Artist Statement

DRIVEN BY EMOTION My work is about the world of thought, the inside world, rather than just a sensory experience. It is a search in the Human psyche. My two passions have always been art and the mind. These are passions I continue to combine in my work. Observations of my surroundings, personal stories or reflection on peoples behavior are my main subjects. I start out sketching ideas and work towards a particular mood, the mood of the story. In the course of the depiction I’m eliminating unnecessary elements and capture that mood with an aesthetic simplicity of imagery. The paintings focus on the human drama. It is a private view of emotions. The tale of sorrow, happiness or euphoria. The theatre of life in a light of color and composition. The mood or experience overrules the technique. The emphasis is to relay the feeling with a simple composition rather than the obvious, sometimes lessen the figurative tales to more abstract forms, as long as the sensation reflects the original idea. The themes are sometimes personal observations or narrations, observations of people in different situations, different angles but in the same close proximity of each other. Dichotomy, contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely dissimilar. Sometimes they reflects the mood of the moment. The majority of the paintings are oil on board, I prefer wood- board because of it’s lack of texture and longevity. The process, on canvas or bo

Artist Bio

Johan Lowie is an award winning Artist living and working in Frederick Maryland. Johan’s two passions have always been art and the mind.

These are passions he continues to combine in his work. Observations of the surroundings, personal stories or reflection on peoples behavior are his main subjects.

Lowie starts out sketching ideas and work towards a particular mood, the mood of the story. In the course of the depiction he is eliminating unnecessary elements and captures that mood with a simplicity of imagery.

Studies include BA from KIT and MFA from the Royal Academy of Ghent (Belgium).

He has shown extensively in Europe and the US. Exhibits include; Kunsthaus and Sphinx Galleries in Belgium, 8RMS4Gallery and the Rothenberg gallery in Syracuse NY. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and more.

Museum shows include; Frostburg Museum, Gilchrist Art Museum and The Ratner Museum.

He is in permanent collections of Museum De Blankaart, The Houses of Parliament in Brussels and the Art Museum of Ypres in Belgium. The Rothenberg foundation in Syracuse NY.

His work was used in numerous publications in the 80’ and recently in the magazine “Syracuse, big important city” , UT Cultural (Belgium), & Psychology tomorrow magazine.

In 2012 his work was featured in a new book publication “CONTEMPORARY PAINTERS” and a painting was featured on the cover of the National Poetry award winner “The spite house” by Elizabeth Knapp.