Ben’s paintings live at a playful crossroads of object, illusion, and the transcendence of devoted observation. Each work presents a paracosm—a vividly imagined world shaped by memory, faith, and perception. Inspired by urban landscapes and Gothic architecture, he handcrafts sculptural frames that house layered compositions blending observed places, personal objects, and art historical abstractions. These devotional portals blur the boundaries between the sacred and the everyday, the interpersonal and the supernatural. His use of cast Aqua-Resin frames and architectural forms makes this body of work a natural fit for Matter and Form, where physical presence and conceptual layering are at the core.

Ben Cowan was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He received a BFA from theSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from Indiana University. The artist canbe spotted examining plants and buildings as he walks to and from his studio inBrooklyn, New York. Occupationally, Cowan has worked in the studio of Jeff Koons andpresently as a Scenic Artist for motion pictures, both roles have increased Cowan’sresolve for refined painting techniques, experimentation with process, and a keen eyefor illusions. In his work, Cowan draws inspiration from urban landscapes and gothicarchitecture, blending observed places, personal objects, and religious abstractions tocreate paintings that bridge reality and illusion, personifying the interpersonal and thesupernatural.Cowan’s work has been shown in solo and group shows throughout the United Statesincluding New York City’s 550 Gallery, The Painting Center, and Spring Break Art Show.He has been featured by Manifest Gallery’s International Painting Annual and TheBrooklyn Review, and also mentioned in articles from cultbytes.com, The Wall StreetJournal, and Vice.com. Cowan’s work is in private and public collections including TheUniversity of Scranton, Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan, and The RockefellerArchive Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY.