John Allen is of Celtic, English, and Samoan descent – a lineage that informs the cultural and intuitive aspects of his practice.

He is a contemporary New Zealand sculptor known for creating one-of-a-kind works from the roots of fallen pōhutukawa – the iconic coastal tree that grows in dramatic tension along cliffs and shorelines. Weathered by wind, salt, and time, these trees anchor themselves in seemingly impossible places. Their roots twist and contort in gravity-defying struggle – yet when brought into the light, reveal extraordinary graceful flowing forms.

In his studio, John approaches these forms with deep respect. His practice is not one of imposing ideas, but about listening to what is already present. Sculpting becomes an act of attunement – removing what distracts, clarifying the essential gesture – allowing the form’s inherent wholeness to emerge. Each sculpture carries a feeling of presence, balance, and quiet aliveness.

A Deeper Purpose

These works are openings – invitations for something quiet and ancient in you to be remembered, to connect with the deeper layers of your own being. They are a gentle nudge toward sensing the wider field of meaning and relationship that underlies our lives.

We are part of an evolving Universe, shaped by the same forces that give rise to stars, planets, life, and consciousness. At our core, we are participatory beings, embedded in a relational field far larger than our everyday awareness reveals. Our culture has come to over-identify with our left-hemisphere mode of attention — analysis, control, and certainty. As AI and AGI increasingly take over these functions, we are being called to remember and reclaim the right-hemisphere capacities that truly define our humanity: intuition, connection, insight, imagination, and the ability to perceive wholeness.

John’s sculpture practice arises from this time of profound change. His work is created to help you feel this shift — to experience the world, and yourself, with the depth, presence, and wholeness that your right hemisphere makes possible.

A Lifetime with Wood

John has worked with wood for over fifty years. His connection with New Zealand native timbers began in childhood and developed into a lifelong relationship with the material’s texture, history, and spirit.

After decades in the corporate world, a profound inner shift around 2000 redirected him toward deeper authenticity and meaning. This transformation opened the doorway to his full-time sculptural practice, which has flourished over the past two decades.