By blending his creative practice with deep community engagement, Rick Lowe has redefined the role of art in society. For over thirty years, he has pushed the boundaries of visual arts, combining prestigious exhibitions with transformative community projects that use art as a tool for social change.

In 1993, Lowe cofounded Project Row Houses in Houston’s historic Third Ward, a culturally rich African American neighborhood. He transformed a series of dilapidated shotgun houses into a vibrant arts and cultural hub, creating a national model for using art to revitalize communities and preserve heritage.

Lowe’s influence reaches far beyond Houston, with his work featured in major exhibitions worldwide, from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles to the Venice Architecture Biennale. His projects, whether in Korea or Dallas, consistently invite viewers to rethink the relationship between art and community. Likewise, his commitment to community engagement is evident in initiatives like the Watts House Project in Los Angeles and Transforma Projects in post-Katrina New Orleans, which harness creativity to rebuild and heal. Lowe’s collaborations with artists and architects on public-art initiatives, such as the Seattle Public Library and Delray Beach Cultural Loop, further underscore his dedication to integrating art into everyday life.

Lowe’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities, the Skowhegan Governors’ Award, and Creative Time’s Leonore Annenberg Prize for Art and Social Change. In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed him to the National Council on the Arts, and in 2014 he won a MacArthur Fellowship. Lowe’s roles on the boards of the Menil Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation, and Art + Practice reflect his commitment to fostering a more inclusive, socially engaged art world.

The photograph of Rick Lowe was taken by Nate Palmer.