Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781588347190)

Celebrate Native American artist Truman Lowe in this career retrospective featuring 100+ images and intimate insights on his one-of-a-kind sculptures.

Published in conjunction the Smithsonian exhibition--a must-see for fans of contemporary art and Indigenous art

Nationally acclaimed artist Truman Lowe (Ho-Chunk, 1944-2019) was best known for his sculptures that transform wood into water. Working with organic materials such as willow branches and feathers, his artworks evoke the rivers, streams, and waterfalls in Black River Falls, Wisconsin where he was raised, as well as the history and lived experiences of his family and Ho-Chunk community. Water's Edge is a stunning retrospective, featuring nearly five decades of Lowe's sculptures, drawings, and paintings.

The introduction explores the overlapping themes of moving water, woodland structures, memory and knowledge, and landscape and place that permeate Lowe's work. Essays from scholars contextualize the art within his life, career, and heritage, including the repeated expulsion of the Ho-Chunk people from their ancestral homeland and their resolve to return. In deeply moving reflections, fellow artists share their connections to Lowe, his influence on their lives and work, and his impact on American art.

In addition to featuring his breathtaking work, the book includes lesser known drawings and personal photos of his family and studio to offer an intimate look at his influences and process. Highlighting work that is both innovative and rooted in tradition, Water's Edge is a gorgeous tribute to the evolution of one of the sculpting world's greatest practitioners.

Author: Rebecca Head Trautmann
ISBN-10: 1588347192
ISBN-13: 9781588347190
Publisher: Smithsonian Books
Language: English
Published: 10/21/2025
Pages: 176
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs