Profile: Nathaniel Allen III, Montgomery Artist

Photo credit: Porfirio Solórzano

“I’m fiercely experimental in my art. My artwork is primarily me telling stories that I want to tell.”

Nathaniel Allen III is a visual artist, a musician, and a professor of art at Alabama State University in Montgomery. “My major passion is drawing. From drawing, I can take it into paint and sculpture. I’m really into mixed media right now, but it all comes out of drawing.”

Inspiration and support for his art came early in life, through his parents, who provided Mr. Allen with books and art materials. They also encouraged him to teach as well. “They were always supportive of me. My parents were both educators. So, they said if this is what you love, you can teach it. And in that way you can do what you love and support it by teaching. And I realized they were right.”

"Portraits of Courage" drawing by Nathaniel Allen, based on photos of Selma to Montgomery civil rights marchers.

Mr. Allen has taught art courses at a number of institutions, including The Flint Museum of Art in Flint, Michigan, and Watkins College of Art & Design and Tennessee State University in Nashville, among others. He began work as an Assistant Professor of Art at Alabama State University in 2009, then was promoted to Professor of Art. Mr. Allen also served as Chair of the Visual Arts Department at ASU from 2016 to 2022.

“Teaching art is interesting. It does inform my practice of art,” says Mr. Allen. “Students will bring in something I have never heard of before and that will sometimes provide inspiration. And it is an opportunity to have a dialogue where we can discuss the history of that art.”

Lifelong learning is a passion for this artist. “I want to be a student as well as a teacher. At some point when I retire, I will probably be a full-time art student. My world is really centered around art education, teaching students who may be at the beginning of their journey while I continue to be a student as well.”

Mr. Allen comes from a family of musicians as well as educators, with roots in the Mississippi Delta. His musical family members include his aunt, Denise LaSalle, and his uncle, James “Son” Thomas, one of the last of the Mississippi Delta blues men. Mr. Allen has also written and performed original music with the band The LGs.

Learn more about Nathaniel Allen and his life's work: https://www.nathanielallenart.com/.

"Spiritual Currency" digital painting by Nathaniel Allen