[Allen] represents 40K50 local artists and does all necessary framing of the art in-house, and though that wouldn't seem to leave him much time, he's an avid recreationist. Allen is a bicyclist, he's restoring a fire-engine red '68 Cámaro and after playing for 26 years, he recently retired from Ultimate Frisbee, a game he says most people get out of long before he did. Alien's boundless energy is carried over into his work: The gallery's small space barely contains his booming voice and passion for the art and the artists he represents, such as [Bill Carman].

It's Allen's obvious admiration for and consideration of the artists he represents that may be the most important ingredient in the formula for owning and running a thriving gallery. "Having artists I'm drawn to and [with whom] I have a good rapport ... to me, that's 100 percent of this business," Allen says. "It's how well you connect and get along with the artist and vice versa. I'm not in this to make a hassle for myself or anyone else. That's the last thing I want.

Keeping the art up can be difficult at best. Allen says it's hard to maintain a thriving gallery. "You need a high-end location, and you need a high-end environment to give the sense that you know what you're doing," Allen says. "There's prestige and a reputation. It's a long slow [process] to build a reputation. You have to gain [community] support and an understanding of the client."

Art exhibits
Art galleries & museums
Visual artists