Painting-Object_02(c01-26)P.P, 2026, paint and objects,
21h x 14w x 14d (variable)
Recently exhibited in Planning Permission group show at @freshsaladart (thank u for the đź“·) in Brighton, GB.
Stepping away from the
role of just "object maker", experiementing with somesort of quasi-spiritual-Beuysian mediator attitude, I invited the organisers of this exh to reconfigure the various 'painting-objects' parts of this artwork according to their own intuition. In this sense artistic
community is the primary driver of the work.
“The artworks in this exhibition will be asked to be considered as depictions of dreamlike architecture. Forming questions surrounding hypothetical if not impossible constructions.Â
Focusing on colour and form, suggestions of arches, columns, and other structures will reveal themselves. Being brought together on an imagined site of chaotic scale and proportion, creating an abstracted city-scape to navigate.Â
The show will be titled Planning Permission, in the aims to highlight the comical complexity of not only the premise of the fantastical builds but also the slow bureaucratic process of permitted development.”
Planning Permission is organized by Artist-run platform @freshsaladart thank you for including my artwork in this!
PV: Friday 23rd January, 6.30 - 8-30pmÂ
The show will be open @gallery19a in Brighton, UK between the 24th Jan - 3rd Feb 2026.
Featuring artworks by:
@bbencoleman@ar.chie.art@toby.rainbird@batch123@bruce_ingram@fischersculpture@lotti_v_closs@zak.al@kaytwoods_@esmebone@stuburkeart@nigelmassey77 Â @dylanwhiteart@jackginno@esmemcmillanscott@bobbydowler@slavengbb
A few more closer-up pics arrived courtesy of the best curator @yasmine.helou .
It's hard to explain the messy chaos and chance events that take place in my process, but as a little insight, the ceramic cactus was bought from a supermarket in two halves near Lisbon, glued together then painted by studio assistants (unbeknownst to them), then finally married to this pile up of canvasses in CDMX. I was inspired by a kitsch set of mini canvases that one can purchase cheaply. In my more recent, more sculptural work nothing is fixed and so the composition can change over time and sometimes it does! At some point an obvious, yet not often said truth dawned on me: The owner of an object nearly always has the legal right to do whatever they want with 'their' possessions (I've been re-cycling paintings and their frames for a looooong time), and this includes artwork originally made by others. I just make this more explicit now by telling people to do what they want, and it has led to many curious results. (This work was executed before I made it explicit, although it was always lurking, uncomfortably in the background). Sometimes a friend, curator or gallerist would suggest turning my apparently finished painting-object upside-down or back-to-front. I had to swallow my ego, and admit that I was no genius artist, but more of a principal servant helping guide a weird communal process into new and unknown territories.
V. happy that this well-travelled artwork, originally exhibited at Casa Gilardi found a great place to live w the best custodian last yr!
Bobby Dowler, Painting-Object_11(c02-25), 2025, paint and objects,
13.5 x 15 x 14 cm (10 parts)
#artwork🎨
These recent artworks represent an evolution in my work! While each piece still emerges from my established method of cutting, pasting, painting, and building—utilizing remnants from rejected paintings and wood-stretcher frame supports—these are more explicitly sculptural, and incomplete by nature.
I treat the canvas like a physical building block, whose dimensions and "objectness" help me to stimulate discovery through creative action. These are balancing triplets that make up pyramid-like forms. Each painting is placed, not fixed, allowing them to be easily dismantled and reformed by hand without tools. I do not plan outcomes; I am guided by surprise. To me, they appear like architectural maquettes—irrational, dreamy, or childlike inventions.
Further development is permitted during exhibitions, via my invitation for communal action. I invite the viewer to join my process by deconstructing and reforming each sculpture to create new combinations according to their own creative whims.
People of Bilbao, HOMEWORK edition of 75 available in the flesh this weekend @balabilbao@rekaldearetoa , among many other amazing publications !!
Stand M.B Etc @manu_blazquez (amazing artist!)
Homework published by @galeria__alegria
Bookfair Dec 12-14th, 2025
THE LIFE OF SURPLUS & SYSTEMS
LAST HOURS TO VISIT @bobbydowler
Our visitors responded to the artist’s invitation to interact with the works and assemble their own. The works took many forms, evolving with the daily interactions.
Dates: 22.10 - 08.11
Opening hours: 11h00 - 18h00
Address: Vie Projects, 55 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003, Paris
Exhibition curated by Yasmine Helou @yasmine.helou
Photos by Fionn O’Toole @fionn.otoole
LAST DAYS
SURPLUS & SYSTEM: STUDIES IN REBUILT FORM, Bobby Dowler @bobbydowler
On view until 08 November.
Opening hours: 11h00 - 18h00, Monday - Saturday
Address: Vie Projects, 55 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003, Paris
Exhibition curated by Yasmine Helou @yasmine.helou
Photos by Fionn O’Toole @fionn.otoole
PAINTING-OBJECT(10-25)S&S.JDS-YH
A site-specific hanging sculpture by Bobby Dowler @bobbydowler , crafted specially for Surplus & System: Studies in Rebuilt Form. In collaboration with architect Julien De Smedt @juliendesmedt and curator Yasmine Helou @yasmine.helou
On view until 08 November.
Opening hours: 11h00 - 18h00, Monday - Saturday
Address: Vie Projects, 55 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003, Paris
Exhibition curated by Yasmine Helou @yasmine.helou
Photos by Fionn O’Toole @fionn.otoole
