All images courtesy of Margot Samel, shared with permissionA Changing Community and Lived Experiences Converge in Leroy Johnsons Mixed-Media HousesDecember 23, 2024ArtKate MothesFrom collaged and painted found materials merged with elements of photography and ceramics, Leroy Johnson (1937-2022) created an eclectic vision of life in his hometown of Philadelphia. Through layered, multi-dimensional portraits of houses, the artist represents loci of family life and community in conceptual assemblages that also confront racism, poverty, and gentrification.In the first exhibition of his work in New York City, Margot Samel presents Leroy Johnson, a collection of the artists house sculptures made with a documentarians eye but a poets gaze, says a gallery statement. His pieces capture a city in transition, peering into its past to underscore the myriad experiences of its present.Spirit House (c. 20052010) mixed media, found object, and collage, 19 1/4 x 20 x 13 1/2 inchesThrough his occupations as a social worker, teacher of disabled youth, rehab counselor, and school administrator, Johnson surveyed the pleasures, hardships, and contradictions within the Philadelphia neighborhoods where he spent his life, Margot Samel says, and he pierced the fabric of collective human experience more deeply than most.Johnsons abstract, mixed-media houses often feature photographs of people and gatherings, graffiti and text, and swishes of paint or residual imagery from found objects. The gallery adds, As an African American artist who witnessed the civil rights movement and the impact of racist policies on communities he loved, Johnson took particular pleasure in depicting the richness of Black life.Leroy Johnson runs from January 10 to February 9 in New York. Learn more and plan your visit on the gallerys website.You Been Had (c. 20002005), mixed media, found object, and collage, 17 x 16 1/2 x 8 inchesHeart of Darkness (c. 19952000), mixed media, found object, and collage, 13 x 11 x 6 inchesNext article

All images courtesy of the artist and Somewhere Tokyo, shared with permissionRice Straw Sculptures by ARKO Contemporize a Traditional Japanese MaterialDecember 23, 2024ArtCraftKate MothesRice harvests produce straw, a natural byproduct of the dried grain. Traditionally, the material could be used for a wide variety of objects from tatami mats to food wrappers to carrier bags. Many of those products are now made using synthetic materials, and rice straw is more often used for ceremonial or sacred decorations like Shinto shimenawa festoons, which are installed around the New Year and can range from a few centimeters to several meters long.For Tokyo-based artist ARKO, rice straw finds a contemporary application in elegant wall hangings. I started thinking that it should be something new, apart from the old traditions, given that there must be a reason why straw vanished from our life, she says.Interested in the organic nature of the medium, ARKO embraces how environmental changes can influence the look of the work as a reminder that the fiber originated from the ground. Sometimes moisture in the air makes the pieces feel heavy or the straw will emit a scent. Most of the time she maintains the natural color of the thin stalks, occasionally dying layers black or using contrasting string to hold the composition together.In modern times, straw has been replaced by artificial materials and is manufactured with the premise of environmental pollution. (It) is mass-produced and discarded in large quantities, ARKO says. Although she doesnt prescribe a ritual meaning to the work, the sculptures evoke the laws of nature and the great power of life that are often overlooked in modern society where economy takes priority.ARKO is represented by Somewhere Tokyo, and you can find more work on her website and Instagram.Next article

Images courtesy of Courtesy of Fredericks & Freiser, NY, shared with permissionThrough Gestural Oil Paintings, Maria Calandra Guides Her Stream of Consciousness Onto CanvasDecember 21, 2024ArtNatureJackie AndresWhile traditional plein air painters capture their surroundings while outdoors, artist Maria Calandra takes a different approach. By roaming the coastal headlands of Maine, exploring the waters of Florida, and venturing out to the rolling fields of Southern France, Calandra finds inspiration in nature for her dynamic oil landscapes.The artists Brooklyn studio is laden with energy after she returns from such invigorating excursions. I paint while reflecting on that moment during a hike when you start to feel Earths vibrations pulse through your feet and up your spine, letting memory, intuition, and those leftover vibrations take the reins, she describes.Calandras painting style mimics this intensity as she translates a stream of consciousness through fluid brushstrokes and oscillating organic forms. Instinct guides the artist, who describes the act as automatic painting.This January, the artist will be in a group show atHalf Galleryin New York followed by a solo show in June at the gallerys Los Angeles location. Find more on Calandras website and follow along on Instagram.Next article

If you, like us, havent finished your holiday shopping and have the hard-to-shop-for folks left on your list, consider a Colossal Membership: an easy-to-procure yet meaningful gift for the creative folks in your life.Your beloved recipient will gain access to exciting stories about art and visual culture uninterrupted by ads, the ability to save articles, and discounts from our friends and in the Colossal Shop. Plus, a portion of their membership will support K-12 classrooms in need of art supplies.Want something special to arrive on their doorstep? Gift at the Patron level, and well send your friend a Colossal tote. If youd like, well even include a personalized note.Simply head over to the Colossal Membership page and click the gift option for the tier of your choice. Happy holidays! Photo by Natalie ShiloDo stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article The Perfect Last-Minute Gift for Art Enthusiasts, Education Advocates, and Your Generally Curious Friends appeared first on Colossal.

Detail of Through the Groves. All images courtesy of Heron Arts, shared with permissionMagic and Mystery Illuminate Hari & Deeptis Paper-Cut DioramasDecember 20, 2024ArtGrace EbertFor more than a decade, weve been following the intricate dioramas by Hari & Deepti (previously). The Mumbai-based husband and wife are known for their elaborate narratives of cut and layered paper, which they tuck inside frames and backlight with soft LEDs. In recent years, the duo has gravitated toward tiny, delicate patterns while making the overall scenes more minimal.Their new exhibition, Forgotten Places of Beings and Things, opens today at Heron Arts in San Francisco and presents a collection of enchanting works. Minuscule figures navigate lush woodlands and windswept dunes that, when illuminated, appear like worlds of magic and intrigue.The Walk to Two PondsWhat amazes us about the paper-cut light boxes is the dichotomy of these pieces in their lit and unlit states. The contrast is so stark that it has this mystical effect on the viewers, the artists say.Forgotten Places of Beings and Things is on view through January 25. Hari & Deepti recently published an illustrated childrens book titled The Seekers, and you can follow the latest in their collaborative practice on Instagram.The Stories They Told UsThrough the Wind Swept FieldA Forest StructureTime Keepers 1Detail of A Forest StructureUnder the Vine ForestUnder the Vine ForestDetail of It Passes and We StayNext article

All images courtesy of Alexis Mata and The Hole, shared with permissionPsychedelic Distortions and Glitches Streak Across Alexis Matas Bold PaintingsDecember 20, 2024ArtGrace EbertFrom digital glitches to mind-bending distortions, Mexico City-based artist Alexis Mata is interested in how visual information gets lost or skewed as it shifts from one context to another. In his oil paintings, bouquets and vast desert landscapes spread across the canvas as if melting or stretching into unrecognizable forms. When your eyes look too long at the same thing, your mind makes the change, he shares.Mata excavates the relationship between analog and digital realms, and his process incorporates both modes of artmaking. Preliminary sketches fill notebooks that travel everywhere the artist does, while he continually snaps photos and records video as references.AI experiments help Mata better translate the strange, disorienting outcomes that these rapidly evolving tools can produce. But his research isnt just visual. I enjoy experimenting by writing poems or haikus in AI and seeing what emerges. Its an exploratory process, he notes.Rendered in bold color palettes, the trippy paintings draw connections between digital mishaps and the ways our brains warp an image, whether in moments of intense focus, dream states, or with the help of hallucinatory substances. I like to think that entire worlds are created within dreams, and these worlds ask to be brought into the light, he says.Many of the paintings shown here are on view in Fata Morgana through January 25 at The Hole in Tribeca. Explore more of Matas work, which spans stained glass and textiles to drawing and sculpture, on his website and Instagram.Next article

Healing Blossom (2023). Photos by Pearl Sijmons, courtesy of the artist, shared with permissionCoiled Fishing Rope Sculptures by Joana Schneider Twist Organic Shapes into Otherworldly FormsDecember 19, 2024ArtGrace EbertWhen Joana Schneider moved to The Hague, she began to visit the beach regularly. Having spent her childhood in Munich, the sea was a novel and a fruitful source of inspiration. Soon, the fishermen working in the harbor caught her eye.There was something so intriguing about their world, which seemed to straddle this line between rugged labor and delicate artistry, Schneider tells Colossal. They were using knotting techniques, traditionally seen as feminine and delicate, but on a much larger scale, with heavy-duty ropes.Shine On You Crazy Diamond (2024)The artist quickly connected what the anglers created with the traditions of textile art and began to source their leftover rope. Now based on KNSM Island in Amsterdam, Schneider continues to utilize the mariner material in her large-scale sculptures. I spend days untangling the nets before I can start working with them. Then, I dry the ropes in the sun, which gives them this oceanic scent, she adds.Once desiccated, the materials often become the structure for thin, colorful yarn the artist wraps around the strands. The finished works are sometimes abstract and others boldly figurative, portraying exaggerated facial features in coiled, hand-stitched patchwork.The process is labor-intensive, but the slow, methodical movements are part of what Schneider is drawn to. Each turn of the yarn around the rope is a quiet, focused act. There is something very grounding about it. The rhythm of wrapping, the gentle tension of the yarn, and the soft texture of the fibers create a peaceful space where the world outside seems to fade away, she says. The resulting works retain evidence of this meticulous process as coils large and small swell outward in perfectly concentric circles.Currently, Schneider is working toward a solo exhibition titled Otherworldly that will open in April at the Groniger Museum in The Netherlands. Blurring the line between the real and the fantastic, the project draws on the artists fascination with hybridity and includes a performative element, a harbinger of where her practice is headed. She shares:When I think of the natural world, I often think of the Renaissance tradition of grotesque art. It fascinates me how, in that period, artists mixed human, animal, and plant forms in intricate waysThe result is a hybrid environment that is at once familiar and alien. That is something I try to achieve in my work, a sense of wonder and a bit of disorientation as if stepping into a place where the boundaries of the natural world are deliberately blurred.Schneiders sculptures are currently on view at the FITE Textile Biennial in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and will be included in a 2025 group exhibition at Knig Galerie in Munich. Until then, find more of her work on her website and Instagram.Sugarfly (2024)Detail of Sugarfly (2024)Freckles (2022)Detail of Shine On You Crazy Diamond (2024)Light Child (2023)Detail of Light Child (2023)The Good Farmer (2023)Red and Blue Iris Wave series (2022). Photo by Pim TopPrevious articleNext article

