Gabe Allan spent much of his childhood engrossed in drawing. From a young age he had a striking aptitude for it, and by his teenage years he had amassed a sizable portfolio that included works in a variety of mediums including soapstone, wood, clay, wax and, eventually, bronze. 

 

At eighteen, Allan decided not to attend art school and instead pursue his interest in religion and spiritual traditions. He attended the University of Virginia, and in 2005 received a B.A. degree in Religious Studies, with a concentration in Buddhism and Chinese language. Simultaneously, he continued his artistic  studies under the mentorship of Robert Bricker, a nationally renowned sculptor who provided Allan with space and materials at the Bronzecraft Foundry in Waynesboro, VA. It was here that Allan began working on his monumental and seminal sculpture, "The Messenger". 

 

After graduation Allan opened a studio at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, experimenting with welding and wood-block print technology. He also worked as a carpenter, and spent a great deal of time traveling to further his exploration and expertise in religious studies. His trips took him on lengthy expeditions to Asia, southeast Asia, Europe, and South America, and provided great inspiration for his artistic endeavors when he would return home.

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Gabe Allan's mother died of cancer when he was 29. His experiences providing her end of life care, alongside his enduring interest in philosophies of of compassion, led to him volunteering with Hospice. Eventually, Allan enrolled in nursing school at Piedmont Virginia Community College, receiving an associate’s degree in nursing in 2018.

 

During every chapter of his life, whether focused on art or on his cross-disciplinary pursuits,  Allan continued to produce - refining his artistic style, elevating his prodigious skill, and illuminating his artistic genius. As internationally renowned artist Cy Twombly said upon meeting and mentoring Allan in 2009,  "you are just waiting to be discovered". 

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When he was 15, Allan experienced a sudden onset of bipolar illness. Thereafter, his continued struggle with the condition inspired much of his artistic expression and spiritual inquiry, where he found respite from suffering. However, despite this and psychiatric treatment, the illness slowly worsened. Eventually, it progressed to psychosis. In a process he described as "self release", Allan took his own life on March 15, 2019.

He was thirty-seven year old.