Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Cowan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ben, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I’ve done 2 painting installation projects for St Ann and the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn Heights. In doing these projects I was deeply influenced by the Gothic Revival architecture and color of the historic stained glass windows. Shapes are covering every inch of the church’s surface that are so visually dynamic and elegant. In the case of the stained glass, these shapes contain colors, images and tell stories, sometimes in small fragments. The greatest challenge in doing a contemporary art installation in a space like this is allowing for my work to feel integrated without being lost. What I learned from this experience and the visual vocabulary absorbed, has led me down a path in my studio that has been quite fruitful and meaningful.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an artist working primarily as a painter with sculptural techniques sneaking into the studio. I’ve been on this journey for 20 years, the last 13 in NYC. The pursuit of being an artist has led me to seek a variety of jobs and ways of living that allow for the freedom of studio time and still pay my bills. Below is my formal artist bio I use for exhibitions and publications:

Ben Cowan was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from Indiana University. The artist can be spotted examining plants and buildings as he walks to and from his studio in Brooklyn, New York. Occupationally, Cowan has worked in the studio of Jeff Koons and presently as a Scenic Artist for motion pictures, both roles have increased Cowan’s resolve for refined painting techniques, experimentation with process, and a keen eye for illusions. In his work, Cowan draws inspiration from urban landscapes and gothic architecture, blending observed places, personal objects, and religious abstractions to create paintings that bridge reality and illusion, personifying the interpersonal and the supernatural.

Cowan’s work has been shown in solo and group shows throughout the United States including New York City’s Deanna Evans Projects, 550 Gallery, The Flag Art Foundation, and Spring Break Art Show. He has been featured by Manifest Gallery’s International Painting Annual and The Brooklyn Review, and also mentioned in articles from cultbytes.com, The Wall Street Journal, and Vice.com. Cowan’s work is in private and public collections including The University of Scranton, Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan, and The Rockefeller Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Painting and art is my gateway to understanding the world and myself. It connects me to history, the visible world, making art forces me to reflect on my own thoughts and feelings, and when it all cooks together, and resonates with other people, I feel connected to them as well. It’s a fascinating process that has no end, and that chance of discovery, making something meaningful, is what drives me to keep making things in the face of hardship and failure.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I find the world and all that we encounter extremely meaningful and beautiful. Creativity requires a lot of space to day dream, be bored, fail, try things that are fun and have no consequence, but I’m also driven to perfection. I always stop to look at things that strike me visually and wonder what they have to teach me, or question why I find something so interesting. I think for a lot of people, they’ve lost that quest to pull the thread of curiosity and see where it takes them. Over the years I’ve learned to trust my intuition and allow myself to indulge in the things that inspire new ideas. These look different for everyone, for me, off the top of my head, I like taking naps, walking, digging through piles of discarded materials, learning new skills, looking really close at plants, watching light move throughout the day, and most of all – the sensation of paint sliding across a surface.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bencowan.com
• Instagram: benbencowan
• Youtube: benbencowan
• Other: tiktok: benbencowan

Image Credits

All images and paintings were created by me