is the collaboration of Minneapolis artists Beth Lowe and Jill Matuska. In 2006 they inadvertently began collaborating on a piece titled “One”, which Beth was initially commissioned to create. Beth has an astute affinity for drawing and naturally feels comfortable working in black and white. But this painting required Beth to work outside of her comfort zone and pushed her into a period of creative frustration. In order to get the piece completed, Jill began adding bits and pieces of color to the work. Oddly, Beth had no qualms about handing her massive black and white painting to Jill who began manipulating the color.  “One” is the stunning result of the natural creative collaboration that occurred between these two artists.

In the fall of 2009, a year after “One” was completed, Beth and Jill decided to revisit their collaborative effort and began working on a series of new paintings. Drawing inspiration from astronomy, botany, physiology, and documentaries on science and social conflicts, their work is an otherworldly abstraction of organic shapes and vibrant colors. At times it seems as though they steal subtle elements from graffiti and video game art, and the organic nature of their paintings appear to be abstract depictions of actual living organisms or cosmic places.  Regardless, their collaborative effort seems to have a life of its own similar to that of the images depicted in their work.

Beth Lowe is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native and a 2004 graduate of the Minneapolis Arts Institute. Her childhood was spent exploring the woods in her backyard and watching her brother conjure up doodles before her eyes. Her sketchbook is filled with images created from a simple ballpoint pen and sometimes a B6 graphite pencil. Beth is continually working on a variety of side projects, and currently is experimenting with translating her 2D drawings into sculptures.

Jill Matuska grew up in the small farm town of Glencoe, Minnesota. With little to do but pass time by watching grass grow, she relied heavily on her creativity and love of music to get through the slow days of small town life. She holds degrees in Criminology and Graphic Design. She currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Coming soon – archival quality prints!