John Dowling Biography
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John Dowling Jr. is an accomplished abstract artist with a diverse background in creative fields. His lifelong passion for art, photography, and technology has culminated in a unique artistic vision.
John Dowling’s artistic journey began in his youth when he honed his skills in writing, photography, and computer technology. This early foundation laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in filmmaking, advertising, software design, and social media architecture.
John Dowling’s abstract art is characterized by its vibrant colors, dynamic compositions, and innovative techniques. He masterfully blends traditional painting with digital manipulation, creating captivating works that push the boundaries of abstract expression.
John Dowling Jr. is a highly creative individual with a diverse background. He was ahead of his time with technology. He became one of the first in his peer group to own a personal computer in seventh grade. This led to a career spanning film production, photography, software design, and even the architecture of secure social media platforms.
Born prematurely in Queens, New York, Dowling overcame early health challenges to become a six-foot-tall adult. As a toddler, his striking appearance attracted the attention of modeling agents. He pursued fitness modeling as a teenager. However, shyness prevented him from pursuing it full-time. John Dowling describes himself as having a constantly active mind, always seeking new creative outlets.
John Dowling Jr. comes from a close-knit family, with two sisters, two nephews, three nieces, and two adult children of his own. His father was a carpenter and “ironman.” Sadly, he passed away from cancer at 62. He was a significant influence. He fostered John’s creativity through woodworking.
John Dowling’s artistic talents were evident early on. He was a key contributor to a life-sized mural at his elementary school, which is still displayed today. He participated in school plays. He sang in the chorus and even performed solos. Then he shifted his focus to sports in junior high.
John Dowling strongly believes in teamwork. He was a wrestler for six years. He also participated in four varsity sports in his senior year of high school. This athletic dedication earned him an award given to only eight students in his graduating class. He shared his father’s passion for running. He participated in numerous races, including marathons, with his dad. His father was the founder of the Long Island Road Runners Club. John Dowling held a school record for the 220-meter relay with his teammates for over a decade. He also achieved a sub-five-minute mile.
Reading was challenging for John Dowling because of undiagnosed dyslexia. Despite this, he excelled academically. He graduated in the top 10% of his high school class with an honors diploma. His photographic memory compensated for his difficulty with long texts, though he’s still never read a novel. He considers computers and cameras extensions of his mind, having become proficient with technology early on.
John Dowling values his East Meadow upbringing and the friendships he formed there. His photography career began in high school, shooting pictures of his then-girlfriend. This opened the door to work with the Corbis Stock Market. By 21, his photographs were appearing on magazine covers. They were also featured in international ad campaigns.
John Dowling began his professional photography career while he was enrolled at Nassau Community College. There, he pursued a diverse range of studies. His talent, particularly with natural light, attracted major modeling agencies. He ultimately left college to pursue photography full-time. He moved to SOHO in New York City to work as an editorial and fashion photographer.
His work has been used by major fashion designers like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. However, he’s lost track of the sheer volume of his photographs over the years. John Dowling leveraged his photography connections. He found himself in front of the camera as a model, mainly for sports and fitness publications. He saw this as an opportunity to learn lighting techniques from masters like Ken Haak.
Despite his modeling success, appearing in magazines like GQ, John Dowling always preferred being behind the camera. Dowling eventually upgraded to a penthouse studio in Manhattan. He worked there as a photographer by day. At night, he supported himself by managing the VIP list at the Palladium nightclub. He drew on his prior experience as a bartender on Long Island.
While working at the Palladium, then the world’s most popular nightclub, John Dowling a.k.a. John Dowling Jr. interacted with numerous celebrities and even attended the first MTV Music Awards. He then transitioned to a corporate role as National Account Manager for New York Film Works. It is a leading photo lab. There, he gained expertise in traditional darkroom techniques.
In his early twenties, Dowling was diagnosed with multiple genetic mutations affecting fat metabolism. Despite a grim prognosis, he defied expectations. He attributed his survival to extensive walking, which helped him grow new arteries. He also credited advanced medical interventions. He credits several surgeons, including Dr. Jeffery Moses, and his primary care physician, Dr. Richard Shlofmits, Dr. Richard Montano, and Dr. Beklis, for their roles in his ongoing health journey.
Dowling emphasizes that his family motivated him to persevere through years of pain and medical challenges. His children, John and Emily, are from his previous marriage to Stephanie. He now increasingly focuses on writing, alongside his other creative pursuits.
Despite being a conservative father, John Dowling Jr. is open about his personal life, writing a novel, “Chapters of Love,” about his romantic experiences. Initially intended to remain private, the book will be published in March 2017 due to encouragement from friends.
