SEE | Gary Bowling

Well known for his large scale, expansive natural landscapes, Gary Bowling is a regional artist with an authentic understanding of prairie, woods, and agricultural scenery. Bowling’s paintings employ impasto paint handling and astute use of color in the style of contemporary impressionism.

With a career of fifty-plus years, Gary Bowling has an extensive exhibition record. Bowling has participated in the US State Department’s Art in Embassies program, having work placed in Turkey, Eswatini, and Ethiopia. He regularly exhibits in galleries, universities, museums and art centers across the Midwest and Plains states; locally Gary’s work is held in private and corporate collections, including Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Thrivent, Securian, and Target.

SEE is a collection of paintings which integrates the visual and experienced world. Bowling explains this deceptively straightforward show title:

“Seeing means more than measuring and identifying objects. Seeing is reaching out to unfold the qualities, character, and magic of a place or moment so it embraces me and becomes a meaningful experience.

“When I was young, I came across an idea that I associate with Marshall McLuhan: “A purpose of art is to make the invisible (or that which has become invisible) visible again.” One of my earliest childhood memories was the feeling of Mom rocking me, and Mom directing my attention, telling me to “look.”

“Through my art I am first trying to find a way to nail down something that is elusive, but I want to hold on to. So, my paintings are a way of clarifying and capturing that for myself. Through my art, I hope to invite others to share that and discover what our experiences have in common. “Look at this!” The paintings are not narrative; the viewer is the experiencing participant of place, moment, and beauty inside the painting.”

Gary Bowling will present an artist talk at the gallery on Saturday, October 3 at 5PM. SEE will be presented concurrently with Parallel Practice, an exhibition of life drawings by six artists, on view September 12 - October 17, 2026.