Detail of Le Prsage, Metz, France (2023). All images courtesy of MonkeyBird, shared with permissionMonkeyBirds Majestic Murals Bend Time Through Elaborately Stenciled CompositionsDecember 19, 2024ArtGrace EbertFor more than a decade, French artists Louis Boidron and douard Egea have been collaborating as MonkeyBird (previously). The pair are known for their large-scale stenciled murals rich with symbolism, architectural structures, and elaborate motifs, many of which reach for timeless themes related to human emotion, experience, and the inevitability of change.The Arch of Peace is one of their most recent pieces and transforms the facade of an Aarhus building into a monumental homage to peace and justice. Commissioned for the 17 Walls Project, the mural draws on one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to create a more inclusive and resilient future.The Arch Of Peace, Aarhus, Denmark (2024)The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose origins lie in France, served as our central inspiration, the artists shared. We reinterpreted the ornamental framework of the original engraving: angels, arches, and colonnades symbolize the moral pillars essential for stability in a constantly changing world.As is typical in a MonkeyBird mural, two anthropomorphized creatures donning robes stand at the center of the composition, guarding a library based on that of Trinity College Dublin. Their attributes of power and intellect take on true meaning only when guided by reason and ethics, the artists add.Similarly mythic and majestic figures appear in a pair of murals in Fontainebleau and Metz, France, the latter of which features an avian creature holding an hourglass high in the air. Titled Le Prsage, or The Omen, the piece directly points to the artists interest in the passage of time and collapsing the boundaries between past, present, and future.In February, the pair will join the Montgomery Art Project in Alabama to create a mural and immersive installation of their papercuts. If youre local, keep an eye out for opportunities to participate in one of MonkeyBirds workshops, which will engage the community in cutting their stencils and creating public paste-ups. Until then, pick up a print in their shop, and follow their latest projects on Instagram.Le Prsage, Metz, France (2023)Detail of The Arch Of Peace, Aarhus, Denmark (2024)Fontainebleau, France (2023)Aubervilliers, France (2022)Fontainebleau, France (2023)Fontainebleau, France (2023)Fontainebleau, France (2023)Next article

All images courtesy of The Paper Ark, shared with permissionTropical Birds Burst to Life in the Intricate Paper Cutouts of The Parrot ProjectDecember 18, 2024Kate MothesThe Paper Ark, a collaboration between Nayan Shrimali and Venus Bird (previously), celebrates the diverse beauty of our planets wildlife. In The Parrot Project, a new series of intricate paper-cut pieces, the striking creatures take center stage in vivid color.This series focuses on the vibrant beauty of parrots and their contribution to the ecosystem, say the Ahmedabad, India-based artists, who created 40 different species during the course of one year. Each piece is meticulously hand-cut and painted, realistically depicting the feathered beings.The Paper Arks collection captures the vibrancy of myriad tropical avian varieties, from the bright blue, yellow, and red of the macaw to the dramatic flash of color in the red-tailed black cockatoo.We want our audience to not just appreciate the beauty of this wonderful species but also understand its importance in nature, the pair says. Ten percent of proceeds from sales of this series will be donated to a parrot conservation organization.See more on The Paper Arks website and Behance, and follow updates on Instagram.Previous articleNext article

Jasperware trials, mounted on a wooden tray. All images courtesy of the V&A Wedgwood Collection, shared with permissionThousands of Josiah Wedgwoods Glazed Ceramic Samples Paved the Way for 18th-Century IngenuityDecember 18, 2024Kate MothesIn 1759, Staffordshire potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) founded a ceramics company that achieved global recognition and continues production today. He soared to success as a leader of industrialized pottery in Europe, tapping into a renewed 18th-century vogue for classical forms in home decor and tableware.A meticulous studier of current trends and materials, Wedgwood conducted thousands of experiments to perfect his unique clays and glazes, says the Victoria and Albert Museum, which stewards more than 175,000 works of art, ceramics, manuscripts, and photographs in the V&A Wedgwood Collection. Tray of Clay and Jasper Trials, ceramic, Etruria (1773)Once he streamlined factory production, Wedgwood turned his eye to marketing and is credited with pioneering some of the retail promotions and strategies we take for granted now, likeillustrated catalogues, direct mail orders,money-back guarantees,self-service, buy-one-get-one, and free delivery.The company was known for its earthenware and stoneware, which could emulate porcelain while being cheaper to manufacture. Some of Wedgwoods original contributions to the world of ceramics include green glaze,creamware, black basalt, andjasperware, which were in high demand and often copied by competitors. Early examples fetch thousands of dollars today.Jasperware is considered one of the designers most notable contributions to ceramics. Its matte, biscuit finish came in a variety of colors, but most popular was a strikingly pale blueknown as Wedgwood bluedecorated with white, cameo-like reliefs.Wedgwood created around 5,000 trial pieces in the process of perfecting creamware, and nearly 3,000 individual trials were required to innovate jasperware. Numerous trays of the samples are preserved by the V&A, illustrating Josiahs painstaking attention to detail and his approach to protecting intellectual property.Tray of colored body and glaze trials, ceramic, Etruria (1760-1765)Each piece features a number that corresponds to an entry in an experiment book, housed in the V&A Wedgwood Collection archive, the V&A says. Josiah wrote his experiments in secret code because of the risk of industrial espionage.Many trial trays were found in Wedgwoods Etruria factory and are now on display at the V&A as part of World of Wedgwood in Stoke-on-Trent, where Wedgwood brand pottery is still produced. Visitors can check out the creative studios, factory, a tea room, and shops, but if you cant get there in person, you can always explore thousands of objects online. Tray of Jasper trials, Jasperware, Etruria (1773)Trial tray, underglaze blue and green enamels on ceramic, Etruria (1760-1765)Tray of white Jasper trials, Jasperware, Etruria (1773)Tray of colored glazes on colored clay bodies trials, Etruria (1760-1765)Previous articleNext article

Photos by Ophlie Maurus. All images courtesy of Dppel Studio and ToolsGalerie, shared with permissionDppel Studios Nophore Vessels Illuminate Ancient Pottery Traditions with NeonDecember 18, 2024Kate MothesIn ancient Greece, amphorae were commonly used for carrying or storing liquids and grains like wine, oil, or cereal. A narrow neck and a large, oval body were easily moved with handles on each side. For Paris-based Dppel Studio, a collaboration between Lionel Dinis Salazar and Jonathan Omar, a millennia-old form inspires a contemporary collection.Nophore is a series of terracotta and enamel vessels intersected with looping, handle-like tubes of glowing neon. Situated between sculpture, vessel, and lamp,Salazar and Omar teamed up with ceramicist Alinor Martineau, who specializes in mineral-based natural glazes, to customize a reflective enamel that would come alive under the light. Find more on Dppel Studios website, and if youre in Paris, you can see Nophore at ToolsGalerie through January 11. Next article

From single sheets of green paper, Los Angeles-based designer Maho Motoyama devises a veritable forest of Christmas tree-shaped boxes. Ranging from a few basic folds to elaborate, multifaceted constructions, each evergreen has a personality of its own based on its tiers and twists. Every one, of course, is topped with a bright yellow star.Motoyama has built a following for his intricate box-folding templates, creating tiny, hollow structures in a wide range of geometric shapes. Through painstaking precision and a puzzle-like approach to creating unique pieces, form takes precedence over function. Find tutorials on YouTube, detailed templates on X, and more fun shapes on Instagram.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Paper Christmas Trees by Maho Motoyama Take Holiday Boxes to a New Level appeared first on Colossal.

All images courtesy of Franois Prost, shared with permissionQuirky Facades of Japans Love Hotels Feature in Franois Prosts Vibrant PortraitsDecember 16, 2024Kate MothesLove hotels are a unique and deeply ingrained part of Japanese culture, says photographer Franois Prost. These venues have a very talkative quality visuallytheyre expressive in their design, reflecting aspects of local culture, values, and even fantasies.During a trip to Japan in 2023, when Prost was exhibiting an earlier series of works called Gentlemens Club at a gallery in Tokyo, he embarked on a road trip from the capital city to Shikoku Island in the southeast of the country. With the gallerys urging, he undertook a new project while visiting, documenting the facades of love hotelsalso sometimes called boutique or fashion hotelsthat offer rooms at cheap rates for brief stays.Prost, who is based in Lyon, France, approaches his subjects as features of the landscape that characterize a specific vernacular and highlight quirky or taboo facets of local culture. Gentlemans Club, for example, documented American strip clubs along a southerly route from Miami to Los Angeles in 2019. He has also sought out Ivorian, French, and Spanish nightclubs in series like After Party and discoteca.I choose specific types of venues in each countrythose with distinct, often kitschy or roadside architectureand photograph them across the region with a consistent framing style, Prost says. Im drawn to the aesthetic of these places, and how their facades reveal something about the people who inhabit or frequent them.His latest series, Love Hotel, captures the unmissably colorful designs of roadside lodging, ranging from ships and castles to flowers and a pink whale. The venues aim to evoke a sense of romance, escape, and fantasy, yet they also need to feel safe and invitingnot tacky or sordid, Prost says. Its why some of these places have an almost Disney-like aesthetic, playful yet carefully curated. Estimates of how many love hotels dot Japan range from 10,000 to 40,000.Prost has launched a new book for the series on Kickstarter that highlights the creativity and occasional hilarity of these infamous destinations. I hope viewers are struck by the incredible attention to detail and devotion to design that defines these spaces in Japan, Prost says.You can support the book on Kickstarter until January 10, and stay updated by following Prost on Instagram. Explore all of his projects, including more books, on his website.Next article

