Nate Lowman's "Trash Landing" series, exhibited in 2011 at Maccarone and Gavin Brown's Enterprise in New York, represents a significant body of work that delves into themes of cultural alienation, violence, and the media's portrayal of celebrities. The exhibition featured a range of large-scale paintings, some as big as ten feet on each side, which reflect Lowman's critical engagement with pop culture and historical references.

The series prominently includes works inspired by Willem de Kooning's famous 1954 "Marilyn Monroe" painting. Lowman reinterprets de Kooning's iconic piece using his unique style, integrating silk-screen images and alkyd paint on drop cloths. These works juxtapose the glamorized image of Marilyn Monroe with themes of exploitation and voyeurism, critiquing the media's objectification of female celebrities (Interview Magazine) (Time Out Worldwide).

"Trash Landing" also features recurring motifs such as bullet holes and car air fresheners, which are common in Lowman's oeuvre. These symbols serve to create an alternative iconography that speaks to the darker aspects of American culture, including its obsession with violence and consumerism. The exhibition included sculptures made from rusted gas station pumps, which act as metaphors for environmental destruction and political conflict, particularly the Iraq War (Interview Magazine) (Time Out Worldwide).

"Trash Landing" exemplifies Lowman's ability to transform mundane and familiar objects into potent symbols that critique contemporary society. By recontextualizing images and employing a bricolage technique, Lowman invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of culture and the often hidden narratives within it (Interview Magazine) (Time Out Worldwide).