Rowan Rohwer (he/him/it/its) is an artist compelled by mystery. Mystery is the power that transforms mundane, everyday objects, images, and occurrences into magical happenings to be investigated. He creates containers for and replicas of found objects of unknown origin, creating a catalogue not of inanimate objects, but of the traits which mark them as strange. Form and body are the primary concerns of Rowan’s works. He allows the natural surfaces of his materials to show, letting them present their status as replicas of the original subject. Rowan has always been drawn to found fragments of unknown wholes, and finds the pull of these artifacts impossible to ignore. He highlights the details that capture his interest and changes and removes clues about the materials or subjects of his works, forcing the viewer to fill in the gaps with their imagination. This creates a whole that exists only within the mind.
rohwerrowan @ gmail . com
@ emotionalmartian on instagram
rowanrohwer @ miad . edu • Milwaukee, WI
EDUCATION
BFA in Fine Arts/New Studio Practice
expected graduation date in May 2026
Intern at the Queer Zine Archive Project, fall 2025 - present
PROJECTS
Free admission t-shirt fundraiser in partnership with the Charles Allis Art Museum
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
GROUP SHOWS
2026
Class of 2026 Senior Thesis Exhibition
Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2025
Containment
Wallway Gallery, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Overgrown Pavement
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Much Love,
Var 5th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
In The Moment
Real Tinsel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2024
Printmaking Exhibit
Mallery sc. Firm, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sore Thumbs
Grey Area at Hawthorn Contemporary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Persistent Practice
Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2023
MIAD Freshman Showcase
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
MIAD Creative Fusion
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
PROJECT ORGANIZATION
T-shirt Fundraiser in collaboration with the Charles Allis Art Museum
Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
2022
MIAD Dean Recognition Scholarship
MIAD Faculty Choice Scholarship
PUBLICATIONS
2025
Junior catalogue 2025
2024
MIAD NSP Connections Interviews
Interview with Deb Sokolow