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Loooooove! This is the colorful, wonderful, whimsical work of Japanese artist En Iwamura. I had to keep uploading new images as I wrote this post, because I just kept finding more of these lovely little heads! I discovered most of them through the gallery that represents his work in the US, Ross + Kramer Gallery  … and guess what? They happen to be showing his work right now at their East Hampton location until December 13th, 2020. Here’s his bio from the gallery site:

… His interest in art started with having two painters as parents. When applying to art school in Japan, where he earned his BFA and first MFA at the Kanazawa College of Art and Craft, he first thought he would follow their path but instead chose ceramics as a medium. This three-dimensional choice allows him to experiment with the viewer’s experience of occupying space concurrently with his work. He references this relationship between negative space, viewer, and object back to the Japanese philosophy of Ma. Finding the most comfortable Ma between people, places, or objects can create a specific relationship with that person, place or object relative to an exact moment in time. More than just being three dimensional, clay is also in itself a very historic medium, which helps Iwamura further explore his interest of specific moments in time. To the artist, “Ceramics last longer than human life, and we will communicate with future people with ceramics as an important information system.”

We most certainly will. Beautiful.

Okay, I think I just found my new dish set! So, let’s kick things off with a dictionary definition:

“Kintsugi… a Japanese method for repairing broken ceramics with a special lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or platinum / Nothing is ever truly broken – is the philosophy behind the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs smashed pottery by using beautiful seams of gold” … OR chains, twigs, buttons, thread, and the list goes on if you happen to be Glen Martin Taylor. Yep, he has definitely put his own spin on this ancient art form by transforming broken plates and vessels {some of which were his grandmother’s, some he creates himself} into entirely new objects. I’d recommend following him on Instagram, because the captions Glen writes are just as poetic as his work. Happy Monday.

This is Brisbane based artist and designer Rachel Burke aka @imakestagram. Can you guess what she desperately wanted to be when she grew up? A lawyer or a doctor? Nope. A fairy. Well, as you can see by the photo above, she nailed it! Rachel makes the craziest most wonderful work – from art you can wear {even if you’re a mermaid}, to art you can sit on … and in, for that matter! And you know what else is crazy and wonderful? Her story. Rachel’s path has been anything but conventional, which actually makes complete sense. You can listen right up there under Rachel in her fairy floss dress, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify.

First, let’s start with a few of the images I posted the other day:

Gasp! Remember all of that? Of course you do… how could you forget a tinsel cafe and those crazy dresses. Speaking of crazy dresses:

 

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Ah yes, perfect for everyday wear. Clearly, I’m gonna need some of that bling for my next trip to the grocery store {watch the video!}

Okay, let’s take a look at all of the fabulous brand collaborations we covered:

Yes! Talk about only working with brands that fit your own aesthetic! Love, love, love.

Next, this is just a teeny tiny snippet of Rachel’s artwork currently showing at Saint Cloche Gallery in Sydney:

Okay, there is no way her mom would’ve allowed this much glitter in the house. NO. WAY. The show is open until Dec 6th, but if you’re not in Sydney, you can also buy the work online. Oh, ps. she’s doing an exclusive workshop at the gallery {Saturday December 5th @ 2 – 3:30pm}, and you can buy tickets HERE.

Alright, let’s take a look at Rachel’s super sweet family. Brace yourself for cuteness overload:

Oh. My. Word. Hugo {the baby}, Tom {the lawyer willing to wear tinsel), and Daisy {the wiener}. Seriously, the cutest family evah* … *that’s ‘ever’ in Australian. Also, now do you see why I need those sparkly coats for my full dozen ‘o dachshunds? Yeah, you get it.

And finally, since this is the last episode until after the holidays, I figured we should probably wrap things up with these:

“Merry Craftmas” … you are talking my language, lady! So. Much. Fun! And with that I will give a great big thanks to Rachel for hanging out with me for so long; even bigger thanks to Rachel’s mom for hanging out with Hugo for so long; and thanks to YOU for listening. There will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR in 2021. Stay happy & healthy ~ Danielle xo

Other links:

1. Rachel on Instagram
2. Rachel’s shop
3. Victoria College of Art
4. Universal Store, Australia
5. Frankie Magazine, Australia
6. Material Girl Magazine, Germany
7. ‘‘Apomogy’ Project
8. Alt Summit
9. Next In Fashion, Netflix
10. LEGO Collab.
11. Disney Collab.
12. Rachel’s art show at Saint Cloche Gallery, Sydney
13. Danielle’s Skillshare classes {mentioned in the intro}
14. Danielle’s Liz + pompoms collage

 

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I mean, what is even happening here!? Fabric caught in the wind, yet frozen in time? Yep. These jaw-dropping pieces are the work of Marela Zacarias, an artist currently based between Brooklyn, Seattle, and Mexico City. Okay, I already know you’re thinking… ‘but what? how did she?’… because that’s exactly what I was thinking! Here’s the answer:

“Working with a labor – and research- intensive process merging sculpture with painting, Marela Zacarías moulds window screen and plaster to fabricate undulating forms with the quality of fabric, bodies filled with movement and expressive quality. The sculptures’ surfaces are populated by socially committed geometric abstractions––shapes and patterns born from the artist’s study of the history and specificity of the site of work.”

Brilliant, thoughtful, and beautifully executed. If you want to see Marela in action, there’s a great video from a couple of years ago on Art21… watch it right here. Happy Monday.

