Artist of the Week: Jean Lowe

A History of Genital Warts, enamel on papier-mâché

15.5 x 12.5 x 4 in, 2009

I came across the work of Jean Lowe on one of my first nights gallery hopping in Chelsea. Once I discovered art galleries were open to all and served FREE wine every week, it was pretty much all I did on Thursday evenings for a good long while. I remember the gallery was packed with people milling around an installation of tall bookcases that were set up to display these painted papier-mâché books. Browsing the titles, I snickered (and sometimes snorted) over each humorous one-liner and really appreciated their crude trompe l'oeil effect. Even the shelves themselves were fake. I loved the fictional titles and the fact that she pushed the idea further than just painting a funny book cover on a flat canvas. She created non-functional 3-dimensional objects that beg you to pick them up and thumb through their pages—which you can't do either of—which is fine—since the cover really does say it all. 

Bookcase #1, 2006–07

Books: enamel on papier-mâché; 

Bookcases: enamel on cardboard and paper tape

Kindle: The Missing Manual, enamel on papier-mâché
15.5 x 11 x 3.5 in, 2009

Tough Love and Your Elderly Parents, enamel on papier-mâché
9 x 7 x 2 in, 2009

Some of Jean Lowe's work is currently on view in group show titled Summer Camp at Schroeder Romero & Shredder (531 W 26th St, NY) on view until August 10, 2012.




- Cathleen