Jonathan Allen

Dr Jonathan Allen is an Associate Fellow at the Warburg Institute, University of London, and a curator at The Magic Circle Museum, London. His research focuses on cultural memory, contemporary art, and the history of magic, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of performance, visual culture, and technology. Allen has curated exhibitions such as Tarot – Origins & Afterlives (2025) and co-organized the Hayward Gallery’s Magic Show (2009–2010). His writings have appeared in Cabinet magazine, exploring topics ranging from Polaroid photography to the cultural history of the Smurfs.

Notable publications include Lost Envoy – The Tarot Deck of Austin Osman Spare (2016/2023) and articles analyzing magic’s role in cinema and modernist art. His curatorial work bridges academic research with public engagement, reflecting his dual career in art and academia.