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      Lee Allen

      1910 - 2006

      At a glance

      • Lifespan: 96 years
      • Top 3 works: Conservation of Wildlife (mural study, Emmetsburg, Iowa Post Office)
      • Museums on this site: Smithsonian American Art Museum
      • Nationality: United States
      • Died: 2006
      • Also known as:
        • Edwin Allen
        • Edwin Lee Allen
        • لي ألين
        • Ли Аллен

      The Artistic Journey of Lee Allen

      Born Edwin Lee Allen in Muscatine, Iowa, this American painter, muralist, and medical illustrator followed a path deeply connected to the landscape and science of the Midwest. After studying at the Cumming School of Art and the School of Art at the University of Iowa, Allen refined his skills at the Stone City Art Colony under Grant Wood. His talent for large-scale works led him to Mexico to study mural painting with Diego Rivera. Upon his return, he received commissions from the Section of Fine Arts of the U.S. Treasury Department to create indoor murals for post offices in Iowa. His notable mural works include:

      Medical Illustration and Personal Vision

      Beyond his public murals, Allen dedicated 39 years to the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa as a medical illustrator. His expertise extended into ophthalmology, where he served as an acclaimed ophthalmic photographer and ocularist, eventually co-founding a private practice in Coralville, Iowa. In his later years, Allen turned his artistic eye toward his own health. Facing macular degeneration, he created a series of diary-like drawings documenting the progression of his illness and his medical treatments. These introspective works were later compiled into a book titled The Hole in My Vision: An Artist’s View of His Own Macular Degeneration.

      Questions & Answers

      Where can I find statistics about Lee Allen's works?

      A Stats page exists for Lee Allen, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

      Where are Lee Allen's artworks grouped by keywords?

      Lee Allen's works can be explored by keyword on the artist's By Keywords page. Each keyword groups the related artworks.

      What aliases or alternate names does Lee Allen have?

      Lee Allen is also known as Edwin Allen, Edwin Lee Allen, لي ألين, Ли Аллен.

      How many artworks by Lee Allen are available to browse?

      You can browse 1 artwork by Lee Allen on the All Artworks page.

      A little quiz

      There is only one correct answer for each question.

      Question 1:
      Under which famous artist did Lee Allen study at the Stone City Art Colony?
      Question 2:
      In which country did Lee Allen study mural painting with Diego Rivera?
      Question 3:
      What was Lee Allen's profession for 39 years at the University of Iowa College of Medicine?
      Question 4:
      Which work by Lee Allen is held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum?
      Question 5:
      What medical condition did Lee Allen document in his diary-like drawings later in life?