CR 069: The Haunting Art of Annie Owens

The painter and co-founder of the iconic Hi-Fructose Magazine discusses her creative process.

Photo courtesy of Annie Owens

In 2005, Annie Owens and Daniel “Attaboy” Seifert had a conversation that would alter the course of their careers. As artists, they had come to recognize that there was a huge gap in the publications covering the visual arts scene. “There was Juxtapoz, who at that time changed their editorial coverage from low brow and pop surrealism to mainly street art and graffiti, and then other magazines that were [covering] what we call ‘living room art,’” Owens says. “But there was so much in between, and we felt like we were part of that missed demographic of artists.” So, on a whim, Seifert proposed that the two start their own publication. “It came about almost by accident. He literally said, ‘We should start a magazine.’ And I was like, ‘Um, okay. Sounds like a great idea.’”

With few resources and no real understanding of the periodical publishing world, the duo launched Hi-Fructose, which over the past 20 years has become a highly respected contemporary art maga…