An artist's reception for Destiny Bowman, pictured here, is Sept. 18 in SIU’s Sharp Museum for her exhibit “Alter Ego.” (Photo by Russell Bailey)
September 09, 2026
SIU Sharp Museum exhibition highlights local artist Destiny Bowman
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Local artist Destiny Bowman is sharing her work this fall in an exhibition hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Sharp Museum.
“Alter Ego” is a compilation of 18 pieces of Bowman’s work over the past year. A Denver-based artist, Bowman moved to Carbondale about four years ago and said she’s excited to share her work. The exhibition runs through Dec. 11, with a free, public artists’ reception from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.
“I’m very excited for the show,” Bowman said. “It will be my first solo show here and I’m thrilled to be able to share the work that I have been compiling for the past year. It’s nice to see the paintings hanging on the gallery walls instead of sitting in my studio.”
Bowman has been exploring the region’s art community and said she finds “artists supporting artists and they are very welcoming.”
A mix of realism and abstraction
T. Lance, the museum’s curator of exhibits, said they’re excited to showcase the work of local artists. Bowman’s subjects are “hyper-realistic with more expressive backgrounds and decisive, stylized embellishments,” Lance said, noting that in her still lifes and portraits, Bowman frequently mixes realism and abstraction — a juxtaposition that “elevates the complexity of her paintings.”
“A common theme in Bowman’s still life paintings is the concept of ‘memento mori,” or a reminder of death and a celebration of life, as evident in the inclusion of various symbols, such as fruit, skulls or bones, and half-empty or empty drinking glasses,” Lance said.
Drawing upon her personal experiences, Bowman creates art as a therapy — a way to communicate when it is difficult to do so with words. “Bowman knows the struggle of pushing through the dark to get to the light,” Lance said. “She captures those feelings and paints them as strengths, as dreams, as patience, as goddesses, as well as life and death.”
Began ‘dabbling’ in art as a child
Bowman’s interest in art started with doodles when she was young. It grew into “a more serious endeavor” as she got older. In high school, she built a portfolio for art school application — and she succeeded. She earned a scholarship to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. After attending for two years, Bowman moved to Denver, where she began working with Denver-based artist and mentor Daniel Sprick.
Bowman said that art is “pure therapy” for her.
“I don’t know what I would do without it,” she said. “When I’m working on a painting it gives my brain a chance to breathe. Art gives me a purpose and is a chance for me to share myself with others.”
Bowman wants people viewing the exhibition to “explore the weirdness in life when viewing the still lifes, while feeling a lightness with my figures. I’m showing the dichotomy of both side-by-side. I want people to enjoy their own experience when viewing my work.”
Museum hours
For more information on the exhibition, contact Lance at 618-453-5388 or t.lance@siu.edu or visit museum.siu.edu. Sharp Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and during all SIU breaks and holidays.
As with all exhibitions, the artwork represents the viewpoints of its creators, not SIU. SIU complies with the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.