Seth Howe's Journey Into Perception, Consciousness, and the Art of Seeing Through Minimalist Geometries

an article written by Mona Lisa Abramovich

Seth Howe (b. 1960) is an American artist whose work focuses on the complexities of perception, consciousness, and the act of seeing. His artistic journey is rooted in a deep personal exploration of how humans experience and understand the world through visual sensation, mental observation, and memory. Having initially pursued a career in architecture, Howe eventually turned to art as a more fluid and immediate way to investigate his concerns about perception, self-awareness, and the nature of reality. His artwork is marked by its minimalist aesthetic and its attempt to serve as "instruments for seeing," rather than mere representations.

Seth Howe, Stackwork 6, Aluminum, 12 x 6 x 6 inches.

Seth Howe, Stackwork S1, Aluminum & Enamel, 16.25 x 7 x7 inches.

Artistic Philosophy and Vision
Howe’s work delves into the fundamental human experience of seeing and understanding the world around us. For him, the act of seeing is not merely about visual perception, but a holistic process that involves navigating space, interacting with the environment, and questioning how we perceive our own consciousness. This exploration manifests through the use of simple geometric forms, precision in materials, and an emphasis on repetition, which invites viewers to engage with the physical reality of his pieces in the present moment.

​Howe’s background in architecture profoundly informs his practice. His initial engagement with space-making as an architect evolved into a desire to explore these concerns through art, which he saw as a more nimble and immediate medium. The structure and discipline of architecture, combined with his fascination for modernist principles and his father’s influence as a mechanical engineer, are visible in his meticulous constructions. These works are not about metaphor or narrative; rather, they are about the raw, conscious act of seeing itself.

The Mechanism of Seeing (detail), on view in Picturing Light at FIT, courtesy of the artist.

The Mechanism of Seeing (detail), on view in Picturing Light at FIT, courtesy of the artist.

The Role of Perception and Reality
Central to Howe's work is a deep inquiry into how we perceive reality. He questions the cultural constructs, language, and social frameworks that influence our perception of the world. Drawing inspiration from fields such as quantum physics and metaphysical philosophies like non-duality, Howe seeks to challenge the viewer’s understanding of the environment and their own consciousness. His artworks invite introspection, functioning as tools for examining the act of perception in its purest form.

​His minimalist aesthetic mirrors his metaphysical concerns. By stripping away extraneous elements, Howe focuses on the essential components of perception: light, form, and space. His "Stackworks" series, for instance, embodies this ethos. The simple repetition of aluminum strips creates objects that, when viewed from different angles, reveal complex geometries, voids, and patterns. This interaction between the viewer and the work is integral, as it mimics the experience of perceiving the world—layered, multifaceted, and ever-shifting.

Media and Process
Howe works primarily with metal, especially aluminum, which he manipulates into highly refined and precise constructions. His process involves cutting the aluminum parts with waterjets, creating textured edges, and then pinning them together in exacting formations. The contrast between the raw, scratched aluminum and its highly polished or painted counterparts reflects his interest in the dualities of perfection and imperfection, of the seen and the unseen.

​Beyond his sculptural works, Howe engages with other media, such as drawings, photography, and video. These two-dimensional works derive from his three-dimensional constructions, reifying moments of perception and movement. He also experiments with new technologies like 3D printing and CNC machining, using them to create study models that inform his larger projects. Each medium feeds into the other, creating a continuous feedback loop of exploration and refinement.

Influences and Inspirations​
Seth Howe cites late 20th-century minimalist artists like Robert Irwin and Fred Sandback as key influences. Irwin’s work on phenomenology and his minimalist transformations of spaces resonate with Howe’s interests in perception and the origins of reality. Irwin’s ideas on how meaning is formed through sensation, signs, and language have been especially impactful on Howe’s conceptual approach. Sandback’s simple yet elegant use of space, using yarn to create spatial interventions, also had a profound influence on Howe’s approach to minimalism and space-making.

Stackwork V Sculptures & Diamond Prints

Instruments for Seeing
Howe’s work is not about representation or metaphor, but rather the direct experience of seeing. Through his minimalist constructions, he invites viewers to engage deeply with their own perception, to explore how they navigate space, and to challenge their preconceived notions of reality. His work, informed by architecture, science, and metaphysics, transcends the material realm, offering a contemplative space where the act of seeing becomes a vehicle for greater self-awareness and a deeper understanding of the human condition.

​In this ongoing exploration of perception and reality, Seth Howe has created a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. His art challenges the viewer to question their relationship with the world and to experience the sublime through the simple act of seeing.

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This article about Seth Howe, takes part of the ARTICULATE PROMOTE Programme in colaboration with PRFORARTISTS.