Highly commended: Marti Phillips, Are You Kidding. All images the photographers, courtesy of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, shared with permissionSilliness and Style Take Top Honors in the 2024 Comedy Wildlife Photography AwardsDecember 13, 2024NaturePhotographyKate MothesA red squirrel diving headlong into a tree snags the top award in the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (previously), snapped by Italian photographer Milko Marchetti. He has been sitting on this beauty of a shot for a couple of years now and decided that this year was the year to enter it, the organizers say. We are chuffed he did because this little red squirrel has only gone and won the whole competition!Additional category winners and highly commended images include a beady-eyed mafia boss by Takashi Kubo, a discombobulated eagle by Tapani Linnanmki, and a celebratory mantis by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina. Check out more finalists, including a few that won in their categories, and see the entire gallery on the contests website.Overall winner and Mammal Category winner: Milko Marchetti, Stuck SquirrelHighly commended: Takashi Kubo, Mafia BossPeoples Choice Award category winner: Tapani Linnanmki, Shake, ruffle, rattle, and rollHighly commended: Leslie Mcleod, Hide and SeekHighly commended: Andy Rouse, Alright mate, back off. This is my birdHighly commended: Arvind Mohandas, The Contemplative ChimpanzeeHighly commended: Sanjay Patil, The Rock StarHighly commended: Artur Stankiewicz, Im too sexy for my lovePrevious articleNext article

All images Todd Antony, shared with permissionOur Favorite Stories of 2024December 13, 2024ColossalAs we look back at the hundreds of remarkable initiatives, artworks, discoveries, and events weve chronicled throughout 2024, were continually awed by the creative work were able to write about everyday. Its a privilege to be able to share so much creativity with you, and we thought wed compile a list of our favorites.Below, youll find eight pickstwo from each of usthat showcase just a few of the remarkable projects we published over the past twelve months. Many of these articles impart deeper context, delve into personal experiences through interviews, and highlight important stories that may have flown under the radar.You might also enjoy our readers choice top articles of the year and Colossals favorite books of 2024. Happy reading!Christopher, Grace, Kate, and JackieImage Irina WerningFor the last 17 years,Irina Werninghas traveled throughout Latin America photographing women and girls for her ongoing series,Las Pelilargas, orThe Longhairs. Shot in color and black and white, the portraits document a distinct cultural practice through an incredibly alluring, even surreal lens.L.V. Hull at her home in Kosciusko, Mississippi, in 2002. Photo by Bruce West. Image courtesy of the L.V. Hull Legacy CenterKosciusko is a small town in the center of Mississippi with just under 7,000 residents. Known as the birthplace of Oprah Winfrey, Kosciusko was also home to the late artistL.V. Hull(19422008) who devoted her life to painting and assembling found objects.Ellie Hannon works on one of her paintings on the aft deck during sunset on the Timor Sea around Ashmore Reef. Images Schmidt Ocean InstituteThere are many ways to tell a story or to document and share research and discoveries, says artist Ellie Hannon, one of 54 artists who have embarked on a unique residency organized by theSchmidt Ocean Institute. From slip-cast porcelain and painting to 3D printing and virtual reality, the storytelling possibilities are endless in the Artist-at-Sea program, which invites artists to work alongside scientists on weeks-long expeditions into some of the least-explored areas of our oceans.Image courtesy of the artistChristophers Pick: Nadya Tolokonnikova On Pussy Riot, Life as Performance Art, and How Anonymity Is Her StrengthPeople often dont think about how important a person who has a photo and video camera is. The action could be gorgeous, but if you dont have a good photographer to capture it, then its just not gonna work. Nadya TolokonnikovaNadya Tolokonnikovacreated Pussy Riot in 2011 partly in response toVladimir Putins declarationthat he would continue his reign over Russia. In 2012, when she and her collaborators undertook their now-famous performance at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, she was infamously sentenced to two years in prison, vaulting the art collective to international fame. Grace Ebert, Colossals editorial director, spoke with Nadya over Zoom one Saturday in February, more than a decade since Pussy Riots founding, her imprisonment, and her release.A Wind Phone in Evanston, Illinois. Image courtesy of Amy DawsonGarden designer Itaru Sasaki lost his cousin to cancer just months before a 9.1-magnitude earthquake devastated his town, the small fishing village of Otsuchi. In an attempt to wrangle his grief, he decided to create a space for mourning in his backyard, one that would offer quiet and a symbolic connection to his loved one. He called it Kaze no denwa, or Phone of the Wind.Containing photos and stories from the creators, Amy Dawsons searchable map tracks more than 300 Wind Phones around the globe, each individually installed and maintained.The Two Walls by Alejandro Cegarra, The New York Times/Bloomberg. Image courtesy of World Press PhotosFrom Israels ongoing assault leaving the people of Gaza in horrific destitution to a record-breaking surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, the last year has seen incredible devastation around the globe. The 2024World Press Photocontest gathers a profound and illuminating collection of images that approach myriad crises with compassion and clarity.Replica of a Chip (1994), wool mounted on wood, 120 146.1 centimeters. Photo Museum Associates/LACMA. Image courtesy of American Indian Science and Engineering SocietyWhat does Intels Pentium computer chip have in common with Navajo textiles? More than you might think. For artistMarilou Schultz, the ancestral practice of weaving melds with an unexpected contemporary source of inspiration. Merging analog loom methods with the patterns found on computer processor cores, Schultz entwines the histories of the Navajo people and modern technology.Image Todd AntonyOriginally meant as a pejorative term,cholitahas been embraced by Aymara and Quechua women, who have adopted the name as a signal of pride. PhotographerTodd Antony caught up with a group who call themselves the Climbing Cholitas, and a breathtaking series of images was born inCholitas Escaladoras.Previous articleNext article

Dream Backpack 1 (2023), volcanic rock and objects collected from a ritual ofretracing the artists original migration route, 16 1/4 x 12 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches. All photos by JSP Art Photography, courtesy of Guadalupe Maravilla and PPOW, shared with permissionGuadalupe Maravillas Volcanic Rock Sculptures Invoke Resilience and RegenerationDecember 13, 2024ArtGrace EbertWith the regions smallest geographic footprint, El Salvador boasts the second-highest number of volcanos in Central America. The country is located on the Ring of Fire, a tectonic band that encircles the Pacific Ocean and houses about two-thirds of all volcanos worldwide. Given its eruptive landscape, much of the soil is rich in ash.In a series of sculptures, Guadalupe Maravilla (previously) draws on his home country as he sculpts backpacks and enlarged hands from volcanic rock. The works reference the artists migration from civil war-era El Salvador as an unaccompanied minor, a traumatic journey that remains a central theme in his practice.Luz y Fuerza (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 14 x 14 x 4 inchesA trio of pieces, titled Dream Backpacks, refers to how we immigrate to the U.S. by land and carry everything we own in a backpack in search of the American Dream, Maravilla writes in a statement. Embellished with pink, purple, and blue paints, the poignant works display a variety of charmsfeathers, a small cat figure, and metal details like a spigotthe artist collected while retracing his childhood route.Other works take the form of a burly hand cradling smooth shapes featuring pieces redolent of retablos,small devotional paintings often invoking protection during times of hardship. Lightning bolts, stars, and snakes recur throughout the compositions, along with references to the artists colon cancer diagnosis, which he has long linked to the trauma he suffered as a child.December 12 is special to Maravilla and titles one recent work featuring linked wishbones, crystals, and the childrens rhyme Sana, sana, colita de rana, which translates to heal, heal, little frogs tail. As Maravilla shares on Instagram, On 12/12/12 I found out I had cancer. 12/12/13 I overcame cancer. Today, I am starting a new chapter 12/12/24 with a special meditation. Similarly, a cake with a 0 candle appears in Luz y Fuerza, which resembles a pastry the artist once used to celebrate both his birthday and what he considers his rebirth as cancer-free.Citing resilience amid struggle, Maravillas sculptures call on healing and regeneration. Volcanic ash, after all, is one of the most potent natural fertilizers and a key factor in sparking new growth.Maravilla is represented by PPOW Galleryin New York, where you can find more of his work.12/12/24 (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 13 3/8 x 13 3/8 x 4 1/8 inchesDream Backpack 3 (2023), volcanic rock and objects collected from a ritual ofretracing the artists original migration route, 16 1/4 x 12 x 4 3/4 inchesSelf Love (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 13 3/8 x 13 3/4 x 4 7/8 inchesHeal Seven Years Back (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 13 3/8 x 13 3/4 x 5 1/2 inchesDream Backpack 2 (2023), volcanic rock and objects collected from a ritual of retracing the artists original migration route, 16 1/2 x 12 1/4 x 4 1/4 inchesSana 7 Aos Atras (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 14 1/8 x 14 x 4 3/4 inchesSi No Sanas Hoy Sanars Maana (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 13 3/8 x 14 1/8 x 4 3/8 inchesSana Sana Colita de Rana (2024), oil on volcanic rock, 14 1/8 x 13 3/4 x 4 7/8 inchesNext article

