Nate Lowman is a contemporary American artist known for his thought-provoking work that critiques American culture through the lens of mass media, celebrity, violence, and consumerism. Born in 1979 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and raised in Idyllwild, California, Lowman earned a B.S. in Fine Arts from New York University in 2001. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s as part of a new generation of artists emerging from the New York art scene.
Lowman’s practice spans painting, collage, sculpture, and installation. He is best known for appropriating and recontextualizing familiar images—such as smiley faces, bullet holes, car crashes, and tabloid clippings—often with a raw and ironic tone. His works explore how media shapes public consciousness, using visual strategies that recall both Pop Art and Conceptualism.
Over the years, Lowman has exhibited widely in the U.S. and internationally, with solo shows at prominent institutions including the Aspen Art Museum, Dallas Contemporary, and Brant Foundation. His work is held in major public and private collections, and he has collaborated with brands and artists across various disciplines.
Lowman lives and works in New York City. His work continues to engage with themes of violence, identity, and cultural fragmentation, making him a significant voice in contemporary American art.