Ego-Eating Bacteria Series
The Ego-Eating Bacteria series came to me when I saw images of someone infected with necrotizing fasciitis, which is a gruesome flesh eating bacteria. I wondered, what if there were a bacteria that when it infected people instead of becoming sick they became more loving, kind and compassionate? It would eat away their ego, not their flesh. However, rather than portraying the concept of bacteria in a clinical manner, as is done in medical  illustrations, I chose instead to use whimsical forms.

Style Divergence
Most of my artwork series express a wide range of styles. I firmly believe in not being locked into a single style because going 'freestyle' so to speak, allows for more creative freedom.

Still Life with Ego-Eating Bacteria
Millions of microorganism are everywhere. They are inside our bodies, in the air, and on every surface we touch. Many live in a healthy symbiotic relationship with the human body, others may cause disease. This still life painting depicts ego-eating bacteria everywhere, eagerly waiting to infect humans with compassion and kindness.

"Still Life with Ego-Eating Bacteria"
By Patrick Howe
Oil on wood panel
48" x 48" (122 x 122 cm)
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"Ego-Eating Bacterial Infecting Artificial intelligence"
Artificial Intelligence will only be as helpful to humanity as the data that operates it. If that data is ego-driven—Meaning that it seeks to manipulate humans by conditioning their attention toward biased social, political or commercial ends, then so will be the amplified actions of artificial intelligence.

Ego-Eating Bacteria Infecting Artificial Intelligence"
By Patrick Howe
18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm)
Oil on wood panel
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Ego-Eating Bacteria with Team Handshake
We communicate microorganisms to each others all the time. What if there were a wonderful bacteria that when we touched others, we "infected" them with kindness and compassion.

"Ego-Eating Bacteria and Team Handshake"
By Patrick Howe
18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm)
Oil on wood panel
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"World Pandemic Of Ego-Eating Bacteria"
What if there were an ego-eating bacteria that spread around the world infecting millions, and suddenly peace breaks out everywhere.

"World Pandemic Of Ego-Eating Bacteria"
By Patrick Howe
18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm)
Oil on wood panel
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American Flag With Ego-Eating Bacteria
In this day nationalism is rising around the world. Nationalism is a form of tribalism that sees outsiders as a threat. But today the world is quickly and inevitably becoming mutually interdependent technologically and economically. It is only the collective ego of tribalism that prevents empathy toward our foreign brothers and sisters. Many nations need to be infected with ego-eating bacteria.

"American Flag With Ego-Eating Bacteria"
By Patrick Howe
18" x 18"
Oil on wood panel
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Sculpture Concept For Ego-Eating Bacteria
This is a concept for a public sculpture. It would be made of steel with enamel coloration. In addition to being a lot of fun to look at, it would symbolize the potential of an ego-free society. 

"Sculpture Concept For Ego-Eating Bacteria"
By Patrick Howe
21" x 28" (53 x 71 cm)
Watercolor on paper

Ego-Eating Bacteria Sculpture Video
This is a 3-D fly-around video of an Ego-Eating Bacteria sculpture.

Still image from Ego-Eating Bacteria video

Ego-Eating Bacteria sculpture concept video.
About 4 minutes
Best with headphones