In the 2000s, Nate Lowman emerged as a prominent figure in contemporary art, developing a distinctive style characterized by the appropriation of popular culture, mass media imagery, and found objects. His work from this decade reflects his critical engagement with themes such as violence, celebrity culture, and the commodification of everyday objects. Lowman's first significant solo exhibition, "The End. And Other American Pastimes," was held in 2005 at Maccarone Gallery in New York. This exhibition featured several of his now-iconic bullet hole paintings, which use shaped canvases to mimic the appearance of bullet-riddled surfaces. These works juxtapose the aesthetics of violence with a pop art sensibility, critiquing the normalization of gun violence in American culture. The show also included found images from newspapers, signs, and ads, showcasing Lowman's fascination with youth, innuendo, and masculinity (David Zwirner, Gagosian). Throughout the 2000s, Lowman's practice expanded to include a variety of media and techniques. He utilized silkscreen, alkyd paint, and collage, often incorporating elements of graffiti and street art. His work from this period frequently engaged with the legacy of pop art, particularly the strategies of appropriation and recontextualization employed by artists like Andy Warhol and Richard Prince. For example, Lowman's reinterpretation of Willem de Kooning's "Marilyn Monroe" series combines de Kooning's expressive brushwork with the vibrant colors of 1980s surfboards, creating a dialogue between different eras and styles (Gagosian, David Zwirner). In addition to his gallery exhibitions, Lowman participated in several high-profile group shows and collaborative projects. In 2006, he exhibited at Midway Contemporary Art in Minneapolis, where he provided rejected bullet hole canvases to other artists, such as Dan Colen and Adam McEwen, to create new works. This collaborative approach underscored Lowman's interest in the intersections of art, celebrity, and media culture (Gagosian). By the end of the decade, Lowman's work had been included in significant exhibitions at major institutions, such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Aspen Art Museum. His art continued to explore and critique contemporary American life, using familiar symbols and imagery to reveal the underlying tensions and contradictions in society (David Zwirner, Artnet). The 2000s were a transformative decade for Nate Lowman, establishing him as a critical voice in contemporary art. His innovative use of media and his incisive commentary on popular culture and societal issues set the stage for his continued evolution as an artist in the following decades (Sotheby's, Artsy).