Owen Blackwell is an artist and, living, working, and studying in San Luis Obispo California.
Blackwell’s work is influenced by textiles and tile work, the folk traditions of both Chile and the United States, and urban morphology. His painting process is one of construction and excavation: paint is applied, sanded down, reworked, and revealed. Canvases, once abandoned, find new life.
Blackwell has studied Traditional Chilean Music at the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences in Santiago, Chile, as well as Jazz Studies at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California.
He is currently studying City & Regional Planning at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 - HAY FEVER, Cruise Control Contemporary, Cambria, CA
Group Exhibitions:
2025 - SUMMER BRAKE, Cruise Control Contemporary, Cambria, CA
Fairs
2025 - THISTLE, Muse Market’s Artist Corner, San Luis Obispo, CA
Music:
2025 - Demos and unreleased cuts of the SLO Underground, .wavzine
2026 - Under Midnight Sun, ℗ © Owen Blackwell
Awards, Grants, & Scholarships:
2026 - Michael McDougall Urban Design Scholarship — Cal Poly City & Regional Planning Department
2026 - Blank Canvas Arts Grant — SLO County Arts Council
CONTACT:
Owen Blackwell
theowenblackwell@gmail.com