had approved the official stamp on the exhibition catalogue, adding the newly elected prime minister's name as his representative in New York. The exhibition attracted large attendances and interest, and then Allen lectured on the works during its tour. La Revue Moderne, a French modern art journal, profiled her in 1931. The New York Times called her work in the Australian Art exhibition "arrestingly modern" — this was in contrast to the conservative works of other Australian artists. In a later interview with The Advertiser, on 17 June 1936, Allen mentioned all the art work exhibited had non-Australian scenery and had titles such as "Landscape in Spain" and "Bosky Dells in Surrey". She elaborated, "If I had come upon as much as a single kangaroo I would have hailed it with delight". Allen returned to Melbourne in 1935, for eleven months. She spoke with many women's groups whilst in Australia, such as National Council of Women of Victoria and Australian Federation of University Women. Receptions were hosted for her by the Victoria League Club, the Arts and Crafts Society of Victoria, the International Club and the Melbourne Society of Women Painters. At the party hosted for her in October 1935 at the Athenaeum Gallery by the Melbourne Society of Women Painters, she spoke of the differences between female painters in New York and Australia, "In New York there is a big gallery specially for women, which has solved a great difficulty." She noted that the history of female painters was sparse: "We must look to the future because women in art have no past." Allen's paintings — including abstracted depictions of New York skyscrapers and subways — were exhibited at the Fine Art Society's Gallery between 20 and 31 August 1935. They "aroused a storm of protest", according to Frankie Derham, her friend, fellow artist and art educator; "with only loyal friends buying pictures, which they later confessed they dare not hang at home". Despite the controversy — the distortion in the works was considered a lack of realism and "loss in skill" — the exhibition was a success, and conversation piece, drawing crowds until its closure. Allen introduced the American tradition of the weekend sketching school to students in Melbourne. She also lectured at the Bell-Shore School on the invitation of Arnold Shore, The Argus art critic, who had been a fellow student. She spoke about balance, colour harmony,