His career has allowed him to collaborate with numerous models and actors globally, leading to many “Chapters of Love.” He has photographed, interviewed, and ghostwritten for various celebrities and dignitaries including:
Billy Joel, Neyo, Taylor Swift, PSY, Bette Midler, Alec Baldwin, F. Murray Abraham, Bon Jovi, Muhammad Ali, Modern English, Martin Short, Jill Nicolini, Melissa Baker, Willie Nelson, Ashley Massaro, Melissa Etheridge, Chris Angel, Woodie Harrelson, Deborah Gibson, Matt McCoy, Christa B. Allan, Hunter Gomez, Jane Sibbett, Anne Ramsay, Carol Alt, Ashle Dawson, Alan Zweibel, Patty Duke, Rex Allan Jr., Kristen & The Noise, John Leguzamo, Southside Johny and the Asbury Jukes, Matthew Walton, Meatloaf, Pat Obrian, Catya Sassoon, Adam Ferrara, MC Hammer, Donald Trump, Alicia Keys, Pater O’brian, Aubrey Oday, Carmen Electra, Ivanka Trump, Charles Wang, Clark Gillies, Jessica Lundy, Toderick Hall, Scott Adsit, Rachel Dratch, Mario Cantone, Ittai Shapira, The knights Orchestra, Val Kilmer, Stephen Dorph, Jackie Martling, Bernadette Peters, Eddie Money, Daryl Hanna, Mathew Johnson, Anita Baker, Jenny McCarthy, Lionel Richie, Lou Gramm, James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, FireFlight, Angelo Fraboni, Steve Schirippa, Toni Spinelli, Federico Castelucio, Ashley Tisdale, Tim Minchin, Sharon Durig, Liza Minelli, Gary Coutier, Mayor Julianni, Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, Elliot Spitzer, Dee Snider, Connie Ha, Candice Bergen, Timothy Hutton, Casey Casum, Sara Conca, Dennis Rodman, Lauren Jones, Chazz Palminteri, Ted Lange, Hector Elizondo, Stephen Baldwin, Chris Berman, Margie Swearingen Hammer, Sergio Garcia, Ralph Machio, Bobby Nystrom, Vic Latino, Wesley Walker, Raja Bell, The Wallflowers, Phil Micholson, John Forsythe , Kim Karfashian, Katie Lee Joel, Steve Gutenberg, Charles Dolan, Joe Perry, Jackie Tohn, Allyn Rose, Governor Carey, Richard Greico, Kevin Brown a.k.a. Dot Com, Martha Stewart, Kris Kristopherson, Vinny Vella, Mark Linn Baker, Tiger Woods, Kiera Chaplin, O’Neal McKnight, Robert Celestino , Andy Warhol, Vidal Sassoon, Carson Daly , Mario Lopez, Courtney Lopez, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kelly Lebroc, Allison Hangendorf , Larry Hoff, Ryan Seacrest.
In 2018, John Dowling Jr. underwent open-heart surgery. He also had a second leg bypass. Additionally, he went through a procedure to clear a blocked artery to his brain. John Dowling Jr. had over 75 stents in his body and endured constant pain, requiring strong opioids for over 7 years. To overcome his reliance on painkillers, he turned to art therapy. He created over 850 pieces and won the Artexpo New York Spotlight Artist award in his first exhibition.
His work, featured on LongIsland.com, has garnered praise from art experts. Rick Friedman, founder of the Hampton’s Fine Art Fair, calls John Dowling a “master colorist.” Dowling’s art is characterized by its vibrant colors. His work captures energetic compositions. It uniquely blends abstract and scotomisaic (use of shadows and darkness) elements.
Dowling is a Long Island native. Despite this, he has lived and worked across the United States and internationally. His experiences include time in NYC, Florida, North Carolina, California, and Arizona. He has also lived in Paris, Switzerland, and Venice. He credits his artistic education to master photographers of the 80s and his experience in a leading film production lab.
Dowling’s abstract works are among his most popular and passionate creations. Pieces featuring faces and the human figure stand out. They showcase his unique blend of impressionistic and cubist influences. This is especially evident in his “Miracle in the Making” collection. It reflects his personal journey of healing. It also shows his transformation through art.
John Dowling Jr.’s art, known for its emotional impact, vibrant colors, and use of light, is popular with collectors worldwide. His recent works incorporate phosphorescent pigments, allowing them to be enjoyed both day and night.
John Dowling aims to open the non-profit Long Island Contemporary Art Museum. He donates half of his premium art sales to fund it. He also supports a related art therapy charity. Dowling credits this practice with saving his own life.
He is a single father. Despite past health challenges, he is now seeking love. He was reluctant to marry again due to those challenges. His novel, “Chapters of Love,” reflects his romantic experiences, though he remains tight-lipped about which details are fact or fiction. He believes love is paramount, both in life and in the afterlife.
In 2022, after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, John Dowling suffered a stroke on Thanksgiving and underwent emergency surgery. It took two years of recovery for him to regain writing and typing abilities. He can speak again after extensive speech therapy, but his speech remains unclear. Dowling is facing health challenges. As a result, he is now selling his entire 850-piece art collection. He had originally intended to save it for a museum. Despite these setbacks, he maintains an attitude of gratitude and continues to “pay it forward.”
Your art is more than just visually captivating. It is a vehicle for healing. It embodies your energy and emits a transformative power. This power can change the world in unseen ways.
John Joseph Dowling SR. R.I.P.
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