Profile Photo

Fab (Fabienne) Sowa - Dobkowski

  • 419 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA
  • 419

About The Artist

Artist Statement

Using photography as a primary form of artistic expression, I discovered a passion for nature photography and illuminating the hidden world for the viewer. I organize my pictures into thoughtful documented series to promote environmental awareness through aesthetic perceptions and interpretations of hierarchy of genres.

My distinct post-processing techniques are used to preserve the authenticity of the subject and scene. This artistic journey seeks to arouse the senses while highlighting the compelling stories that take place in the ordinary world. Each process is inspired by the subject itself and what will best portrait its fundamental essence.

Biography

Fabienne (Fab) Sowa – Dobkowski is a California-based, self-taught photographer and independent scholar with a PhD in Art History. Her work showcases the ambivalent relationship between humankind and nature through an intersection of fine art and documentary photography. Born and raised in Belgium, Fab has lived in Spain, France, England, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Colorado, and Texas. She moved to the Bay Area in 2000 and pursued her doctorate degree in Art History at l’Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) remotely, while raising her children. During her time at ULB, she worked under the direction of the renowned art historian and director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Dr. Michel Draguet. She now has an academic career as an art historian with Southern New Hampshire University and resides in the Sierra Nevada Foothills with her husband and their fur babies where she nurtures her artistic endeavors. Combining the skills and knowledge gained through her academic pursuits and the trials and tribulations of motherhood, Fab found her passion in photography. With sensibilities deeply rooted in the fine-arts traditions, her photography reverses the anthropocentric perspective of the art genres to portray the transient and illustrate the interconnectivity of humanity and nature. Her work has won multiple awards and has been exposed in juried exhibition and group art shows since 2020. Her photographs are currently in private collections in Europe and the United States.

Art Medium(s)

Digital Art, Photography

Studio Information

Building Name

Corte Madera Town Center

Studio Or Unit Number

419

Special Location Or Visiting Instructions

Next to Anthem, across from Crate & Barrel

COVID Precautions

Contact Information

Phone

415-342-2102

Exhibitions & Press

Group Exhibitions

2025

Lottery for the Arts, Blu Line Arts, Roseville, CA

Marin Community Foundation Art Showcase, Marin Community Foundation (Juror: Micah Le Brun)

Atelier on Main, Switchboard Gallery, Placerville, CA (Juror: Polly LaPorte)

 

2024

Blue, O’Hanlon center for the arts, Mill Valley, CA (Juror: Sarah Shepard)

Folsom Art Association Summer Membership Show, at the Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA

Art Auction Season, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, (Juried in)

Floral Fantasies, O’Hanlon center for the arts, Mill Valley, CA (Juror: Gayle Nicoletti and Linda Larson)

Aperture, General Gomez Arts, Auburn, CA, (Juror: David Burns)

The Abstract Image, Southeast Center for Photography, Greenville, SC (Jurors: Mia Dalglish and Lisa Woodward)

Captured, Art League of Lincoln, Lincoln, CA

Lottery for the Arts, Blu Line Arts, Roseville, CA

Captured Expressions, 6th Street Gallery, Art League of Lincoln, Lincoln, CA

Dualities, O’Hanlon center for the arts, Mill Valley, CA (Juror: Bonnie Powers & Jeffrey Levin)

A Generous Kingdom VIII: Art that explored symbolism, story, and beyond, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, online Gallery (Curator: Jennifer Gillia Cutchall)

 

2023

Mother Lode Show, The MACC, Rancho Cordova, CA (Juror William Ishmael)

American Dreamers: The Art of Local Immigrants, The MACC, Rancho Cordova, CA

Element of Nature Exhibit, J. Mane Gallery, Gold Award, Online Exhibition (Juror: Jessica Manelis)

Critters’ Show, Jen Tough Gallery, Artsy (Juror Jen Tough)

The Autumn Artist Collective, Jen Tough Gallery, Artsy

The Artist’s Mind, Placerville Arts Association Summer Member Exhibition, Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA (Juror: Joyce Bahnsen)

Small Art for a Big Cause, The MACC, Rancho Cordova, CA, (Curated by Cheryl Gleason)

Cal Expo Photography Exhibit, Sacramento, CA, (Award of Merit #1)

Art Auction Season, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, (Juried in)

