1970 BA, Political Science / Photojournalism, Cal State East Bay
2004 MA, Gallery & Museum Studies, ITDS, Sonoma State University

Following a two-decade career in advertising and graphic design in San Francisco, Allen Ross Hicks moved with his family to Copenhagen, Denmark. He became immersed in Scandinavian culture, most especially Danish architecture and how this discipline remains so steadfastly integral to that society’s sense of identity. It was also the soft northern light that keeps the atmosphere so transparent, and objects at a distance so sharp, colors so pure, that drew Hicks to repeatedly photograph the scene. In 1995, he returned to the United States, but continues to visit Scandinavia on an annual basis. Allen did his graduate work at Sonoma State University, and received an MA in Gallery and Museum Studies in 2004. His thesis project was Asian American ceramic artist Win Ng. In the spring of 2005, Hicks curated the retrospective exhibition of that artist’s work at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum in San Francisco. During this period, Hicks did a conservatorial internship at the de Rosa Preserve in Napa, California, and in 2006 and 2007 was a gallery associate for Modern Masters Fine Art in Palm Desert, California. Allen now lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife Katherine.

Artist Statement

“In the past, the body of my work reflected more a resonance with iconic imagery, color, texture and light, rather than any social significance. I was drawn to a subject because of feel rather than meaning. Recently, there is the need to look at the human condition(ing) from a more philosophical perspective, by examining the merits (or illusion) of the ‘reality’ we take for granted. Because of the abstract nature of depicting society’s actions (or inactions), photo collage is frequently utilized in my work. Commenting on the parts of culture that are often obscured from the free exchange of ideas is a way to get closer to what is so while remaining open to my own thinking and what contradictory directions those thoughts might take.”