A Toronto based self-taught visual artist whose conceptual practice is decidedly multi-layered and object orientated. He has been recognized in the past as an originator of a tactile fusion ofphotography and object-making. A transparency of vision and simplicity of fabrication with aconcentrated regard for materials remain hallmarks of his serial productions. Belcher is knownfor a directness and a sharp simplicity when approaching difficult subject matter. A sense of humour and a reverence for a Pop sensibility, as well as a hands-on approach, invade much of his work.

He was co-founder and co-director of Gallery Nature Morte with Peter Nagy in New York's EastVillage (1982–88). 

Works by Alan Belcher are held in various public collections including the National Gallery ofCanada (Ottawa), Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto), LeConsortium (Dijon), Musee des Beaux-Arts (Montréal), Deste Foundation (Athens),Fotomuseum Winterthur (Zurich), Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), Chase Manhattan Bank,Credit Suisse Collection, Dropbox Headquarters (San Francisco), MoCA San Diego, Morris &Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC (Vancouver), and Musée Nicéphore Niépce (Chalon-sur-Saône,France); as well as numerous prominent private collections.Alan Belcher works with Galerie Lange + Pult in Zürich, greengrassi in London, Tara Downs inNew York City, MKG127 in Toronto, and Eli Kerr in Montréal.

Born in Toronto (1957), he has lived in Vancouver (1976-77), New York City (1977-86), and Köln (1991-96) —and has lived and worked in Toronto during all other periods of time.