Monarch butterflies in El Rosario Sanctuary can be quite active in the heat of the day. To quench their thirst, hundreds swarm to the ground near a small stream, where they sip liquid and important minerals from the wet soila behavior called puddling. All photos Jaime Rojo, courtesy of Vital Impacts, shared with permissionVital Impacts Saving the Monarchs Campaign with Jaime Rojo Raises Funds for ConservationDecember 12, 2024Kate MothesHome to more than 40,000 plant species, 1,300 kinds of birds, and millions of insects, the Amazon is a vital and increasingly threatened part of our global ecosystem. By highlighting the incredible diversity and beauty of nature and wildlife around the planet, Vital Impacts (previously) raises funds for the preservation of the rainforest through its annual print sale.This year, in addition to the fundraiser featuring work by more than 80 photographers, the program has launched the Saving the Monarchs campaign, showcasing the work of award-winning National Geographic photographer Jaime Rojo. With the Monarch butterfly population declining by 90 percent in recent decades, efforts are underway to protect their habitats and ensure their survival, says a statement from Vital Impacts.In the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacan (Mexico), a single latecomer joins the others for the night, stretching its wings as it maneuvers in an attempt to squeeze into the popular roosting place. The butterflies extreme closeness offers protection and warmth.Rojo has spent two decades photographing the magnificent insects, tracing their annual migration across the length and breadth of North America. Wintering in Mexicoor California for those west of the Rocky Mountainsthe iconic butterflies return north in the summertime, where they typically lay a single egg on a milkweed plant. Depending on the temperature, the egg cycle lasts for three to five days, after which a small larva emerges. As it grows, it sheds its skin a number of times, developing recognizable black, white, and yellow stripes. Then, once full grown, the larva spins a silk mat, stabs a stem into the mat to hang from, and encapsulates itself inside a pupa. After around eight to fifteen days, the adult Monarch emerges with bright orange and black wings.During the summer, Monarchs live between two and five weeks, but if they hatch later in the year, they complete an incredible journey south, where they overwinter in clusters on trees in warmer climates. These adults will then live just long enough to hatch new eggs so future generations can return to the northernmost breeding grounds.Monarch populations have declined in recent decades due to myriad factors, from the destruction of milkweedthe only plant on which they lay eggsand overwintering habitats to temperature changes and drought due to the ongoing climate crisis. Initiatives like Monarch Watch, which this fundraiser benefits, emphasize conservation, track colonies movements, and promote education.Butterflies stream through the trees in El Rosario, a sanctuary within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacn, Mexico. Migrating monarchs winter in the same oyamel fir groves that sheltered earlier generations.Open edition prints in this years sale start at $275, with options for different sizes and striking limited editions. Sixty percent of profits are earmarked to support Monarch conservation and regional Indigenous communities through COICA, an international program dedicated to the support of 511 Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon Basin.The remaining 40 percent of proceeds support the storytellers who are committed to shining a light on these critical issues and driving positive change in our world. See more of Rojos work on his website, and purchase prints in this years sale, which continues through January 31.I had attempted versions of this image in the past, but I had never seen such a beautiful pattern of branches with that abundance of butterflies, Rojo says.Streaked with sunlight and crowded together for warmth in winter, Monarch butterflies blanket fir trees in El Rosario Sanctuary, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Michoacan, Mexico. I requested special permits to work outside the sanctuarys operating hours and made this photograph shortly before sunset, Rojo says.A Monarch butterfly feeds from a Blazing Star (Liatris sp.) on a farm in Foley, Minnesota, that specializes in growing and distributing native plants from the prairies. Liatris are important for the monarchs because they bloom in late summer, providing them with an extra food source right before their fall migration.A carpet of Monarch butterflies covers the forest floor of El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary after an unusually intense snowstorm that hit the state of Michoacn in Mexico on March 2016. On March 8 and 9 of 2016, a strong snowstorm hit the mountains of Central Mexico creating havoc in the wintering colonies of Monarch butterflies just when they were starting their migration back to U.S.A. and Canada. The death toll of this single weather event was an estimated 30 to 35 percent of the colony.Each fall, millions of Monarch butterflies embark on a 3,000-mile journey from Canada and the U.S. to the forests of central Mexico. This annual migration, one of natures most extraordinary events, is guided by instinct, as the Monarchs that arrive have never made the journey before. Monarch butterflies complete their migration over several generations. Those that travel to Mexico in the fall live up to eight months, but their offspring will only live a few weeks, moving north each spring. It takes three to four generations to reach their breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada.Previous articleNext article

What if succulents sprouted in squiggles? Or cacti turned orange and floated to the sky like balloons? An imaginative animation by Hiroshi Takagishi pushes botanical specimens and their potential evolution to peculiar extremes. Inspired by contradictions and irregularities in nature, Odd is a digitally crafted film that envisions the ways various specimens could morph from one state to another. As cacti wiggle and wobble or burst into dainty green petals, their recognizable forms become strange and surreal.Find more from Takagishi on Vimeo.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A Bizarre Animation Imagines Botanical Growth Gone Awry appeared first on Colossal.

Photo by Robert Bredvad. All images courtesy of Bernie Kaminski, shared with permissionBernie Kaminski Invokes Decades Past Through Papier-Mch ObjectsDecember 11, 2024ArtCraftGrace EbertWhen Bernie Kaminski sculpts his papier-mch objects, he does so from a fitting spot: his kitchen table.Using the sticky pulp, the artist creates lifelike iterations of everyday items you might spot on a New York street corner or tucked in an apartment: a Lox bagel with red onion and schmear, a row of metal mailboxes, and a canvas L.L. Bean tote filled with tennis balls. Some works are one-offs, like the tighty whities or payphone, and others form a small part of a larger composition.Kaminskis medicine cabinet, for example, features four shelves filled with various over-the-counter treatments and prescriptions. The branding evokes decades past, and closer inspection reveals tiny price tags glimpsing a time when a trip to the grocery store or pharmacy didnt bring quite as much pain at the cash register as it does today.The box of matchbooks is similar. Bearing names like Jerrys and Odeon, the items recall classic New York restaurants, some of which have been operating for decades and others that closed their doors years ago.Currently, Kaminski is working on a pair of tube socks and preparing for an exhibition in early 2025. You can follow his latest sculptures on Instagram.Photo by Robert BredvadPrevious articleNext article

All images courtesy of Volker Schlecht and MobyDOKBiologist Karen Lips Investigates Vanishing Tree Frogs in The WaitingDecember 11, 2024Kate MothesWe might call that a cold case, right? Theres no evidence, theres no murder weapon Its a crime scene, but the culpritthe criminalhas left. Biologist Karen Lipss opening words in the 2023 animated short film, The Waiting, portend a mystery with far-reaching implications.Directed by Volker Schlecht and written by Alexander Lahl and Max Mnch, the award-winning film traces the mysterious disappearance of tree frogs in Costa Rica. Through a hand-drawn, mostly black-and-white style, rainforest creatures transform from plants, and tiny tadpoles metamorphose into full-grown amphibians.In the 1990s, Lips undertook research in the Costa Rican rainforest, stationed in a small shack its resident scientists called la casita, where she monitored a group of fluorescent green tree frogs, Isthmohyla calypsa. The species possessed unique spikes on their hands that were used as weapons to physically fight for dominance within the habitat.For nearly two years, she studied theIsthmohyla calypsas growth patterns, behavior, and habitat, before returning to the University of Miami to write up her research. When one final experiment prompted her to return to the forest, she arrived only to find that the frogs had vanished. All of them, she says. At first, Lips wondered if the disappearance was the result of something she had done. Had they gotten scared? Had she bothered them too much? Perhaps there hadnt been enough rain? I thought maybe I just need to wait long enough, and theyll come back, she says.After waiting an entire summer, the frogs never reappeared. She was determined to solve the mystery, but no evidence remained to study. There was no smoking gun, Lips says. Eventually, she moved to another site to study a new set of frogs. But after a few days, her team began noticing unusual skin problems.The malefactor turned out to be microscopic fungi known as chytrids, and it wasnt limited to the mountainous cloud forests of Costa Rica. Researchers in countries across the globe reported similar findings when Lips shared her concerns.Although its impossible to tell how the frogs initially came into contact with the fungus, humans bear the responsibility for their fate, and ultimately, that of many other creatures. The more we import and export food and other organic goods, the more likely invasiveand sometimes dangerousorganisms will spread. We have made it super easy for infectious diseases of all sorts to leave the jungle and get to a major city in a couple of hours, she says.For frogs alone, the effects are considerable: The estimate is somewhere between 150 and maybe 200 species have gone extinct in the past two or three decades, Lips says. Forty-one percent of all amphibians are in decline. And thats worse than any other group of animals on the planet. Find out more about the film on Instagram.Next article

Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Reuben Wu (previously) created a unique confluence of light shows over the water last summer. Known for creating light paintings in dramatic landscapes using drone-mounted lasers, his ongoing series SIREN marks a new direction of illuminated aeroglyphs, which transcend their original geometries to open up into more fluid shapes.This series captures ephemeral, curtain-like structures that hover delicately in space, shaped by their environment rather than imposing upon it, Wu says. The cascading white forms mimic the lakes rolling waves and, on this particular evening amid a Perseids meteor shower, the surprise appearance of the northern lights. See more on his website.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Ethereal, Glowing Curtains Drape Over Lake Michigan in Reuben Wus Light Paintings appeared first on Colossal.

