Nate Lowman's "Hurricane" paintings are a compelling series that explore the intersection of natural disasters and media representation. These works transform digitally rendered images of hurricanes into vibrant, large-scale paintings. The series reflects Lowman's ongoing interest in the physicality of his medium and the chaotic subject matter it portrays.

Lowman employs techniques of staining and saturation, drawing inspiration from color field painters like Paul Feeley. This method allows him to create layered, textural pieces that convey the dynamic and often destructive power of hurricanes. By using oil and alkyd on linen, Lowman achieves a hazy, luminous quality in his paintings, reminiscent of historical disaster paintings such as Théodore Géricault’s "The Raft of the Medusa" (David Zwirner) (David Zwirner).

The "Hurricane" series also delves into the broader cultural and political implications of natural disasters. Lowman's work highlights how these events are represented and consumed in the media, probing the tensions between everyday life and extreme circumstances. His paintings, such as "Irma" (2022) and "Florence" (2022), capture the visual impact of these storms while commenting on the underlying themes of presence, absence, and violence (David Zwirner) (David Zwirner).

These paintings are part of a broader examination of catastrophe in Lowman's oeuvre, which includes depictions of crime scenes and other forms of societal violence. By integrating cataclysmic imagery with his distinctive artistic approach, Lowman challenges viewers to reconsider the ways in which such events are mediated and understood in contemporary culture (Northtown Books) (David Zwirner).