For thousands of students, faculty and visitors, the wildlife portraits lining the Selby Auditorium lobby have become a beloved part of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee experience. However, not everyone who admires the images knows the remarkable story of the man who created them — award-winning wildlife photographer Larry Allan.
In 2020, when Allan's granddaughter was a USF student, he was searching for a place to display photographs he used for a presentation about his book, "Florida Animals for Everyday Naturalists". He wanted to find a space where a wide-ranging population of the community came together and could be inspired by the animals in these portraits.
Allan’s generous offer to donate his pieces for an on-campus gallery aligned perfectly with USF’s commitment to community engagement and position as a leader in STEM and driving innovations that strengthen our society’s future.
“Larry Allan has given our campus more than an exhibit—he has given us a legacy," said Marrie Neumer, associate vice president for University Advancement. "His ability to capture the soul of wildlife reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect the world we inhabit together. We are deeply thankful for his trust, his generosity, and his enduring commitment to preservation.”
What began as one wall, quickly expanded. “When we installed the first exhibit, I noticed there were other blank walls,” Allan said “So, I donated more photographs to fill those spaces too.”
The USF Sarasota-Manatee exhibit is the first of four “Preserve Our Wildlife Galleries” featured in universities throughout the country by this world-renowned artist. Allan is a recipient of the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award, a finalist for International Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. His photos have been exhibited in Spain, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Poland.
Allan looks at his exhibit in Selby Auditorium
Wildlife makes my life more meaningful and satisfying. That realization has taken me past simply capturing beautiful images, now I advocate for others to appreciate the importance of wildlife...
Larry Allan
In addition to his personal accolades, Allan also elevated the status of wildlife photography within the industry. When he joined the Professional Photographers of America, his work could only be submitted in the miscellaneous category for competitions. Allan knew that the animals in his photos deserved to be in the portrait category. He approached the association about this matter and convinced them that these were indeed portraits, and the category regulations were altered. His work makes clear why the category was changed. He manages to capture the personality and emotions of the animals. “I look in the animals’ faces and get a message from their eyes,” Allan said. “I want you to feel what they feel.”
Allan shares his new book, "Preserve Our Wildlife"
Now in his 90s, Allan is nearly blind and no longer able to take photos. But that hasn’t slowed down his mission as he continues to find ways to use his large body of work for wildlife preservation advocacy.
In addition to finding more locations to create permanent exhibits, Allan has published a new book, "Preserve Our Wildlife", that he has “dedicated to the wildlife with whom we share our space on this planet.” This is not his first book — he has a long bibliography that includes children's books and canine photography.
Allan hopes that "Preserve Our Wildlife" — both the book and the galleries — will inspire humans to share the earth's bounty with all species. Allan's exhibit in Selby Auditorium serves as a beautiful reminder of our campus’ connection to the community and the shared impact that we can achieve when we work together for the greater good. As students pass through Selby Auditorium for years to come, Allan’s desire is for the images to do more than celebrate wildlife — he hopes they will spark a commitment to protecting it.