About

John Engen’s Vanitas Portfolios

John Engen is a contemporary digital and fine art artist whose work explores the intersection of classical art history, symbolism, and emerging 3D technologies. Based in California, Engen creates immersive visual compositions that merge traditional vanitas themes with modern digital environments, reflecting on time, perception, materiality, and transformation.

His work often references 17th-century Dutch still life traditions, reinterpreted through contemporary digital processes. By combining photorealistic rendering, controlled lighting, and carefully staged symbolic objects, Engen builds compositions that examine impermanence, memory, and the relationship between physical and virtual space.

Engen’s recent series, including Vanitas Reflection and his experimental 3D gallery environments, investigate how historical visual language can be translated into digital form without losing conceptual depth. These works are designed to be viewed both as standalone fine art images and as immersive spatial experiences, expanding the boundaries of contemporary digital art.

In addition to his studio practice, Engen is actively involved in nonprofit arts leadership and exhibition development. He has worked to support community-based arts programming and digital exhibition platforms, helping bridge traditional gallery practices with evolving online presentation formats.

His work has been exhibited in juried exhibitions and online galleries, with a focus on pushing the dialogue between classical composition and modern technology. Through a balance of technical precision and conceptual restraint, Engen’s art aims to create contemplative spaces that invite viewers to reflect on time, fragility, and the evolving nature of artistic media.

For exhibition inquiries, collaborations, or acquisition opportunities, please visit the Contact page.