Current exhibitions

Luke Owen - Painting and prints

Luke Owen’s art can be defined as unique. His work is powerful, emotive, challenging and honest and never fails to evoke an emotional response in the viewer. Owen utilises a variety of techniques to express his creativity, his most preferred being his bare hands and fingers which enable an unimpeded flow of creative energy directly onto canvas. He works with different media, ranging from pastels and oils to acrylics, in a variety of different sizes from small scale to large 8ft by 6ft pieces. Owen’s creative process is triggered by his observations of his own life and the life experiences of others.

His debut exhibition at The New Street Gallery in Penzance is a collection of nearly thirty pieces that follow the journey of his life over these past four years. The work exposes the ‘long dark night of the soul’ that he has passed through since October ‘04 to date. Owen arrived in Cornwall four years ago, a shadow of himself and it is this shadow that preoccupied him, knowing that in the integration of his shadow, eventually he would emerge like the phoenix rising from the ashes. Every one of his paintings depict a stand alone story line telling of an excruciating, profound and liberating process.

If you are looking for art that appeases and requires little engagement then you might be in for a surprise. The honesty of Owen’s work can be challenging to view, it may evoke memory and it will inspire. It beautifully illustrates the full spectrum of human emotion. His images move people to tears as they are reminded, through his artwork, of their own forgotten places of feeling, of longing, of their own inner depths and profound inner beauty. Viewing Owen’s ongoing journey through his art, speaks to the same within ourselves. To gaze upon this gifted artist’s creative expressions is an experience and will touch you on many levels.

Luke Owen’s work is inspired entirely by his own process and life experience. Owen himself is well rooted in psychological awareness and has an open and expansive view on life. The images he paints speak to ‘human being’, conveying the exquisite fragility of our humanness, the regenerative powers of the heart and the beauty of being alive. This work has a voice and Owen’s growing reputation will ensure that voice grows louder.

Exhibition showing - 12 December to 15 January

Exhibition preview - Friday 12 December, 19:00 to 21:00