Rudy Loewe was born into a family of Caribbean descent in London in 1987, earning a BA in Illustration at the University of Brighton (2010), followed by an MFA in Visual Communication from the Konstfack in Stockholm (2018). Through paintings, drawings, and text that merge traditional and comic book styles, Loewe invites audiences to reconsider established historical narratives and to imagine alternative futures, centered around Black, queer, and trans experiences.
Artist Rudy Loewe was born into a family of Caribbean descent in London in 1987. Loewe’s formative years in the city's culturally rich environment laid the foundation for their deep engagement with themes of identity, resistance, and narrative reclamation. Loewe graduated with a BA in Illustration at the University of Brighton in 2010. This period was crucial in shaping their early artistic expressions, particularly through the medium of zines. Loewe's journey with graphic novels and zines is deeply rooted in their commitment to addressing key issues, such as mental health, queerness, non-binary identities, and trauma, which reflect their personal experiences and the dynamics of the communities of which they are part. Emerging from their background in illustration and engagement with DIY community organising, Loewe has utilised these mediums, not only as forms of artistic expression, but also as vital tools for community dialogue and support. Their work in graphic novels and zines serves as a platform to explore various political movements and to create accessible resources that empower and educate marginalised groups, reflecting a deep commitment to fostering understanding and change through art. Loewe’s commitment to exploring personal and collective narratives deepened with further studies at Konstfack in Stockholm, where Loewe obtained an MFA in Visual Communication in 2018. The move to Stockholm marked a significant phase, broadening their artistic and cultural perspectives and refining their focus on marginalised voices and histories. Currently, Loewe is enriching their academic and practical expertise through a practice-based PhD at the University of the Arts London, which commenced in 2021. This research is particularly poignant as it critiques Britain’s role in suppressing Black Power movements in the English-speaking Caribbean during the 1960s and 70s. Loewe has expressed the significant emotional impact of accessing these newly public records, and through their art, they seek to dissect and challenge the complexities of these interactions (Stuart Hall Foundation). Through this PhD, funded by Techne, Loewe is not only investigating historical injustices, but also creating art that challenges and reinterprets these narratives.
Loewe’s practice is multifaceted, encompassing drawing, comics, illustrations, and zines, heavily influenced by notable figures such as Bell Hooks, Assata Shakur, and Paulo Friere, whose writings on oppression and education resonate deeply with Loewe. This influence is evident in Loewe’s approach to art as a tool for empowerment, resistance, and narrative autonomy. They have expressed a particular disinterest in catering their work to a white audience, focusing instead on creating for and speaking to communities similar to their own (No Fly on the Wall interview). Loewe has actively participated in numerous exhibitions both in the UK and internationally, including Bloomberg New Contemporaries (2022) and New Art Exchange (NAE OPEN 22) in Nottingham (2022), while their international footprint includes exhibitions at EFA Project Space in New York and Botkyrka Konsthall in Stockholm. These exhibitions have often explored themes of Black resistance, queer identity, and the complexities of historical narratives. Loewe has also participated in several residencies, including Ecologias Especulativas at Labverde in Brazil (2023), Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridge, England (2023), and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada (2019). Each residency has offered Loewe unique opportunities to deepen their engagement with community, history, and artistic expression. Public commissions are also a significant aspect of Loewe’s portfolio, demonstrating their ability to engage with broader audiences and participate in civic dialogues. Projects such as the LDN WMN billboard, commissioned by Tate and the Mayor of London, and The Depths of Our History, commissioned by Iniva and RSA Academies, underscore Loewe’s commitment to bringing marginalised histories and perspectives to the forefront of public consciousness.
Loewe's recent exhibitions, such as Unattributable Briefs: Act One and Act Two, explore declassified government records to expose suppressed histories of Black resistance. The former, held at Staffordshire St Gallery in Peckham in 2022, focused on the resistance movements in Bermuda and Trinidad & Tobago from 1969–71, using archival documents to challenge dominant historical narratives and highlight the active resistance against colonial influence. Following this, Act Two, showcased at the Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham in 2023, continued this exploration by examining the complicity of The National Archives in maintaining this suppression, aiming to create an alternative archive that embeds the vibrancy and urgency of these historical resistances into the artwork itself. Through these exhibitions, Loewe used painting and drawing intertwined with text to not only critique historical records, but also to reinvigorate the memory of these crucial movements, offering new perspectives and honoring the resilience of the Black communities involved. Loewe’s work is not currently represented in UK public collections.