Rik Allen garnered his glass education from years of assistantships in several artists’ studios, beginning with design work and culminating with his current position on the William Morris Glassblowing Team.  His work captures the spontaneous gesture that occurs naturally within the immediacy of the hot medium of glass.  The organic form of the pieces, with their scarred and eroded surfaces, are enhanced by the rich, opaque colors that strongly recall ancient totemic vessels. Allen has been exhibiting his own work in galleries, primarily in the Northwest area, for several years.