Jen Bowen - Assemblage Artist

Jen is a self-taught an assemblage artist. She has spent the last two decades learning how to preserve and incorporate found objects, natural materials, and personal collections of items to create lasting works of art. The method of gathering and assembling items is a blend of conscious and intuitive process, altering materials from waste and surplus to a composite of meaning. She also include items of sentimental value as a means of celebrating and preserving history.  Every assembled creation is a journey of adventures flowing toward a theme, usually arrived at unconsciously then worked through a manner of creative impulses to completion. Her pieces often focus around the elements of destruction, evolution, and contemporary impressions observed through a blend of cultural understandings of spirituality and art. She hopes you enjoy viewing these pieces as much as she has enjoyed constructing them – each of them encompasses the memories of thousands of previous explorations before their reconstruction in this form. Jen is available for commissions, collaborations and representation.

[jennybowen]

2017 - Assemblage piece from misc collection of personal knick knacks collected by a friend’s father and put into the shape of a Karmann Ghia.   Framed in a 16x20 shadowbox.

[jennybowen]

Sugar skull made from a friend's late mother's personal collection of costume & broken jewelry - 2017. Framed in a 16x20 shadowbox. Private Collection

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Two Makes One Elemental Essence Series - 2016 Urban driftwood c.1860 tintypes x2 selenite, quartz crystals, pearls, geode agate slabs Private collection

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Fruits of Love Elemental Essence Series - 2016 9”x4.5”  Urban driftwood, c.1930-1950 photos, tree barks, quartz crystal, walnut, acorn, pinecones, flower pods Private collection

[jennybowen]

Bayou Chief Elemental Essence Series - 2016

24”x4.5 Urban driftwood c.1850 tintype foxfire wood, unknown treated fungi wood, mica, sea urchin spines, citrine

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Vibrant on Grey Elemental Essence Series - 2016

17.25”x3.5” Urban driftwood c.1880 unmounted carte de vista misc. autumn leaves

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Corollary Effect Elemental Essence Series - 2016

32”x7.5” Urban driftwood c.1890 cabinet cards x2 preserved moss

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Sue Black and Mother, Asheville, NC Elemental Essence Series - 2016

32”x7.5” Urban driftwood c.1890 cabinet cards x2 preserved moss 

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Martha Baumgardner Elemental Essence Series - 2016

Urban driftwood  c.1910 real photo postcard rose petals, wisteria, dogwood flowers, money plant, wild flowers, 

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Siblings Elemental Essence Series - 2016 16”x5.75” Urban driftwood, c.1860 tintypes x3, dogwood flowers, wildflowers, English ivy, magnolia leaves

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Antebellum Fall Elemental Essence Series - 2016 12.5”x7.5” Reclaimed Madison Co. barn wood c.1860 tintype gingko leaves, flowers, misc. seeds & nuts

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Ripple Effects (Brooklyn, 1870) Elemental Essence Series - 2016 15”x5.5”  Urban driftwood  c.1870 carte de vista river pebbles, mica, agate slab

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Mother Love  Elemental Essence Series - 2016 19.5”x5.75” Urban driftwood c.1870 tintypes x2 druzy agate slabs, quartz crystals

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Life’s Wondrous Layers  Elemental Essence Series - 2016 23.5”x6” Urban driftwood c.1870 carte de vista misc. tree barks

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Paternal Rift Elemental Essence Series - 2016 30.5”x8” Reclaimed wood c.1910-1930 photos x6 misc. barks, cedar rose cones, lichen, turquoise / peridot / rose quartz / amethyst / quartz crystal chips

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Patience to Bloom Elemental Essence Series - 2016 25”x5.25” Urban driftwood c.1900 gelatin silver print flowers, leaves

Private collection

[jennybowen]

Nurturing a Desert Rose Elemental Essence Series - 2016 Reclaimed Madison Co. barn wood c.1910 photos x2 birch bark, misc seeds, nuts & flowers, cedar rose cones, quartz crystals, desert rose, rose quartz, pearls, river pebbles

Private collection