Zenith (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimeters. All images courtesy of the artist and Capsule Venice, shared with permissionFantastic Blooms Entwine with Sculptural Motifs in Mevlana Lipps Imagined WorldDecember 10, 2024ArtGrace EbertBehind barred motifs evocative of a wrought iron fence, otherworldly flowers are in full bloom, their heads stretching wide and tall while tendrils and leafy vines wind around the open barriers. Rendered in contrasting palettes of jewel tones and pale, muted hues, these uncanny plants are part of the latest body of work by Mevlana Lipp.While visiting Venice earlier this year, the Cologne-based artist admired the elaborately patterned fencing that wove its way throughout the historic islands. As I wandered through the city, I noticed the intricate metal bars on many windows, he says. For me, these bars symbolize a barrier between the world I inhabit and the fictional place I long for.Seven (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimetersVista is the culmination of this inspiration and presents an electrifying botanical collection. For these pieces, Lipp continues to meld painting and sculpture, as he layers acrylic paint, ink, and sand onto intricately cut wooden panels, which he positions atop velvet. This soft material interacts with the mottled, spotted, and patterned textures of the painted components and bolsters the sense of depth, becoming a vast chasm behind the fantastical florals.Compared to his previous works, though, Vista ventures into warmer, brighter color palettes. The artist shares: While the dark blue, green, and lilac backgrounds often create a sense of infinite voids, I wanted to explore other imageries as well. Think of an icy cold mist or a red desert stretching endlessly into the distance. I wanted to create works which have a wider array of temperatures.Lipps interest in expanding his palette dovetails with the symbolic elements of his work. As the artist sees it, plants are metaphors for base instincts and emotion, as they commune with each other and various species without the same social and cultural pressures of humans. Broadening his formal approach offers more room for spontaneity and unrestrained exchanges. When you walk into the forest, you take a look at all the existing connections, at how things interact with each other without fear, he says. Plants dont run the risk of hurting each others feelings.Vista is on view through December 15 at Capsule Venice. Find more from Lipp on Instagram.Cassiopeia (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimetersCoil (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimetersHalo (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimetersIce (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimetersCassiopeia (2024), wood, velvet, acrylic color, ink, sand, aluminum stretcher, 45 x 33 x 4 centimetersNext article

How does jealousy snuff out creativity? A stop-motion film written and directed by Ainslie Henderson follows three furry, felted creatures struggling with each others success.Shackle centers on the gremlin-like trio as they conjure the forests magic to make music. As pinecones spin like a top, dreamy sounds emerge, and slowly, the creatures add other objects to the woodland symphony. Shape-shifting sticks offer a rhythmic line, while autumn leaves provide a soothing melody. When one envious character tries to steal the unusual instruments for himself, though, a cloud of darkness reveals that greed is incompatible with art.The short film is a BAFTA nominee and was recognized as the Best British Film at the London International Animation Festival in 2022. Henderson has also been awarded numerous Vimeo honors for her work, which you can watch on the platform.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A Trio of Woodland Sprites Vie for Creative Control in an Ethereal Stop-Motion Animation appeared first on Colossal.

Blob Set. All images Aman Khanna, shared with permissionAman Khannas Cast of Clay Personalities Meet at the Corner of Form and FunctionDecember 9, 2024CraftDesignJackie AndresAman Khannas symbolic ceramic sculptures, referred to as Claymen, are hand-crafted in New Delhi by the artist and a team of assistants. With emotive faces and an approachable aura, the figures evoke the human condition, non-binding to any gender and representing the universal act of introspection.Refined and unembellished heads are a recurring motif within Khannas work. I have always been fascinated by human psychologythe thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that define us, the artist shares. Heads are not just a vessel for thoughts and feelings but also encompass the face, which is how we recognize and connect with one another.Blown AwayIn recent works, Khannas minimalist clay characters take on different roles associated with everyday functionality. For instance, the artist shares that the series of Headrest stool sculptures double as a seat and a metaphor for pausing and relieving the burden of modern life. Split Head Light and Table, vases within Blob Set, and Super Moon Lamps are all examples of practicality converging with aesthetics.You can discover more on the Claymen studios website, as well as Instagram.Super Moon LampsSplit Head Light and TableHeadrest StoolsAll is SwellServing HopeServing HeadsCharacters from All is SwellSuper Moon LampsHands-On ServersHumble Table LampsHeadrest StoolsNext article

All images courtesy of Vipoo, shared with permissionVipoos Exuberant Porcelain Characters Emanate Optimism and TogethernessDecember 6, 2024ArtCraftKate MothesBorn and raised in Thailand, Vipoo Srivilasawho often goes simply by Vipoomoved to Melbourne more than two decades ago, where hes created ceramic works that engage with concepts like queerness, migration, and spirituality.Vipoo emphasizes community, accessibility, and unwavering optimism in elegant yet playful porcelain sculptures (previously). In a range of glazes, from cobalt to gold luster to bright red, his dynamic characters gesture with their fingers in a V shape, usually denoting hopeful messages like peace or victory. Others appear to dance, wave, or cheer.Albert (2022)Titles like Salutaris, the Patron of Well-being or Calma, the Spirit of Tranquility, designate many of the figures with protective or uplifting roles. Vipoo taps into universal tenets of strong relationships and communities, like trust, fairness, and togetherness.The artists solo exhition re/JOY at the Australian Design Centre highlights a wide range of stories about peoples migration to different parts of Australia. Drawing on personal stories and mementos collected from strangers around the country, he shares diverse experiences that contribute to a collective story.re/JOY continues through February 19 in Darlinghurst, just outside of Sydney. And accompanying the show, a vibrant new monograph titled Positive Art Work celebrates 25 years of the artists career. Find more on Vipoos website and Instagram.Circle of Trust (2023)Salutaris, the Patron of Well-being (2024)Calma, the Spirit of Tranquillity (2024)Shadowed Ally and White Blossoms (2023)Temporus, the Master of Time (2024)Detail of a sculpture from re/JOYPrevious articleNext article

All images A House of Wonders, shared with permissionInside Miniature Dioramas, Flying Saucers Drift Across Extraterrestrial LandscapesDecember 6, 2024ArtCraftJackie AndresWithin the confines of a small, ovoid frames, Caroline Dewison, of A House of Wonders, crafts miniature scenes laden with remarkable detail. Building upon previous mystical vistas inspired by the woodlands surrounding her studio in Warrington, England, the artists most recent ventures forge a deeper path toward the otherworldly.Hovering above minuscule streams and valleys, UFOs contrast sharply against Dewisons hand-painted nature scenes. The artist has been fascinated by the possibility of beings on other planets since childhood and continues to explore this speculation.In my lifetime, its gone from there being just us to scientists finding hundreds and thousands of exoplanets, many with the possibility of life, she explains. I would like to think that were not alone. Within each diorama, the flying saucers are cleverly affixed to jut outward from two-dimensional backgrounds, furthering a sense of depth.Along with revisiting her lifelong interest in the extraterrestrial, the artist has also rekindled her relationship with automata. She relishes problem-solving and the logistical aspects of constructing kinetic pieces, sharing, I love working out how to create a moving piece of art and really enjoy engineering the mechanism to add life to my work. As a result, the tiny UFOs make a dynamic appearance as well, rotating and drifting above foreign crop circles and thickets of pine.While Dewison still mainly works with laser-cut plywood, Jesmonite, acrylic paint, clay, and a 3D-printing pen, she is also working on constructing new designs for frames.A busy year is ahead of the artist. Dewisons work is currently on view as part of Small Works | Big Impact at Momentum Gallery in Asheville, and later this month, her dioramas will be featured in the Oddities and Curiosities Expo in Melbourne with Beinart Gallery. Find Dewisons miniatures for sale in her shop, A House of Wonders, and keep an eye on Instagram for new work, upcoming shows, and more.Next article

Oxymodern (Aztec Calendar) (2002), blown-glass, mixed-media wall installation, 120 x 120 x 12 inches. Image courtesy of the Cheech Marin Collectionand Riverside Art Museum. All images courtesy of the artists and the Corning Museum of Glass, shared with permissionEinar and Jamex de la Torres Monumental Glass Assemblages Hurtle Through CollidoscopeDecember 5, 2024ArtCraftKate MothesIn 1972, when Einar and Jamex de la Torre were nine and 12 years old, respectively, their family moved to Southern California from their hometown, Guadalajara, Mexico. Building upon their immigrant experiences and the sometimes contradictory facets of bicultural identity, the artists began creating sculptures and installations exploring themes as varied as time, religion, traditions, and regionalism. The pair have collaborated since the 1990s, combining blown glass and mixed media into large-scale wall pieces and striking public art. In the expansive exhibition Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective at the Corning Museum of Glass, the pair present 40 works spanning nearly three decades.Meteorite dall Influenza Veneziana (2024)Included in the showcase is a brand new, monumental commission titled Meteorite dall Influenza Veneziana, which draws on the rich history of Venetian or Murano glass. While only pieces produced on the small Italian island can bear the name of Muranothink Champagne in the wine world or Parmigiano Reggiano for cheesethe de la Torre brothers revel in the idea that once [the technique] escaped, it hit the glassblowing world like a meteorite, Einar says.The de la Torre brothers are known for their additive approach, layering both meaning and material into meticulous assemblages. Vibrant colors and sometimes ironic details, like symbols for a car battery or engine light, emerge when encountered up close, then dissolve into energetic patterns when viewed from a distance.Detail of Meteorite dall Influenza VenezianaToday, the duo split their time between San Diego and the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California, Mexico, and the occasionally humorous interplay of American and Mexican motifs hold a sustained role in their practice. Many pieces incorporate motifs specific to Mexico, like the iconic, circular Aztec calendar that combines a 365-day cycle with a 260-day ritual or spiritual cycle. Mechanical gears, shells, religious iconography, anatomy, and more, merge in their maximalist compilations.The brothers created the new work in the Corning Museums studio, and the idea for incorporating Venetian details like cane work arose organically around the hot shop teams experience with the style. An artists job is to get away with their vision, Einar says, and we were very gratified and surprised at how much support we had for our ideas for this commission.Collidoscope continues through January 5 in Corning, New York. Find more on the artists website.Detail of Meteorite dall Influenza VenezianaFrijolera Clsica (2010), bown-glass, mixed-media sculpture, 31 x 18 x 18 inches. Image courtesy of Crocker Art MuseumMitosis (2008), blown-glass and mixed-media with resin castings and waterjet-cut aluminum frame, 48 x 48 x 9 inches. Image courtesy of the artists and Koplin Del Rio GalleryEn Cada Arbol una Cruz (2000), blown-glass, mixed-media sculpture, 28 x 21 inches. Image courtesy of the artists and Koplin Del Rio GalleryCorning Museum of Glass staff work with the de la Torre brothers to install Meteorite dall Influenza VenezianaThe de la Torre brothers construct glass installation components in the Amphitheater Hot Shop of the Corning Museum of GlassNext article

