Rick Allen of Def Leppard to Showcase His Art Collection in Boca Raton

By: Michael Demyan

Rick Allen of Def Leppard will be exhibiting his “Drums for Peace” art collection Saturday, March 18 at Wentworth Gallery in Boca Raton during a stop on the North American Art Tour.

The drummer first showcased his art in 2012. It included 300 pieces, which were quickly sold out. In 2013, he unveiled more art with the title “Rock-On-Canvas.” Now he will be making appearances at Wentworth Gallery locations in both Fort Lauderdale and the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton.

The newest collection includes numerous pieces of art such as paintings, jewelry and drums, which will be available for purchase. Each buyer will also be presented with a limited-edition commemorative “Rock It” artwork, signed by Allen. A portion of the earnings from the event will be donated to the Warrior Resiliency Program, which is sponsored by the Raven Drum Foundation, a charity Allen co-founded with his wife, Lauren Monroe.

“We are honored to present this extraordinary collection in our galleries throughout the country, and to continue our efforts and our tradition of giving back to the men and women who serve our nation so selflessly,” Christian O’Mahony of Wentworth Gallery said. “Our goal is to bring exposure to Project Resiliency through artistry.”

Allen became a member of Def Leppard at the age of 15 in 1978, but in 1984 he lost control of his car while driving in the United Kingdom, which resulted in a serious accident and the loss of one of his arms. The drummer did not let that stop him however and continued his career.

He also decided to use his tragedy to be an inspiration for others by reaching out to cancer patients, military veterans and children with special needs, among others. Through his work, he has received two Humanitarian Awards from Best Buddies of California, along with the Wounded Warrior Project’s Carry It Forward Award.

“My life has been a journey of transformation and my art reflects the many facets of dreams and perceptions that have shaped me to be the person I am today,” Allen said. “Each piece has a story and a connection to my life from my roots in England, my life changing car accident, journey to America, travels around the globe and to my deep connection to Wounded Warriors and their struggle to heal.”

Allen will first be attending the event at Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale before arriving at the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton at 6 p.m., where he will stay until 9 p.m. It is suggested that those who wish to attend RSVP by calling the Wentworth Gallery at 561-338-0804. Admission is free for registered guests.