A Little about the Published Books by Michael Sowa

Michael Sowa is one of the most well loved contemporary Surrealist artists He is often compared to the extraordinary Belgian Surrealist, Renee Magritte. The portfolio of Michael Sowa is extremely diverse and wide ranging. It includes paintings, film work, and covers for music albums. Michael Sowa is particularly loved for his books. His fan base includes children as well as adults.

His book, Sowa's Ark: An Enchanted Bestiary has known enormous success. This book contains over fifty paintings by Michael Sowa. The first edition of Sowa’s Ark was published in 1996 and a second edition was published in 2006. This book has become a popular coffee table book. It is dedicated to animals painted in a Surrealist manner. It includes paintings such as a duck pushing a wheel barrow, and a pig in a soup bowl. Those who admire the work of Michael Sowa have described the book as thought provoking, funny, as well as a publication which evokes sympathy and laughter.

He has also created the illustrations for children’s books. The titles of these books include, Esterhazy: The Rabbit Prince. This book was written by Hans Magnus Enzensberger, and Irene Dische. The illustrations by Michael Sowa which accompany this book have delighted thousands of children worldwide. Prince Esterhazy is the story of a rabbit that goes to Berlin to find a bride and finishes by witnessing the destruction of the Berlin Wall!

He has illustrated the book by Axel Hacke, entitled, A Bear Called Sunday. This is the story of a little boy and his bear that are inseparable. He has also illustrated another book by the same author entitled, The Little King December. In 2009 an exhibition at the Sogo Museum of Art in Japan, displayed the original drawings for the publication, ‘Little King December,’ also known in German as ‘Der Klein Koning Dezember.’ In fact the children’s books which are illustrated by Michael Sowa are not only purchased by children but also by adults who are fans of his work.

Those that adore the imaginative, wonderful world of Michael Sowa purchase not only his books but also other mediums of his art work. His work exists in the form of prints, calendars, note cards and postcards. Of course some lucky few are able to purchase original work by this artist. Those who admire his illustrations for children’s books and his book ‘Sowa’s Art,’ await eagerly another publication.

He is also well known for his cover art albums for the successful music group, The Beautiful South. He attracted a new fan base of film lovers when he created original art work for the French film entitled Amelie. He has also created cover pages for such famous publications as the New Yorker.

Art critics who pontificate on the reasons why his work is so popular often say that his work is humorous, and imaginative whilst at the same time being extremely powerful. Of course he has a great following amongst those who admire Surrealist art.