All images courtesy of Sayonara FilmThree Generations Grow Closer Over Traditional Vietnamese Cuisine in Spring Roll DreamDecember 5, 2024Kate MothesWhen a mother arrives home with her young son to find her father in the kitchen, the simple act of preparing dinner prompts her to confront her childhood and cultural identity. As her father prepares spring rolls, a traditional Vietnamese meal, both are challenged to find common ground. And what ultimately brings them together is the youngest generations creative fusion.Spring Roll Dream is a stop-motion short film directed and animated by Mai Vu while she was enrolled at the National Film and Television School in Buckinghamshire, England. The narrative follows a single mother named Linh, who has forged a life for her family in the U.S. But when her father visits from Vietnam, a statement says, Linh is confronted with the past and culture she left behind and the question of where it belongs in her familys new life.The figures, scenes, and foodstuffs emerge from sculpted paper, and the films dialogue captures bilingual interactions that shift between generations. Interiors glow in the evening light and uncanny happenings induce Linh to reconsider her relationship with her heritage.Spring Roll Dream took home the Lights on Women Award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Watch now on Vimeo.Next article

All images Victoria Rose Richards, shared with permissionAerial Embroideries by Victoria Rose Richards Teem with Harmonious DetailDecember 4, 2024CraftNatureJackie AndresLately, Victoria Rose Richards has taken a liking to spatial harmony. In the form of crop circles, classical gardens, and rice terrace steps, the South West England-based artist crafts striking views from above guided by geometric shapes.I find symmetry very comforting and calming it scratches an itch in my brain, Richards shares. While previous works were driven by meandering lines and random organic shapes, the artist adjusted her process for her most recent pieces. I had to use exact measurements with a ruler to draw it out which is quite alien for me in my work!, she says.Following a radial approach, Richards experimented with starting from the center of circular or ovoid embroidery hoops and working her way outward, playing with different shapes and paths. Each aerial landscape is then stitched with meticulous detail, from single lines of thread mimicking bridges to a gold cog inserted at the heart of a teeming garden to resemble a fountain.Richards is looking forward to creating more winter pieces as the cold weather settles in and is also working on a larger project still under wraps. Keep an eye on the artists Instagram for updates, and see her website for more.Previous articleNext article

Losel Yauch. Procession Immemorial. Installation view of Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now at Wrightwood 659. All photos by Michael Tropea, shared with permissionIn Chicago, an Expansive Exhibition Offers a New Vision of Himalayan ArtDecember 4, 2024ArtSocial IssuesGrace EbertSuspended in the atrium of Wrightwood 659 in Chicago is a three-story installation of vibrant prayer flags in yellow, green, white, red, and blue cascading from above. Five sculptural horses emerge through the lush curtain of textiles at varying points, appearing to gallop mid-air.Each flags color refers to the five elements and states of mind in Tibetan Buddhism. Yellow, for example, denotes earth and wisdom, while green references water and equanimity. White is air and purity, blue is space and endurance, and red refers to fire and compassion. Asha Kama Wangdi, VAST Bhutan,The Windhorse (lungta) (2024), cloth and metalBy Bhutanese artist Asha Kama Wangdi, the monumental work utilizes the Buddhist tradition of lungta (wind horses), which are symbols of positive energy and good luck thought to carry prayers to the heavens. For this installation, the artist collected tattered and worn flags that broken loose and scattered across the landscape. This shift from spiritual object to a source of pollution inspired Asha Kama Wangdi, as he explored the contradiction between sacred practice and environmental care.The Windhorse is one of dozens of works included in Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now, a large-scale exhibition curated by Michelle Bennett Simorella of the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in New York. As the title suggests, the show aims to present a more contemporary view of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and other Himalayan regions.Bennett Simorella tasked 28 artists with pairing objects from the Rubins collection with their works, contextualizing todays aesthetic and making practices within a long history of artists and crafters. Featuring works from across hundreds of miles of the Himalayan region, Reimagine is broad in scope, style, and medium, yet retains several throughlines.For example, New York-based artist Losel Yauch presents a riderless cavalry of woven horses in Procession Immemorial, which similarly draws on the concept of wind horses. Stitched onto their silk coats are images from stories the artists grandfather shared about fighting for freedom in his home of Kham in east Tibet.Shraddha Shrestha, Dus Mahavidyas (Great Goddesses of Wisdom): Kamala (2023), acrylic on canvas. Photo by Dave De ArmasAlso on view is a vibrant collection of paintings Shraddha Shrestha, who reinterprets the doe-eyed Powerpuff Girls as Hindu goddesses. The artist was raised in Patan, one of Nepals most historic cities, and shares in a statement:Growing up in a conservative, patriarchal Newari household meant staying within a lot of cultural, social, and gender boundaries. All the girls and women in my family were used to catcalling, unwanted stares from the neighbors, being scolded by male family members for dressing with our knees showing, getting judged for walking with a male friend, and being shouted at for reaching home after dark.After school, Shraddha Shrestha enjoyed watching American cartoons, particularly the trio with superpowers. These animated characters soon became fixtures in her imaginary world, which combined facets of her home city with the girls strong-willed attitudes. Womanhood should be celebrated. Instead, we need to fight for basic things like education, work, health, and more, she says. Doesnt it contradict the tradition we believe in? Doesnt it disrespect the deities we worship?The second iteration of Reimagine, which was originally shown at the Rubin earlier this year, is on view through February 15.Asha Kama Wangdi, VAST Bhutan,The Windhorse (lungta) (2024), cloth and metal.IMAGINE (a.k.a. Sneha Shrestha), sculpture fabricated and engineered by Black Cat Labs,Calling the Earth to Witness (2023), acrylic on masonite, steelTsherin Sherpa in collaboration with Bijay Maharjan and Regal Studio Metal casting team, including Durga Shrestha, Sajal Siwakoti, and Sangita Maharjan,Muted Expressions (2022), bronze.Tsherin Sherpa in collaboration with Bijay Maharjan and Regal Studio Metal casting team, including Durga Shrestha, Sajal Siwakoti, and Sangita Maharjan,Muted Expressions (2022), bronze.Previous articleNext article

Colossals Favorite Art Books of 2024December 4, 2024ColossalAs we get ready to say goodbye to 2024, were celebrating some of our favorite books shared on Colossal throughout the year. We published dozens of articles about spectacular new monographs, photography, architecture, painting, science, history, and more. Peruse our top 10 below, and find many more in the Colossal Shop and onBookshop.Shirin Neshat, Land of Dreams (2019), film still. Shirin Neshat, courtesy of the artist, Gladstone Gallery, and Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and LondonFrom bold black-and-white visages to masters of disguise, identity plays a vital role in many of the practices featured in The Women Who Changed Photography. The tome investigates the trailblazing practices of Lee Miller, Shirin Neshat, and many more, chronicling the individuals, aesthetics, and approaches that have shaped the field.Available in the Colossal ShopDetail of Astrolin Color Card, tablissement Georget Fils Peintures Laques et Vernis, Chantenay-Ls-Nantes (c. 1906). Image courtesy of Bibliothque Forney, ParisFrom chemists plant-derived dyes to consumer paint swatches displayed at the hardware store, the history of color charts reflects a varied relationship between pigments, science, culture, and commerce. Anne Varichon explores the entwined evolution of this categorization through nearly 200 vibrant samples from the 15th century to modern day.Available in the Colossal Shop Two decades ago, Phaidon published the first volume inThe Art Book for Childrenseries, which quickly became beloved by children and parents the world over. To share its legacy with a new generation of readers, this edition pairs a selection of best of artists from the original series with 30 brand-new contemporary entries.This year was a plentiful time for childrens art books, and we also enjoyed the informative narrative, I Am an Artist.Available in the Colossal ShopFrom ancient pyramids to subterranean labyrinths to mountaintop meccas, we have always been drawn to visiting or building sites that inspire reverence and awe. Sacred Sitescelebrates how we traverse and transform the world around us through ritual and art. Compiled by Jessica Hundley, the volume surveys a remarkable array of places and artworks through more than 400 images centered around pilgrimage, performance, and devotion.Available in the Colossal ShopBeth Moon, Heart of the Dragon (2010), archival pigment inks on cotton paper, 32 48 inches. Image Beth MoonSpanning 3,500 years of art, science, culture, and history,Tree: Exploring the Arboreal Worldsurveys the awe-inspiring beauty and romance of trees. The volume includes more than 300 illustrations ranging from ancient wall paintings and botanical illustrations to captivating photography and multimedia work by todays leading artists.Available in the Colossal ShopImage Ivan McClellanEight Secondscomprises 118 images byIvan McClellan, a Portland, Oregon-based photographer whos spent nearly a decade documenting the lives, wins, and losses of the Black rodeo community from Alabama to Los Angeles. He offers an insiders view, capturing the addictive energy of the sport and the rich sense of camaraderie it fosters.Available on BookshopCamois the first publication to chronicle the work of Thandiwe Muriu, celebrating her vibrant portraits that combine cultural textiles and beauty ideologies. Muriu takes us on a colorful, reflective journey through her world as a woman living in modern Kenya as she reinterprets contemporary African portraiture.Available in the Colossal ShopCover of Hidden Portraits: Old Masters Reimagined, featuring Hidden Jacometto (2019), from Portrait of a Young Man (1480s) by Jacometto VenezianoThis monograph gathers a quintessential selection of Volker Hermess works into one volume. Highlighting the artists wry commentary on luxury, social status, and fame, the selection delves into the history of portraiture through a humorous lens.Available on BookshopPresenting a more expansive and inclusive history of sculpture,Great Women Sculptorssurveys the work of more than 300 trailblazing artists from more than 60 countries, spanning 500 years from the Renaissance to the present day.Available in the Colossal ShopArtwork by Christina FongSpurred by the belief that art changes lives, Florence and Elias Katz foundedCreativity Exploredin 1983, a San Francisco-based nonprofit studio and gallery designed for disabled, neurodivergent artists. More than 135 people currently participate in its programming, learning techniques across painting, drawing, clay, textiles, and more. In Art Is Art, Ann Kappes, Creativity Exploreds director of artist partnerships, celebrates the organizations 40th anniversary through hundreds of artworks.Available on BookshopNext article

