Oh my word, YES. I’ve been watching the “in progress” images show up on his Instagram feed for months, and finally, New York based painter Will Cotton‘s cowboys ‘n unicorns are ready to ride! His brand new show, titled “The Taming of the Cowboy”, opens this Thursday May 28th at Galerie Templon in Brussels, and runs until July 31, 2020. Here is the statement from the gallery’s press release:

“In a nod to his country’s political schizophrenia in the midst of the electoral campaign, Will Cotton offers a new take on the myth of the cowboy, symbolizing the conquest of the West. His large, ostensibly classical oil paintings portray a surprising encounter between triumphant cowboys and their fantastical steeds: pink unicorns. The figure of the cowboy evokes a strong sense of American masculinity, associated with freedom, manifest destiny and a culture of violence. In contrast, the unicorn — particularly when pink — reminds us of a more contemporary mythology that has in recent years taken possession of the little girls’ section of toy and clothing departments everywhere. Questioning the notion of gender, the exhibition explores the relationship between the sexes along with the hypersexualization of childhood, the notion of queer, and the LGBT movement, whose global mascot has recently become the rainbow unicorn.”

Okay, I didn’t think it was possible, but now I love these oil paintings even more. ♥

Today, FRIDAY MAY 22nd at NOON {et} I’ll be hosting a LIVE ART SALE on Showfields.com! I curated a grouping of the 8 fabulous artists above {and ok yes, I curated myself into the lineup!}. Please tune in because A. it’ll be fun, and B. for every person that hops on to watch, Showfields will be donating $1 to the charity of my choice… I chose Doctors Without Borders ♥  Soooo, come on over, invite a friend… or ten! This post gives you a peek at half of the available work, and here’s the description I wrote for this curation:

“While the various pieces are quite different – from ceramic eye masks and quiet landscapes, to self portraits and embroidered bits of nature – for me, the element that connects this collection is the feeling of intimacy. Each piece gives us a peek into the artist herself, creating a cocktail of beauty, humor, and vulnerability … and yes, that’s my favorite kind of cocktail!”

…….

Aaaaand that’s a wrap! That was FUN! A bunch of the work sold during the LIVE event, but you can still pop over to Showfields to see my curation and buy some gorgeous work from some very talented artists.

Turtles on roller skates, and spiders with custom sunglasses… I am soooo IN. This is a peek at “Pet Store”, the latest solo show by San Francisco based artist/illustrator Kristina Micotti that is currently exhibited at Recess {until May 30} in San Francisco.

“This new ‘Pet Store’ series is the artist’s way of finally owning all the animals she ever wanted as a child, inspired by those many trips to the pet stores with her mother and the disappointingly inanimate care guides and toy sets she amassed instead. Drawing on imaginative childlike whimsy and nostalgic “90s kid” aesthetics, Micotti has recreated these childhood experiences in the form of a fun, bright pet store containing a variety of animals – again, each with their own miniature accessories – all waiting for their new owners to take them home. She is offering both herself and her audience the chance to realize the unfulfilled childhood dreams of pet ownership that we have all similarly suffered. Her fanciful new ‘Pet Store’ collection allows us all the freedom to “adopt” the pet of our wildest (albeit suburban) fantasies – without a mother’s voice of reason to restrict us.”

YES! I want a pink bunny wearing cowboy boots… and you can’t stop me, Mom!

YUM! … well, if you love the sweet taste of resin. These rainbow-hued sculptures are the fabulous work of Georgia based sculptor Jourdan Joly. I’ve written about him before, but it’s time to do it again! See those ombre/faded yellow and orange cones above? Well, I will be selling both of those during a LIVE online exhibition happening TOMORROW! Eep. I’m very nervous, but excited because, yes, this Tuesday, APRIL 14 at Noon EST, I am hosting an online ART FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT FOOD BANK NYC organized by the amazing team at SHOWFIELDS, and assisted by the artsy eye of TAX Collection. I’ve just spent the past week talking to each artist on the phone – from Milan to New York, Georgia to Pakistan – and, oh my word, they’re all so FANTASTIC! The lineup looks like this: Jourdan Joly, Dave Pollot, Dot Pigeon, Elisa Valenti, Amber Vittoria, Marc Scheff, Erika Lee Sears, Sara Shakeel and Drigo 💕75% of profits will go to the food bank, and 25% will go to the artist.

Hop online with us at this futuristic art show … you can click/buy the work as I’m talking about it. Seriously. IT’S THE FUTURE! RSVP to the event right here.

Oh, well hello match made in ceramic heaven!!! Yep, it’s true, American artists Katie Kimmel and Lorien Stern have a two-person show, titled “Very Rare”, opening {virtually} at Hashimoto Contemporary in New York… well, the show isn’t virtual… it’s actually installed, but the opening will be happening tomorrow night, Saturday April 4th, ONLINE! Yes, the gallery will be doing an Instagram live walk through of the show tomorrow, and both Katie and Lorien will participate from their homes in California. Ah, technology. Here is the description of “Very Rare”:

“Drawing on their mutually playful sense of humor, Kimmel and Stern contemplated what is considered ‘very rare’, and how we come to define and categorize something as such. For Lorien Stern, this theme was utilized to place a spotlight on exotic, extinct and near extinct animals, as well as rare versions of the artists well known ceramic shark heads, finished in gold luster. One notable work is a 2+ foot tall albino Komodo dragon, standing upright, tail wrapped around itself and tongue sticking out, while cheekily displaying its long, light blue perfectly manicured finger and toe nails.

