Vale Jim Allen, New Zealand’s father of experimental art

Performance artist, provocateur and educator, Jim Allen dies, aged 100.
Picture of artist Jim Allen reading the newspaper

Last year, Aotearoa artist Jim Allen MNZM turned 100. It was a moment to celebrate his career and legacy as one of New Zealand’s most dynamic and influential proponents of experimental art. We are now at another moment to pause and salute Allen, who died last Friday (9 June).

Many on both sides of the ditch will remember Allen. He was not only a formative artist, but also leaves an incredible legacy as an arts educator, both in Australia and New Zealand.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina