LAURA LOWE
b. 1991 in Helsinki, FI | Lives and works in HelsinkiLaura Lowe is an emerging artist working with the iridescent spectra of oil slicks and coal. Rather than using pigment, Lowe’s Structural Colour Paintings produce colour by refracting light like a prism. Her highly-material works are composed of layers of translucent resin and oil embedded with salt, glass, and reflective lamellae. Lowe’s practice is informed by laboratory experimentation and an alchemical interest in the interplay of light and surface — the same intertwining of energy and matter which animates all living beings. Her kaleidoscopic works remain in constant flux, reacting to shifts in light and surrounding reflections.
Lowe trained at Factum Arte & Factum Foundation, Madrid before completing an MFA at the Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki. Lowe is a recepient of the Anita Snellman Award and winner of the Hotel GLO Art competition. Her work has been exhibited at Huuto Galleria, Helsinki (2025); B-Galleria, Turku (2024); and Galleria Rajatila, Tampere (2023).
Lowe is currently supported by a prestigious two-year working grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and is preparing upcoming exhibitions for Forum Box (2026) and Galerie Forsblom (2027), as well as group shows in Madrid, Paris, and Oulu2026.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
2023 MFA in Painting, Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki
2018 Foundation in Painting, Free Art School
2017 Foundation in Fine Art, Pekka Halonen Academy
Upcoming
2026 Materia Liquida, Instituto Iberoamericano de Finlandia, Madrid, ES
2026 Fiat Lux, Galleria Forum Box, Helsinki
2026 European Capital of Culture, AaltoSiilo, Oulu
2026 Colour Melt Siren, with Constanza Dessain, Kulturhus Björkboda, Kimitoön
2027 Solo show, Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki
2027 Group show, Institut français de Finlande, Paris, FR
2027 Group show, Helsinki International Artist Programme, Helsinki
2028 Group show, Finnish Institute, London, UK
2029 Duo show, with Kristiina Uusitalo, Joensuu Art Museum
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Nárkissos, HUUTO Galleria, Helsinki
2024 Hanasaari Requiem, B-Galleria, Turku
2023 Lowe & Hallenberg: Heavy Element, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki
2022 Memento Mori, Galleria Paperihuone, Hämeenlinna
2020 Living Landscapes, Finlandia Hall, Helsinki
2019 Samoilua, Galleria Duetto, Helsinki
Group Exhibitions
2025 Winter Fair, Auran Galleria, Turku
2025 SKANNO x Finnish Painters Union VI, Skanno showroom, Helsinki
2023 Kuvan Kevät MFA degree show, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki
2021 Väriä pimeyteen, Galleria Katariina, Helsinki
2020 Young Artist Show, Finnish Watercolor Society, Helsinki
2020 HAA 25th Anniversary, Galleria Katariina, Helsinki
2018 Ykköset, Galleria Vaaga, Helsinki
2017 Pienin Yhteinen Nimittäjä, Galleria Vaaga, Helsinki
2017 Suomi 100 Hämeessä, Häme region touring exhibition
2016 Re-enchantment, the Asylum, London, UK
Grants
2025 Finnish Cultural Foundation, travel grant (Meninas collective)
2025 Finnish Cultural Foundation 2-year working grant
2024 Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse grant
2023 Academy of Fine Arts award for MFA thesis
2023 Anita Snellman Foundation grant
2022 Academy of Fine Arts grant
2021 Sasakawa Foundation grant
2020 GJ Ramstedt grant
2017 Chujo Watanabe grant
AWARDS
2023 Shortlisted, Global Design Graduate Show, London, UK
2023 First prize + Audience favourite, Hotel GLO Art competition, Helsinki
Residencies
2025 Ars Bioarctica residency, Kilpisjärvi Biological Station
2025 Workspace residency, HIAP Suomenlinna, Helsinki
2024 International mentorship programme, Saastamoinen Foundation
2022 Academy of Fine Arts residency, Berlin, DE
2021 Lowe & Hallenberg, two-month research trip, Tokyo, JP
2018 Young Artist Residency, Salmela Art Center, Mäntyharju
Works in Collections
Hotel GLO Art, Helsinki
Salmela Art Center
Mäntyharju Municipal Collection
Private collections
Memberships
Finnish Painters’ Union
Helsinki Artist Association
Bioart Society
© photography Petri Summanen
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© Laura Lowe 2026