Placerville Arts Association Spring Member Show, Government Center, Placerville, CA (First Place, Photography Category, Juror: Leslie McCarron)

Placerville Arts Association Summer Show at the Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA

Exposed, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA (Juror: Germán Herrera)

APERTURE, General Gomez Arts, Auburn, CA, (Juror: David Burns)

Women in Art, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, (online exhibition)

Taking Shape: Abstraction to Figuration, Artist Alliance, Artsy, (Juror: Jackie Gendel)

8th “Figurative” art competition, Art Show International Gallery online exhibition (Talent award)

Into the Light, Artist Alliance, Artsy, (Juror Laura Sanders)

Botanical, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA (online exhibition)

Small Works III, Artist Alliance, Artsy, (Juror: Julie Farstad)

Water, Art Show International Gallery, online exhibition, (Finalist award)

 

2022

Macro: Larger Than Life, Praxis Photo Arts Center, Minneapolis, MI (curated by Praxis Directors)

Mother Lode Show, The MACC, Rancho Cordova, CA (Juror: Barbara Burge)

Placerville Arts Association Fall Member Show, Government Center, Placerville, CA (First Place, Photography Category)
Green Environment exhibition The SE Center for Photography. Greenville, SC (Juror: Douglas Stockdale)

Beauty in the Beasts, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA

Abstracts Art Exhibitions. J. Mane Gallery, online (Juror: Jessica Manelis, Honorable Mention Award)

Women In Art Exhibition, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA (online exhibition)

Landscape and Architecture: 2022, Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR (Juror Todd Johnson)

Fins, Feathers & Fur Art Exhibition, J. Mane Gallery (Juror: Jessica Manelis, Honorable Mention)

Placerville Arts Association Spring Member Show, Government Center, Placerville, CA (First Place, Photography Category)

Landscapes 2022, Art Exhibition at J. Mane Gallery, online gallery (Juror: Jessica Manelis, Third Place)

9th Annual Abstract Sanctuary, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, online, (Juror: Jennifer Gillia Cutshall)

 

2021

Abstract Show, Gallery Ring, online exhibition (Crystal Award)

Abstract, Art Room Gallery, online exhibition (Finalist)

Colorful Abstractions Art, Fusion.Art, online gallery, (Finalist)

Waterscapes Art Exhibition, Fusion.Art, online gallery (Honorable Mention (Photography & Digital))

Landscapes and Seascapes, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

Landscapes, Art Competition, Art Room Gallery. online gallery (Honorable Mention)

Floral Art Show, Grey Cube Gallery, online exhibition (Finalist)

The Art of B&W, MIA Photo Fair, Piazza Lina Bo Bardi, Milano, Italy, cancelled due to Covid-19.

Flower – Still Life” Show, Gallery Ring online gallery (Crystal Award)

Colors. Art Room Gallery, online gallery (Finalist)

Annual Landscapes Art Exhibition, Fusion.Art, online gallery.

Quiet Landscape, Photo Place Gallery, Middlebury, VT (Jurors: Laura Jacob and Alissa Hessler)

Seasons Art Show, Grey Cube Gallery, online gallery (Merit Award)

 

2020

Small Works – Big Talent, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA (online exhibition)

Black & White International Online Juried Art, Exhibition.Fusion.Art online gallery. (Finalist)

Minimalism Exhibition, Los Angeles Center of Photography, Los Angeles, California. (Cancelled due to Covid-19)

Creative Composition Exhibition,t Espaço Espelho D’agua, Lisbon, Portugal.

Camera Work: Landscape and Architecture. Black Box Gallery, Portland, Oregon (Juror: Todd Johnson)

Land Water Sky, Gallery Ring, online gallery (Rubby Award)

Waters Exhibition, International Room Gallery online gallery (Honorable Mention)

Nature, Grey Cube Gallery, online gallery (Honorable Mention)

Forests & Meadows. Grey Cube Gallery, online gallery (Honorable Mention)

 

2019

Architecture Exhibit. Valid World Hall, Barcelona, Spain

Vision: Black and White, Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR. Online Annex Exhibition, (Juror: Todd Johnson)

 

Education

Description

PhD in History of Art and Archeology from l’Université Libre de Bruxelles

Master’s degree in history, Cultures and Societies, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Bachelor’s degree in art history and Archeology, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Extensive classes in painting and drawing, self-taught photographer, and digital artist.

MOS GALLERY

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