Megan Allen named gallery assistant at Upstairs Artspace

Upstairs Artspace is pleased to announce the promotion of Megan Allen to Gallery Assistant. After interning the past year at the contemporary non-profit art gallery in Tryon, Allen has stepped into her new role, and serves as a welcoming and knowledgeable presence for artists, collectors, and visitors.

“My academic training, paired with hands-on experience at Upstairs Artspace, has given me a strong understanding of both the creative and professional aspects of the art world. I’m so excited to join Tryon’s thriving artist community, especially at a gallery with a long and impressive history of exhibiting amazing contemporary artists,” Allen says.

Allen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Painting and a minor in Art History from the University of North Georgia. In addition to her work at the gallery, Allen is an active practicing artist. Her work often centers on artists and artmaking itself, exploring the lived experience of being an artist, the creative process, and the complexities of navigating the contemporary art world. Painting remains her primary medium, where reflection, revision, and process are embraced as essential parts of growth.

Allen has exhibited her work in numerous student and professional exhibitions, including the Hal B. Rhodes Student Exhibition (2023 and 2024), where she received the Young Blood Social Justice Award, as well as Consider the Wildflower (2023), YOUnique and YOUnified (2024), Roots: Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibition (2024), and the BFA Student and BFA Capstone Exhibitions (2024). Her work has also been shown at Upstairs Artspace in Drawing Marathon VI (2025) and Salon d’Upstairs (2026). In 2025, Allen participated in The Power of She at Summer and Grace Gallery in Oakville, Ontario Canada marking her first international exhibition. Her work can be found on Instagram at @meganallen.art.

“I’ve asked myself many times why I make art, why I paint, and why it continues to matter to me,” Allen says. “I don’t think I’ve fully found that answer yet. Instead, I’m searching for it through the work itself, in conversation with artists who came before me and those still making art today.”

Board President Sandra Miller says that in Allen’s dual role as both artist and gallery professional, she brings a thoughtful and empathetic perspective to Upstairs Artspace. 

“Visitors who have not yet met her are encouraged to stop by and say hello. She is always happy to talk about art, answer questions, and help make the gallery a welcoming space for all,” says Miller.

The gallery is located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon. Learn more online at UpstairsArtspace.org and on Instagram @upstairsartspace. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5 pm.