Uro Fink, Cosmic Explosion, Istria, Croatia. All images the photographers, courtesy of Capture the Atlas, shared with permissionLuminous Skies Star in the 2024 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year ContestDecember 3, 2024NaturePhotographyKate MothesThis year, as we reach the solar maximum of the current solar cycle, the Northern and Southern Lights have been more active than ever, illuminating skies in unexpected places where theyve rarelyif everbeen photographed, say the organizers of the 2024 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year contest.Bringing together the work of dozens of photographers around the world, the unique competition highlights the endless variety of landscapes, atmospheric conditions, and astronomical phenomena that combine into otherworldly visions of the sky.Baillie Farley, Lake Toolondo Aurora, Lake Toolondo, AustraliaWhen solar wind causes disturbances in the earths magnetosphere, we are sometimes treated to luminous, rippling skies. The phenomenon is often referred to as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, and in the southern hemisphere, its aurora australis. Coined by 17th-century astronomer Galileo, the names draw on ancient Greco-Roman deities who watched over the dawn (Aurora) and the northerly and southerly winds (Borealis and Australis, respectively).Presented by Capture the Atlas, which combines destination photo tours with guidance and tutorials for photographers of all skill levels, the competitions top 25 imagesa selection of our favorites included herespan locales from Spain to Namibia to Arizona. Uro Finks stunning capture from Istria, Croatia, foregrounds a brilliant aurora with a Perseid meteor shower. He described the moment like being treated to a multi-course menu of the night sky, in which he captured not only the greenish glow but also the Milky Way, the constellation Orion, Zodiacal light, and the distant glow of Jupiter and Mars. Other winners include Tom Raes glowing view of the Milky Way bathed in pink light, taken from Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, New Zealand, and Josh Beamess dramatic drone shot of an erupting volcano in Iceland set against a luminous green curtain.Explore all of the finalists in Capture the Atlass online gallery, and keep an eye out for updates about travel opportunities and the next contest on Instagram.Josh Beames, Magic o the North, IcelandTom Rae, Sky Fire, Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, New ZealandAdrian Cormier, Carpe Diem, Crater Lake National Park, U.S.Egor Goryachev, African Savanna Under the Lights of Southern Aurora, Spitzkoppe, NamibiaDavid Tanis, Gibson Glow, Victoria, AustraliaSergey Korolev, In the Rays of the Solar Wind, Rybachy Peninsula, RussiaEvan Watts, Canyon Lights, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.Edn Snchez, Auroras en el Infierno, Asturias, SpainHerry Himanshu, Paddling Under the Aurora, Banff National Park, CanadaPrevious articleNext article

All images courtesy of Abi Castillo, shared with permissionNature Alights on Cheerful Faces in Abi Castillos Ceramic SculpturesDecember 3, 2024ArtCraftKate MothesWhether sprouting flowers for spectacles or summoning bluebirds, Abi Castillos playful characters mirror our inner selves, one another, and the world around us.When I was little, they called me Big Eyes, a name I received with pride, since it is an inheritance from my paternal grandmother, whom I barely knew but who stood out for her big eyes and powerful gaze, Castillo (previously) says in a statement. Carrying this legacy makes me aware of the importance of knowing where I come from and where I belong.Through standalone sculptures and functional objects, Castillo emphasizes the act of seeing. Eyes are everywhere, looking back at the viewer as a reminder to reflect on what the artist describes as this ephemeral, hectic, and hostile life. She adds, Each of my characters also holds a reflection of myself, of my connection with nature and of that little girl that I still carry inside Castillo is looking forward to moving to a larger studio soon, and she is currently busy making new sculptures, experimenting with different techniques to explore new shapes and formats, like jewelry. Find more on her website, and stay up-to-date on Instagram.Previous articleNext article

Illustration for Self Care For Winter by Suzy Reading, published by Octopus Books. All images courtesy of Rosanna Tasker, shared with permissionWonder and Warmth Emanate from Rosanna Taskers Vivid IllustrationsDecember 3, 2024IllustrationKate MothesSwathed in patterned coats, overlooking expansive vistas, or reveling the joys of solitude, the characters in Rosanna Taskers illustrations (previously) delight in simple pleasures. Emphasizing the potential of color and contrast to create a sense of warmth and depth, figures bask in glowing interiors, and landscapes fade into the blue of distance.Taskers figures are often camouflaged or miniaturized by their towering surroundings, whether wandering among stacks of textiles or strolling through a grove of trees. Recently, Ive been enjoying playing with pattern, light and depth, she tells Colossal. Im always aiming for the balance of challenging my comfort zone while also staying true to my natural style.Illustration for Singing HolidaysWhile she cant yet divulge some of the exciting projects in the works for the coming year, Tasker is currently working on another illustration for Singing Holidays, which plans music-focused tours around Europe and elsewhere. She enjoys working with clients that provide open briefs and lend their full trust. For example, Singing Holidays gives her the space to really experiment with my work and create images that are mostly self initiated, while still having some parameters or starting points to work withinwhich is my favourite type of commission and when I feel most creative, she says.Prints and calendars are available in Taskers online shop, and you can explore more work on both her website and Instagram.Illustration for Good HousekeepingIllustration for Self Care For Winter by Suzy Reading, published by Octopus BooksIllustration for Singing HolidaysIllustration for Self Care For Winter by Suzy Reading, published by Octopus BooksIllustration for Singing HolidaysIllustration for Singing HolidaysIllustration for Singing HolidaysIllustration for Self Care For Winter by Suzy Reading, published by Octopus BooksNext article

December 2024 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for ArtistsDecember 2, 2024OpportunitiesColossalEvery month, Colossal shares opportunities for artists and designers, including open calls, grants, fellowships, and residencies. If youd like to list an opportunity here, please get in touch at [emailprotected]. You can also join our monthly Opportunities Newsletter.Innovate Grant awards two $1,800 grants each quarter to one visual artist and one photographer. In addition, twelve applicants will receive honorable mentions, be featured on the website, and join a growing community. International artists and photographers working in any medium are eligible. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PST on December 12, 2024.Open CallsPublic Art for Spatial Justice (Massachusetts)These grants range from $15,000 to $30,000 and are open to all disciplines. Projects should creatively cultivate spatial justice through public works. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET December 2, 2024.The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61 (International)Winners of the 61st annual competition will be shown in an exhibition launching at the Natural History Museum, London, in October 2025. There is a 30 entry fee, which increases to 35 in the last week of the submission period.Deadline: 11:30 a.m. GMT on December 5, 2024.Works on Paper Open Call 2025 (International)The Gallery at Green & Stone is accepting 3D sculptures and 2D works, including paintings, drawings, prints, and collages, for an exhibition centering on paper next January. There is a 15 application fee.Deadline: December 7, 2024.All About Photo Travels Photography Competition (International)The 45th issue of AAP Magazine is seeking submissions for cohesive bodies of travel photography. Winners receive $1,000, their image(s) published in the magazine, extensive press coverage, and global recognition.Deadline: December 10, 2024.SooVACs 19th Juried Exhibition (International)Submissions are open for Soo Visual Art Centers 19th juried exhibition, Untitled 19. All mediums are eligible for this show, which will run from February 15 to March 23. There is a $30 application fee.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CT on December 15, 2024.Open to artists 19 and older, this award offers one artist $7,500, a solo exhibition, and a printed catalog at Pelham Art Center. $2,500 is divided among the finalists, and there is a $25 application fee.Deadline: December 15, 2024.Prospect Art: 2025 NEW WORK Focus on Los Angeles (Los Angeles)Open to visual artists living in Los Angeles County for at least five years, this open call offers $1,000, an exhibition at Winslow Garage, and a feature in the ONE WORK online publication series.Deadline: December 31, 2024.2024 Booooooom Photo Awards (International)Boooooooms annual photo awards are accepting submissions in five categories: portrait, nature, street, color, and fashion. Each category winner receives $1,000, editorial and social coverage, a feature in a printed publication, and some goodies from partners including gift cards, bags, slings, and cases.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PST on January 10, 2025.Sony World Photography Awards 2025 (International)Open to photographers worldwide shooting on any device, this contest includes top prizes of $25,000, a solo exhibition in London, Sony digital imaging equipment, press and media coverage, and more.Deadline: January 10, 2025.NSMA International Painting Competition (International)Open to professionals and students, this competition focuses on contemporary realism in painting, and all subject matter is welcome. One winner will receive $25,000, and finalists will be exhibited at the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 15, 2025.Begin Again Group Spring Exhibition (International)Artists are invited to share their freshest work from 2024 and set the stage for their direction in 2025 for a group exhibition in the Supporter Gallery at ARTS Southeast. All mediums are welcome.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 18, 2025.Artadia Awards (Los Angeles)Artists receive unrestricted funds of $15,000, and honorariums will also be provided to finalists.Deadline: February 1, 2025.The Other Art Fair (Brooklyn)Applications are now open for the 2025 season of The Other Art Fair. Submit your work to show at one of the fairs, expand your collector base, and join a global network.Deadline: February 2, 2025.Bosch Parade 2026 (International)Nothing and nobody is perfect, and defects are everywhere. The Bosch Parade 2026 pays tribute to all these imperfections, sailing under the titlePowered by defectfrom June 18 to 21, 2026. Artists and collectives of all disciplines are eligible to submit their proposals for the bi-annual floating parade.Deadline: 12 CET on February 19, 2025.World of Wearable Art Competition (International)WOW is a world-renowned wearable art experience, where an annual design competition culminates in a spectacular show combining theatre, art, fashion, music, and performance. The event offers 25 winners $200,000 in total prizes.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. NZDT on February 20, 2025.GrantsMaterial Works Art Award 2024 (International)This award offers $2,500 in exchange for an original artwork to be added to Material Works growing contemporary art collection. Artists working in painting, photography, installation, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, experimental, and conceptual art are eligible.Deadline: 12 a.m. CT on December 8, 2024.Artists in Queens Grant (Queens)This $3,000 grant supportsthe creation of new work in a community setting.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET on December 12, 2024.NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship (New York State and Tribal Nations located therein)This $8,000 unrestricted grant is open to those working in architecture, environmental structures, design, photography, and more.Deadline: 5 p.m. ET on December 17, 2024.The Adolf and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant (International)This program provides one-time financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs resulted from an unforeseen catastrophic incident and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Awardees typically receive $5,000, up to $15,000.Deadline: Rolling.This fund commissions visual artists to create company projects on a rolling basis. Awardees will receive between $500 and $5,000.Deadline: Rolling.Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (International)The foundation welcomes applications from painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper, including printmakers. Grants are intended for one year and range up to $50,000. The artists circumstances determine the size of the grant, and professional exhibition history will be considered.Deadline: Rolling.Residencies, Fellowships, & MoreBernheim Artist in Residence Program (International)Now in its 45th year, this program awards up to four residencies each year to artists working with nature. Residents receive a $2,500 stipend and accommodations. One residency is dedicated to an artist in Kentucky or nearby counties in Southern Indiana, and another is dedicated to an artist whose work addresses environmental issues and the climate crisis.Deadline: Midnight EST on December 2, 2024.Folger Institute Long-Term Public Humanities Fellowship (International)This nine-month fellowship offers $70,000 and is designed to utilize Folgers collections, exhibitions, and programming themes. One fellow will devote 75% of their residency to research and 25% to implementing public humanities engagement.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET on December 15, 2024.Newberry Library Artist in Residence Fellowships (International)This one-month fellowship supports research for a visual artist with a $3,000 stipend.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CT on December 15, 2024.Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (International)These seven-week residencies in Joshua Tree National Park include $1,500 stipends, living accommodations, and studio space. There is a $45 application fee.Deadline: 11:59 p.m. MT on December 15, 2024.Roman J. Witt Residency (International)Open to established and emerging artists and designers, this program awards one residency to support the production of new work at the University of Michigan. Residents receive $20,000, housing, workspace, and up to $5,000 in research and development funding. There is a $15 application fee. Deadline: December 15, 2024.The New Gallery Studio Residency / Solo Exhibition (Springfield, St. Louis, Louisville, Atlanta, and more)The New Gallery at Austin Peay State University is offering its gallery space for a new summer studio artist-in-residence program, which offers $7,850 and lodging.Deadline: December 15, 2024.The Bray Artist Residencies (International)Throughsummer and long-term studio experiences, this program offers the opportunity to work within a community of global artists actively creating new work.Deadline: December 19, 2024.McColl Centers Artist-in-Residence Program (International)Open to emerging and mid-career artists across disciplines, this 10-week program offers a $6,000 stipend, housing, studio space, curatorial guidance, and more. Deadline: January 3, 2025.The image above is from a short film byPhoebe Wahland Andrea Love.Previous articleNext article