Alternatively, Katie Kimmel created a series of ceramic awards and trophies, “haunted fruit”, as well as collectible items such as kitschy memorabilia reminiscent of card store trinkets and stamps. Patron Saint of Friday’s , a large ceramic bust, pays tribute to the working class chain-restaurant waitress, suspenders full of “flair”, proudly carrying a grinning cheeseburger and fries to her next table.”

The gallery will also have a bunch of unique pieces and merchandise from each artist made especially for “Very Rare”… hence making it very rare {see what I did there?}. In addition, a collaborative limited edition print will be released titled “You Are Good” {shown above}. $10 from each print sale will be donated to No Kid Hungry, who are working with schools and food banks to ensure children don’t miss meals due to Coronavirus school closures. These pieces will be available on Hashimoto’s site starting on Thursday, April 9th. Love.

If it wasn’t frowned upon, I would totally touch {and let’s be honest, try to taste} this entire show! These weird ‘n wonderful pieces are the work of Texas based artist Dan Lam. Her newest exhibition, titled “Supernatural”, is currently showing at Stephanie Chefas Projects in Portland. Here are a few words from the gallery about this work:

“In her latest collection of work, Lam continues to explore her otherworldly sensibility, creating sculptures that push the boundaries of color and form alike. We invite you to enter a world of the artist’s creation, populated by signature spiky shells, kinetic patterns, and vivid neon hues. Inanimate perhaps, but these surrealist objects brim with palpable life and movement.

With Supernatural, Lam walks the line between numerous dichotomies to uncover new modes of expression. By navigating the realm between attraction and repulsion, motion and stillness, seriousness and playfulness, softness and hardness, Lam wields magic power over each idiosyncratic vision. The experimentation remains palpable, but the work never so abstract as to disengage. Compelled by these seemingly disparate juxtapositions, the viewer is overcome with a range of complex emotions and creative ideas.”

Love. It. All. Sigh. Soooo many shows are up, without people being in attendance. Please go and check out all of these shows online. The artists and galleries have worked so hard to put these exhibitions together. Stupid global pandemic.

Ahhh, the quiet work of Scottish painter Andrew McIntosh. I’ve written about Andrew before {here and here}, and just had to do it again as these lonely campers are currently hung on the walls of the James Freeman Gallery in London right at this very moment. They have very appropriately just installed a show titled “Splendid Isolation”. Here are the gallery’s words:

“As our first online exhibition of COVID-19, we are pleased to present ‘Splendid Isolation’, a collection of new caravan paintings by the Scottish artist Andrew McIntosh.

Andrew has painted caravans for many years: sometimes as a host for an Old Master painting; others, as a portal to a sunset or unexpected celestial phenomena. In all cases he taps into the curious appeal of the caravan as a miniature world within a world: a vessel for the intrepid, a means of escape, and a place for cocooned isolation.”

The show runs from March 24th until April 15th. Happy Friday. Stay home. Wash your hands.

Sigh. This is the lovely, domestic inspired work of LA based painter Hilary Pecis… quite appropriate at the moment, no? Chess, crosswords, books and coffee. Works for me. Unfortunately, Hilary has a solo show happening right now at Rachel Uffner Gallery in New York that I would normally tell you to go see! Check out the work online, and reach out to the gallery right here. “Come Along With Me” runs until April 26, 2020. Happy Friday. Stay home. Save a life.

Yep, I love absolutely everything about this colorful, bizarre, craziness! This is the totally weird work of Portland based artist {and 2nd grade teacher!} Jessie Weitzel Le Grand. The majority of the images above are from a 2019 series titled “Bloom Tomb”. Here is Jessie’s poetic description of this installation:

A thought, like an ambient smell.
It wafts in like a fart.

Hot trash. Musky shoes. It’s meant to be ignored. But this time, maybe—TURN NOW!

Finally see the metal FLY.
Where would you go? A place like no other.

It’s either pitch black or a miracle.
A town of no rules, no pain.

You have arrived.

LOVE! And the final piece above, titled “Drowsy Droop”, is part of Jessie’s show that is currently at Stephanie Chefas Projects in Portland until March 21, 2020… GO.

{Photos of Bloom Tomb by John Whitten; Photo of Drowsy Droop by Mario Gallucci}

Oh, American artist Phyllis Bramson …♥! I absolutely LOVE the weird and wonderful mixed media worlds she creates. In fact, I featured Phyllis in my book, A Big Important Art Book – Now With Women … how could I not, after reading her artist statement:

“I use images that are infused with lighthearted arbitrariness and amusing anecdotes about love and affection, in an often cold and hostile world. Mostly, I am making work that percolates forth life’s imperfections: that doesn’t take decorum all that seriously, refusing to separate matters of taste from larger questions about “good behavior.” The paintings are reactions to all sorts of sensuous events, from the casual encounter to highly formalized exchanges of lovemaking (and everything in between). Miniaturized schemes, which meander between love, desire, pleasure and tragedy; all channeled through seasonal changes. Burlesque-like and usually theatrical incidents, that allow for both empathy and “addled” folly, while projecting capricious irritability with comic bumps along the way.”

Her most recent work {yes, the unicorn!} is currently in a group show, titled “Round Hole/Square Peg”, that opened this past weekend at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. The show will be up until June 6, 2020.

{Round Hole/Square Peg also features the work of Lisa Marie Barber, Erin Hayden, Cody Hudson, Janis Kanter, Sheida Soleimani, Chris Uphues, Caroline Wells Chandler and Wendy White.}