Over the next few months we are offering a glimpse into the creative process of the Art Department’s graduating master of fine arts candidates, who are presenting their final thesis exhibitions throughout the spring semester. These exhibitions represent the culmination of years of dedicated study and artistic exploration, showcasing our students’ diverse talents and innovative approaches to art-making.

Mallory Stowe is a contemporary figurative painter interested in “anxiety and awe surrounding the natural world.” Her work focuses on human and ecological interconnection.

Stowe writes that her cinematic paintings “capture awe or overwhelm. The works reflect how systems of memory — whether in the body, the environment, or society — can perpetuate suffering or nurture empathy.”

Stowe’s final thesis exhibition, “Both the Spine and the Underbelly,” will be on view at UW–Madison’s Art Lofts Gallery from April 7–13. A reception, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Thursday, April 10, from 5 to 8 p.m.

We asked Stowe to share insights into her exhibition. Below is an edited Q&A:

How did you come up with the title of your exhibition? The title, “Both the Spine and the Underbelly,” reflects the tension between strength and vulnerability, care and disregard. It speaks to the complexities of survival and the ways we engage with the natural world.

What inspired you to create this work?