TOKI. All images courtesy of Masakatsu Sashie, shared with permissionMasakatsu Sashies Mysterious Spheres Hover Over Post-Apocalyptic LandscapesDecember 2, 2024ArtKate MothesEncircling eerie orbs, architectural elements and neon signs hover above urban landscapes and fields of detritus in Masakatsu Sashies oil paintings. His fantastical, post-apocalyptic scenes envision Earth as a representation of the universe, the artist tells Colossal.Sashie adds, This led me to the idea of symbolically expressing the sphere. My inspiration came from designs that feature circles symbolically composed within rectangles, such as the Japanese national flag, Hanafuda cards, and mandalas.Phantasm (night)Sashie begins by gathering images related to a theme, such as signage, aging buildings, or retro motifs. He works from his own photographs, in addition to images he finds online. Likening the composition to a two-dimensional assemblage, he then merges all of the shapes into floating globes, rendered in oil on canvas.Devoid of people, Sashies landscapes interrogate the nature of mass consumerism, waste, and aging infrastructure. Like some of sci-fis most iconic spaceshipsthink the Death Star from Star Warsthe illuminated spheres appear to run on inexplicable sources of energy, leaving their internal workings or possible inhabitants a total mystery.If you plan to be in Melbourne in May, Sashies work is slated for an exhibition at Outr Gallery, followed by another show in July at i GALLERY in Osaka. In the meantime, dive deeper into the artists imaginary worlds on Instagram.Phantasm (day)EchoConcreteShieldHallBoilerSYMBOL Previous articleNext article

From vibrant thread and wire, Yumi Okita conjures thrillingly lifelike moths, butterflies, and flowers. The Raleigh-based artist (previously) meticulously embroiders insects colorful wings with an eye for realism, so until youre up close, they appear as though they could flutter away at any moment. And in her more recent series of otherworldly botanicals, petals, leaves, and roots curl to look as though they were just plucked from their habitats.Okita often adds original sculptures to her Etsy shop, and you can also follow updates on Instagram.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Yumi Okitas Butterflies and Botanicals Metamorphose from Colorful Thread appeared first on Colossal.

Bubble. All images courtesy of Hou de Sousa, shared with permissionParticipatory Pavilions by Hou de Sousa Emerge from Colorful Lights and FacetsNovember 29, 2024DesignKate MothesFor Nancy Hou and Josh de Sousa, founders of design studio Hou de Sousa, urban thoroughfares and public squares are a blank canvas. The award-winning, New York-based team focuses on architectural installations and large-scale sculptures that invite visitors to experience their surroundings in new ways.Often employing vibrant color and glowing lighting effects to be enjoyed day or night, pieces like Bubble and Star Light Star Bright invite passersby to wander through and around undulating surfaces. Many of the firms ideas revolve around the idea of the pavilionan inviting outdoor meeting place for the community.BubbleStar Light Star Bright, for example, was installed earlier this year on Broadway in New York City, inspired by the cross-cultural tradition of wish trees, (inviting) visitors to tie ribbons representing their hopes and desires, Hou and de Sousa say in a statement. As ribbon-like wristbands were added, the pavilion evolved as it donned a fluffy, fluorescent winter coat, highlighting interconnectedness and the universality of hope.In the Flatiron District in Manhattan, Hou de Sousa also recently installed a piece called Tulips, which reimagine lamp posts as giant flowers blossoming toward the sky.If youre in the Sarasota, Florida, area this winter, keep an eye out for the studios next installation, an 8,000-pound steel sculpture titled Poly. Dive into more projects on the studios website and Instagram.Star Light Star BrightStar Light Star BrightTulipsTulipsDetail of BubbleDetail of BubbleNext article

Sitting on the Couch. All images courtesy of Yool Kim, shared with permissionSwans, Plants, and Fragmented Figures Warmly Embrace in Yool Kims PaintingsNovember 28, 2024ArtGrace EbertWarmth permeates Yool Kims most recent body of work, which portrays tangled masses of limbs and swans in rich palettes of reds, pinks, and oranges. Laying dense lines in acrylic paint, the Seoul-based artist examines the interactions between living things and their sometimes contradictory desires. Her new paintings entwine fragmented iterations of human figures with graceful black and white birds, monsteras, and ferns to explore peace and equality. A Peaceful AfternoonI wanted to express the beauty of being able to care (for) the weak and taking care of each other, without a sense of superiority and inferiority in living things that are set by the world, Kim tells Colossal. By hugging, touching, or leaning on each other, I highlighted the meaning of connection and warmth.As with earlier bodies of work, this series similarly explores the fractured nature of the self. Kim shares that shes feeling calmer and more tranquil these days, which is reflected in the ways figures stretch to embrace one another.I also wanted to express that I have many egos and personalities within me; I am a human being full of complexity who cannot grasp existence as a single disposition, she adds. Im always considering myself.Kim will show paintings in several exhibitions this spring, the first of which opens in March at Hall Spassov in Seattle. Find more of her work on Instagram.An Autumn NightCozy & SilentDreamLet Me Shine, Let You ShineNext article

RENAISSANCE # 21 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 39 3/8 x 47 1/4 inches. All images courtesy of JD Malat Gallery, shared with permissionIn a Resounding Renaissance, Conrad Jon Godlys Acrylic Paintings Scale Alpine PeaksNovember 27, 2024ArtKate MothesThrough the deft manipulation of thick acrylic paint on canvas, Conrad Jon Godly summons snow-capped peaks, tumbling mountain springs, and shifting weather.At JD Malat Gallery, the Swiss artist (previously) presents his largest body of work to date, RENAISSANCE, which follows a four-year hiatus. Godly is open about the mental health struggles that prevented him from painting, and in addition to his return to the gallery setting, the title refers to his experience of a rebirth as he overcame personal strife.RENAISSANCE # 03 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 inchesGodly is known for his dramatic impasto depictions of mountain landscapes, which were historically created using oil paint. In this new series, he has transitioned to acrylic, which dries much faster and lends itself to opacity. He conveys the striking beauty of the Swiss Alps through fundamental compositional elements like texture, form, and tonal shifts.Viewed up close, Godlys paintings melt into near-abstraction as our attention is drawn to the qualities of the paint and the interaction of light and shadow. Farther away, the meticulously formed edges and gestural brush strokes reveal the crisp outlines of snow, rock, waterfalls, and storms.RENAISSANCE will inhabit both floors of the gallery in London and run from December 12 to January 18. In the meantime, see more on the artists website and Instagram.RENAISSANCE # 06 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 inchesRENAISSANCE # 34 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 59 x 51 1/8 inchesRENAISSANCE # 25 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 47 1/4 x 39 3/8 inchesRENAISSANCE # 43 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 70 7/8 x 90 1/2 inchesRENAISSANCE # 29 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 59 x 51 1/8 inchesRENAISSANCE # 07 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 inchesRENAISSANCE # 28 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 47 1/4 x 39 3/8 inchesRENAISSANCE # 05 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 inchesPrevious articleNext article