets up there gazing upon the beautiful KC skyline. taken in Percheron Rooftop Bar by @markallen.ltd

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9 days ago

We finally got to see Barry Anderson’s exhibition, The Janus Restraint: Polychrome Ritual, at the beautiful Museum of Art + Light in Manhattan, Kansas. Through video, photography, sound, and installation, Anderson explores spirituality and ritual as ways of reconnecting with the natural world—and with the histories, memories, and beliefs that shape how we understand our place within it.

The exhibition is immersive and meditative, weaving together vivid imagery with symbols of reverence, monuments, altars, and geological forms. I especially loved the idea of ritual not as something belonging to the past, but as an enduring human impulse—a way of creating meaning, marking time, and finding our bearings in an increasingly disconnected world. So wonderful to experience Barry’s work in person and to spend some time exploring this incredible new museum in Manhattan! taken in The Museum of Art + Light by @markallen.ltd

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11 days ago

Dude Descending a Staircase, 2024. Datamosh video sequence, single-channel video (preferably displayed on a broken iPhone), AP/ 3. 1:18 runtime, on loop. taken in Pfizer Building by @markallen.ltd

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15 days ago

A rainy weekend in NYC // double + exposures shot on my Holga plastic toy camera with Kodak Ektar 100 120mm film (gifted to me by @lacyvgordon pictured in the last frame )
. Dev and scanned by @primaryphotographic taken in Lower East Side by @markallen.ltd

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16 days ago

The Armory Show was filled with excitement as we saw so many great artists we already admire and were exposed to new artists who weren’t previously on our radar. Fabulous large-scale public art projects filled the center of the Javits Center—and, of course, champagne was aplenty! 🥂There was even a guest appearance by Mike Tyson!

We also got to say hi to so many of our friends and colleagues in the industry. Art fairs like The Armory Show are such a great way to be exposed to thousands of artists all at once. It can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but sometimes the best way to learn to swim is to jump straight into the deep end!

Another wonderful year of art, discovery, conversation, and connection at The Armory Show. ✨ taken in Javits Center by @markallen.ltd

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19 days ago

KC Glitchy Skyline - Sumi ink on paper- 16x20 inches , 2024. by @markallen.ltd

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22 days ago

The Great Deluge, installation view, 2026. Mixed photographic media including: tintype, inkjet prints on various papers, transparency, cyanotype, silver gelatin prints, two single-channel videos, television, sticker vinyl, aura analog photograph, polaroids, wet collodion ambrotype on glass, liquid light on egg shell, and film negatives. Installation approximately 11’x 15’, iterative installation.
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Muchas gracias to everyone who was able to see my MFA thesis installation back in Spring 2026. @prattphotomfa @prattphotography
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Especially grateful to @marjasaleva and @lydianobles for helping me with install! And grateful for my classmates and professors @allenframenyc @milagrosdelatorre_ @saravanderbeekstudio Katie Hubbard .
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Disposable Camera, Kodak 35mm film, scanned and developed @primaryphotographic by @markallen.ltd

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23 days ago

A day of relaxation, revitalization, and art at the Nerman Museum! ✨🧘‍♀️

Our Wellness Day offered so many wonderful opportunities to slow down, reconnect, and recharge, all while surrounded by incredible works of art!

The lovely Jamila guided guests through an immersive sound bath experience within the Salon of Possible futures by @amykligman , while Laurie led a restorative yoga session beneath Leo Villareal’s mesmerizing installation. Several talented massage therapists from AdventHealth also offered chair massages, helping visitors release tension and enjoy a moment of well-deserved relaxation.

What a beautiful reminder of the healing power of art, movement, sound, and community! Thank you to all of our wonderful wellness practitioners and everyone who joined us for this special day.

Made possible with generous sponsorship from the Art Bridges Foundation. 💛

#NermanMuseum #ArtBridges #WellnessThroughArt #ArtAndHealing #AdventHealth taken in Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art by @markallen.ltd

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25 days ago

Printmaking, wellness, and a little French flair! 🎨✨

Printmaker Matthew Willie Garcia, whose work is also part of the Nerman Museum’s permanent collection, led a wonderful printmaking station at our Wellness Day celebration!

Using the French technique of pochoir, or stencil painting, guests created their own artful handkerchiefs inspired by works in the museum’s collection, including those of Carlos Rolón and his exhibition, ALL WE HAVE IS RIGHT NOW.

What an amazing day of creativity, wellness, and healing through art! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this such a special experience.

Made possible with generous sponsorship from the Art Bridges Foundation. 💛

#NermanMuseum #ArtBridges #WellnessThroughArt #Printmaking #CarlosRolon taken in Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art by @markallen.ltd

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a month ago