Allen was born on January 2, 1928 on the Red Pheasant Reserve in north central Saskatchewan to Alex and Agnes Sapp. Allen was a weak and sickly child whose mother also suffered from sickness and eventually died of tuberculosis while Allen was away at residential school. Allen was raised by his maternal grandparents, Albert and Maggie Soonias on the Red Pheasant Reserve where his grandfather operated a ranch and where his grandmother, Maggie Soonias, cared for him. The memory of this tender relationship spawned some of Allen’s finest and most sensitive works.
In 1963, after the death of his grandparents, Allen, with his wife and young son, moved to North Battleford so that Allen could pursue a career as a professional artist. Allen did what many artists do and that was to look at the commercial viability of his art and as a result he painted what he thought other people would be interested in buying. One day Allen timidly walked into a medical clinic in North Battleford in hope of selling some of his art to the doctors that worked there. It was at this time, that Allen Sapp met Dr. Allan Gonor who saw immediately the significance and possibilities of Sapp’s work. This meeting was the beginning of their friendship, one that would change both men’s lives. Dr. Gonor encouraged Allen to “paint what he knew”, which was, “life on the Red Pheasant Reserve”. Allen didn’t hesitate at the chance, and as a result a floodgate of memories poured out onto canvas. Dr. Gonor continued to mentor Allen, helping him to develop his professional resources, and on Allen’s behalf, Dr. Gonor sought assistance from other arts professionals. The result of this friendship and partnership has made Allen Sapp one of Canada’s most prolific and preeminent artists of all time, having exhibited in London, England and extensively throughout North America.
For the most part Allen was a self-taught artist. He is said to have worked “instinctively” with a photographic memory; painting the pictures he sees in his mind. His paintings tell a personal story, but many appreciate them for their ability to go beyond that and represent a generation of Cree people and many other prairie inhabitants of the same era. His work allows viewers to reflect upon the hardships of the past and remember friendship and family as well as a less complicated way of life. Allen’s paintings masterfully depict First Nations culture, the simple elegance of rural life, and the beauty of Saskatchewan.
Source: Allen Sapp Gallery Website