{Thanks to @melaart for pointing me to this artist’s work. Images via Marela’s site, her Instagram, and Sapar Contemporary, NYC.}

From childhood stories of beached whales to having her work acquired by MoMA, New York based artist Petah Coyne and I cover it all! To say that this episode has been a game-changer for my own artwork would be a massive understatement. This amazing woman lit a fire under me, and I have a sneaking suspicion she’s going to do the same thing to you! Listen right up there underneath Petah installing her work at Galerie Lelong in New York, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify.

First up, here are the images I posted the first time I wrote about Petah a couple of months ago:

The peacocks! I mean, I am in awe. Again.

This is “Dante’s Daphne”. Petah and I didn’t talk about it, but she mentions it in the fabulous video she did with SFMoMA so I thought I’d pop in here for you to see:

Sigh. The detail she puts into each piece astounds me.

Oooh, and this… this is the piece MoMA acquired {that was one of my favorite stories from this episode!}:

I’d love to stand under this beauty so that I could just really, really LOOK.

So yes, Petah often works with found objects and wax, but just look at these absolutely stunning glass pieces:

Gasp! I saw these at “Glasstress” in Venice a few years ago, but didn’t realize who the artist was. When I started down the ‘Petah Coyne rabbit hole’ before I wrote about her last month, I came across these images and realized I actually have seen her work in person! They were breathtaking. Clearly.

Next, I had to include some of Petah’s photography. These are more recent than the photos she showed “at a bank in Dayton”… I believe these are from the late 1990’s – early 2000’s:

Aren’t they gorgeous? See, everything Petah does has a bit of magic to it!

And finally, let’s finish up with a whole bunch of birds:

Love, love, love! I cannot even begin to express how much this episode meant to me and the progression of my own artwork. Thank you so much to Petah for being so warm, generous, brilliant and wise; and of course, thank YOU for listening. There will be more ART FOR YOUR EAR next weekend.

Other Links:

1. Petah on Instagram
2. Galerie Lelong & Co, NYC
3. SVA (School of Visual Art, NYC)
4. Alice Aycock, Artist
5. Donna Dennis, Artist
6. Jodi Pinto, Artist
7. Kenji Fujita, Artist
8. Daisy Patton, Artist
9. SFMoMA video with Petah {so good!}
10. New York Times – Art section
11. Whitney Museum of American Art
12. The Brooklyn Museum
13. MoMA
14. Toby Lewis, Collector
15. Strand Book Store, NYC
16. Chanel
17. My latest work

Bio: 1957 Born, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 1981 She moved to Italy. This is the most to-the-point artist bio I’ve ever seen, and I love it! Yep, that is exactly what Silvia Levenson did and, as far as I can tell, she’s been creating artwork since forever. Silvia has made so many breathtaking works over the years – from colorful glass clothing to thorn-covered teapots – but her “Strange Little Girls” series grabbed me immediately. How could it not… I can totally relate! Here’s a description about this work from her Instagram feed:

“As a child you have to be good and smile so as not ruin the family photo album irreparably. Living up to these expectations is difficult : I refuse thinking to the childhood as the “Golden Age”to be looked back with nostalgia … Here, my Strange Little Girls, living in an era where the edge between dreams and reality is very evanescent. It doesn’t matter if we are rabbit, crow, fox, wolf or sheep, it is an age that will mark us forever.”

Love. ps. I also love that image from this past summer of Silvia, in her studio, working on a head for yet another ‘strange little girl’.

Gasp! Sculptures for your wall… and your ceiling!? Okay, I almost posted the entire portfolio of Berlin based artist Brittany Gould, but managed to control myself. I found her “Illuminated” series first, so it only seemed fair to obsess over that. However, I would highly recommend that you go see everything else, too! Happy Friday.

Okay, I think I just found a new thrift shopping friend! This is the work of Australian artist Edward Waring. Vintage Crystal and Glass. Epoxy Adhesive. Acrylic Paint. Hard Acrylic Extender. Yep, that sounds like my kind ‘o materials list! These are all from his series titled “Memory Sticks”, each one named with a woman’s name … from Betty to Mabel! Here’s part of his artist statement that focuses on these candy-colored towers of repurposed crystal goodness:

Currently, Waring is utilising vintage crystal and cut glass, repurposing and altering the once cherished tableware to create pieces that require the audience to re-explore what could be considered old fashioned or ‘passé’. Waring’s work reclaims old traditions and old fashioned ways of life and creates a space for them in the contemporary. His use of tableware once saved for ‘best’ in households gives new life to forgotten pieces, and asks the viewer to reflect on feelings of childhood, memory and family.

Absolutely! I’m quite sure my grandmother, Blanche, had most of these vessels, and all of them were filled with colorful Liquorice Allsorts or fruity Jujubes. Ah, good times. Edward’s work can be found via Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert, Sydney.

Oh my word! This is the lacy, but not light, work of New York based / Canadian born artist Cal Lane. Here’s Cal’s bio, giving us a peek into both her background and her gorgeous work:

“Cal Lane is an internationally acclaimed sculptor known for turning ordinary objects into lacy artworks. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and a Master degree in Fine Arts in sculpture from State University of New York. To date, her pieces stand alone in capturing a delicacy and intricacy quite apart from her closest contemporaries. Lane’s tapestries, cut into harsh and often preternaturally large steel and iron structures, are sensual, alluring and deeply effeminate. Having spent much of her early life as a hairdresser in her mother’s salon in Vancouver Island, Lane soon became interested in exploring gender roles and conceptual art.” 

From hairdresser to a sculptor of lace dumbbells? LOVE!

Tape. Paint. Corrugated board. What? This is the mind-bending work of New York based artist Aakash Nihalani. I featured his work waaaaaay back in 2010… now here we are ten years later, and his work is even more wonderfully confusing! Happy Friday.