• Ben Lowe (born London 1976) creates thought-provoking artwork that delves into the exploration of human emotions. His diverse body of...
    Wild One, 2020

    Ben Lowe (born London 1976) creates thought-provoking artwork that delves into the exploration of human emotions. His diverse body of work straddles various artistic styles, incorporating figurative and landscape elements to provide context while utilizing layers of abstraction to capture atmosphere and feelings of emotion.

     

    A self-confessed magpie when it comes to source material and drawing inspiration from personal experience - the challenge, as he sees it, lies in discovering art in the everyday and the real life, identifying those moments that evoke emotional responses and giving them a tangible presence.

     

    Loss, love and longing feature heavily in Ben's work, along with societal observation, relationships, childhood memories and the human condition. The infusion of this wide palette of emotional inspiration is evident across Ben’s substantial catalogue of works. Whatever the medium, his art is always inescapably tactile and empathetically grounding.

  • In 2011, Ben picked up a dusty, tattered first edition of Dark Landscape (Madge Hales, 1955) at a London market....
    Mortal Morsal, 2011

    In 2011, Ben picked up a dusty, tattered first edition of Dark Landscape (Madge Hales, 1955) at a London market. He was initially drawn in by the title, with the same brooding, abstract landscapes that abound in his own work. 

     

    “Over subsequent months I kept Hales’ book by my side and often delved into her poems during those strange, somnolent slices of time – familiar to any new parent – that punctuated life following the birth of our son.”

     

    Inspired particularly by Hales’ poem Crying The Unknown, Ben created a work of the same name and tempered spirit, mirroring the struggle and vulnerability of early fatherhood.

  • The following summer, on a visit to New York, Ben found himself falling in love with the stirring metropolis, staying...
    Rock Hudson, 2013

    The following summer, on a visit to New York, Ben found himself falling in love with the stirring metropolis, staying much longer than the short trip he’d originally planned.

     

    ​“I wasn’t supposed to be painting in NYC; it was supposed to be a bit of a break from London and a scouting mission for new source material, but one thing led to another and I wound up taking a studio in Brooklyn. New York is heaven for an inspiration magpie like me.”

     

    Immersed in the slumberless patchwork of a million stories, the art that Ben produced came partly from himself and partly from the city itself. That autumn the country was hit by Hurricane Sandy, a dramatic experience, culminating in new works, such as Ditch Plains, United States of Destruction and Rock Hudson.

  • 2013 saw Ben leave London, the city he was born in, to immerse himself in a fresh environment and new...
    Little Yellow Birds, 2017

    2013 saw Ben leave London, the city he was born in, to immerse himself in a fresh environment and new life experiences.

     

    “As the arrival of our second son crept ever-closer and the need for more space both at home and at the studio became increasingly pressing, we decided that the time had come to up-sticks and seek out pastures new. We left our flat in Shepherd’s Bush, London to start afresh in rural Gloucestershire.”

     

    Set amidst thousands of acres of woodland, his new studio was a far cry from its previous incarnation in an old match factory next to a London railway line. Landscapes have always been a big inspiration in Ben’s work, but the move facilitated a whole new level of engagement with nature and he revelled in how the change in environment impacted his artistic output.

  • Following a motorcycle accident a few years later, Ben was left with a broken hand and shoulder. During his convalescence...
    A Morning with Morandi, 2016

    Following a motorcycle accident a few years later, Ben was left with a broken hand and shoulder. During his convalescence he found himself forced to stop and re-evaluate. Ponder. Reacquaint himself with some of the things he cherished and had forgotten.

     

    “I dusted off the art books and took pleasure again in the paintings of Tapis, Morandi and Matisse... Delved into my CD collection from the 90s, reigniting my love of Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure and The Wonder Stuff.”

     

    The passive, stillness of this period cultivated a deep connection with the trauma encountered, the aftermath and the observational simplicity of a life on standby.

  • In 2022, after losing his mother, Ben presented a collection of paintings and sculptures titled Nightingales and Bombers.The works were...
    Welcome to the Jungle, 2021

    In 2022, after losing his mother, Ben presented a collection of paintings and sculptures titled Nightingales and Bombers.The works were created over a two-year period and paid homage to their deep connection, capturing moments of joy, laughter, and shared experiences. 

     

    “The memories of Mum flowed into the collection. Both a catharsis and a vibrant tribute. Reminiscing of spending hours together in her overgrown garden, observing birds and planes with a cup of tea or early evening gin. Radiant moments of dancing in the kitchen to Vera Lynn on the radio and remembering the unique wit and humour that made her such a delightful presence.”

     

    Nightingales and Bombers is a celebration of everyday memories, a testament to the stories, laughter, and good times that should not be forgotten.

  • In addition to his personal collections, which are released annually and widely collected, Ben Lowe showcases his work with Thompsons...
    Flight Paths, 2022

    In addition to his personal collections, which are released annually and widely collected, Ben Lowe showcases his work with Thompsons Gallery (Marylebone, Harpenden, and Aldeburgh) and David Simon Contemporary (Castle Cary).