T. M. MacLowe American

With T. M. MacLowe’s work, the reaction from the viewer is immediate and instinctual. The political and social commentaries on current events are direct and unapologetic, giving viewers the opportunity to assess their society and themselves within it. The artwork morphs these thoughts into stunning visual creations that represent opinions that are shared by many, but often kept private. These works show how our current society is redefining itself and is reminiscent of the works of Leon Golub, Barbara Kruger, Alfredo Jaar, Peter Kennard, Jenny Holzer and Hans Haacke.

T. M. MacLowe is the pseudonym of an artist who is believed to be based out of the East coast, but it is impossible to say with certainty. No one knows who the artist is. We know nothing of his/her age, gender, background or beliefs. Beyond the title, “Everybody Is Happy,” the work speaks for itself. It has to. There is no back-story, no past, and no evolution through education to follow the artist’s name. All the viewer has is the work before them: a larger-than-life ‘2016’ bumper sticker mirroring those from the Obama presidential campaigns and a baseball cap embroidered in gold with ‘DOW 20,000’. Together, these artworks create a space where “Everybody Is Happy.”

MacLowe is one of many who have chosen to separate their name from their artwork. An artist might take a pseudonym so as not to seriously harm his or her reputation or for the purpose of protection, primarily in the case of exposé art about the artworld or social issues. With anonymity, artists are able to express their convictions without worrying about negative repercussions. Banksy and Phelgo are among the most well known pseudonyms in the art community. Their masked identities allow their work to not only be viewed without any preconceived notions, but also allow it to be controversial and push boundaries without any risk, just as MacLowe does with this work.