Ben Cowan's Fragmentary Paintings Merge Gothic and Baroque Gestures

Ben Cowan (b. 1985, Ann Arbor, Michigan) creates paintings that explore gesture, illusion, and perception through fragmented compositions. His works, including "L’occhio di Maria" (2025) and "Caravaggio Mano n.2" (2025), reference Gothic altarpieces and Baroque masters like Caravaggio. The artist uses hands, eyes, and religious iconography to bridge Renaissance traditions with contemporary disillusionment. A 2001 essay by André Chastel on Giovanni Bonifacio's treatise "L’arte de’ cenni" is cited, discussing gesture as a visual language. Cowan's practice involves shadow play and color fields, evoking a seductive fragmentary aesthetic. The article by Floriana Savino on Collater.al highlights these themes without specifying an exhibition or venue.