Benjamin Lowry is an artist who lives in Salt Lake City. While attending his first year of college at Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus; Lowry began to lay his foundation for creative thinking. While in Hawaii, he was inspired by the vibrant color of Island living. From 1992 - 1994 he traveled in various parts of Australia, spending most of his time in country towns, and gaining an appreciation for the Australian vernacular. These surroundings incorporated the richness of color, light, weathered materials, and a cultural diversity. In 1999 he received a bachelor’s degree of Architectural Studies at the University of Utah. Following this he began his graduate work at the School of Architecture. It was here that he gained a greater scope of how the simple elements of design are intertwined in many creative fields. After completion of his Masters degree in 2001, he began to further investigate other areas of design & photography while continuing to practice architecture.

Much of his photography captures the essence of color, light, movement, and architecture.

This particular exhibit showcases his unique investigation of “Color Studies”. Benjamin enjoys discovering the abstract color of his surroundings. These color discoveries are not simply found by capturing the brilliant red petal of a rose or a predictable sunset over the ocean. However, what Benjamin will examine is an out of focus red rose within a lush green backdrop or a camera’s long exposure of the ocean mixing the horizon line of the water with the colors of the sky.

A single photograph may be studied again and again, for different areas may reveal a different palette of color. Benjamin relates these discoveries to experiencing architectural spaces. An individual may have a clear picture of a building in his or her mind as they pass by it each day. But, when they revisit the building to experience its spatial qualities and details, the overall predictable snapshot becomes blurred.

With this exhibit the subject matter becomes the color itself. Capturing an image out of focus or blurring the subject matter helps reveal the pure spectrum of color. After carefully analyzing his photographs, portions of color are cropped from multiple images. Then, using the computer as a tool, images are overlaid on top of each other. These transparencies allow for a meshing of colors that create a further study of color. Each piece becomes an investigation of it’s own.

His art work has a very minimalist modern feel which alludes to impressionism. Many of his pieces resemble the warm color blends of sunsets, or the movement of the cool Northern Lights.