If it’s possible, Canadian artist Susannah Montague, has taken Dutch vanitas to an entirely new and disturbing level! I’ve written about Susannah a few times already {plus, she’s one of the artists featured in my upcoming book}, so I happen to know that a lot of her work revolves around her twins and the struggle she faced trying to bring them into the world. Her detailed, meaning-packed work is stunning, but even more so in person… AND if you happen to live anywhere near Calgary Alberta you could see these bizarre, flower-covered delights this weekend! Her latest show, titled “Lucid Dreams” , opens this Saturday {March 16, from 2-4 pm} at Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art. Here is Susannah’s statement about the show:

“… The inspiration comes from mysticism and esotericism which touches on daydreams and the fantastical elements that haunt our nights. Within the eerie beauty of these ceramic sculptures is an exploration of the intersection between dreams and reality – at the same time, fusing innocence and corruption in the flowers, dolls, lizards, toys and skulls that fervidly explode in these contemporary baroque compositions, asking us to revel in the beauty of the absurd.”

I have to share a story Susannah told me about the final piece above … “The piece with the gold halo is my daughter. She was born “unresponsive”. The necklace – with the arms – is from Mexican religious iconography which symbolizes “embrace and touch”, because after 36 hours of labour, I fought to keep my twins together, close with me and out of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by doing “Kangaroo care”. The artichoke at the core has a heart, symbolizing love – and, throughout history, artichokes have represented hope, peace and a successful future.”   I’m not crying, you’re crying. A beautiful story from a beautiful person {And, I’ve met her twins. They are creative, kind and amazing … just like their mama.} 

*photos by Lilly Louise Photography

“Uncommon Thread” is my latest curatorial endeavor, and I could not be more proud! Soft sculpture made with thread, embroidered thread, paintings with thread, paintings of thread, and knitted thread… just kidding, that’s knitted GLASS. I mean, come on! Here’s my curatorial statement:

Thread – an everyday, utilitarian, domestic material – until you put it into the skillful hands of these artists. Winding, tying, twisting and stitching its way through the work of all seven featured artists, this is in fact the common thread that ties their work together. However, there is nothing common about the way these women manipulate their materials of choice, and their reasons behind the work itself. Paint, glass, ink and – yes – actual thread will be on display, resulting in a very uncommon group show. UNCOMMON THREAD features artists from Seattle to New York, Los Angeles to small town Canada.

The show is now open at bG Gallery in Santa Monica, but the opening reception is this coming Saturday March 16th 6 – 9pm. Go, be amazed, buy art. Thank you to bG for inviting me to do this, and thanks to these seven wonderful artists for participating : {the order above} Natalie Baxter, Sarah Detweiler, Nike Schroeder, Lindsay Arnold, Ellen Schinderman, Michelle Kingdom, and Carol Milne.

Ah, the stunning work of Rome based artist Micaela Lattanzio. All of these images are from her ongoing Fragmenta series, but these ones are extra special because they’re part of her latest solo show. Fragmenta – A Journey Beyond the Body, opens this Friday, March 8th at 6:30pm at Galleria Ca’ d’Oro in New York {179 10th Ave.}. Sigh, can you imagine seeing these fractured beauties in person? Go if you can!

I always wondered what was in those old, falling down buildings… famous works of art! This is the beautifully painted / brilliant work of Scottish born, London based painter Andrew McIntosh. All of these gorgeous paintings are part of his latest show, titled ‘I Saw This Coming’, that opens this Thursday. And, as artists, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the description:

Yep, I feel like that gal in the middle right now! A gorgeous collage show is opening this weekend at Hashimoto Contemporary in San Francisco. “Lizzie Gill + Hope Kroll: Fragmented Memories” opens tomorrow, Saturday March 2, from 6 till 8pm. Here’s the curatorial statement:

“Fragmented Memories” : two artists with distinct approaches to collage were brought together in order to consider not only the varying techniques utilized within the medium, but also overlapping themes. The contemplation of memory, the past and the incorporation of vintage ephemera create unifying elements in Lizzie Gill and Hope Kroll’s work, calling to question how we recall the past, as well as the ability to create something new, transforming our own sense of memory. ~ Jennifer Rizzo, Curator

If you’re in the Bay Area, you should go! ps. Lizzie and Hope will both be there. 

Damn. How did I miss this? ‘For All We Know’, an exhibition by American artist Oliver Jeffers just came down from the walls at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery {NYC} on February 16th. I love everything Oliver does – from his oil paintings to his absolutely fantastic kids books – and this show is no exception. Here is a description of this latest body of work:

“This series of paintings illuminate a dream-like nocturnal world populated by astronauts, deep-sea divers, sinking ships, floating pianos, and burning matches. Omnipresent throughout are the night sky and the ocean – the two great and unknown frontiers – glittered with the imaginary lines that create constellations, serving in this case as a mysterious key to unlock our world … Jeffers’ work follows the logic of dreams, of symbolic objects coming into relation with each other, and of the feelings that these objects hold. At the center are the themes of perspective and connectedness: the Earth as seen from the Moon, the stars as they appear from the face of the Earth, our minuscule presence in the greater universe, and how we relate to it all. The existential loneliness of the astronaut in Lost At Space, or of the deep-sea diver peering through his helmet in The Rescue, is portrayed in sensuous twilight shades. These recurring characters are seen together in A Break with the Unknown, sharing a cup of tea that neither can drink, watching the same bonfire reflected in their masks but seeing different things. Throughout this new collection, Jeffers looks at how humankind has always attempted to make sense out of chaos, has always made connections between himself and everything else. These connections, both real and imagined, suggest we are no more than the stories we tell, and the stories we are told. Stories that are brightly vivid, but all too brief.”

Beautiful. ps. Here are a few photos from the show… that I missed!?

FRIDA! Monday morning fun fact: Did you know that, while she was alive, Frida Kahlo only had one solo show in New York City? Yep, it was at the Julien Levy Gallery in 1938. Well, 81 years later, the Brooklyn Museum is shining a huge spotlight on all things Frida with this fabulous show, titled ‘Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving’:

“‘Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving’ is the largest U.S. exhibition in ten years devoted to the iconic painter and the first in the United States to display a collection of her clothing and other personal possessions, which were rediscovered and inventoried in 2004 after being locked away since Kahlo’s death, in 1954. They are displayed alongside important paintings, drawings, and photographs from the celebrated Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art, as well as related historical film and ephemera. To highlight the collecting interests of Kahlo and her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, works from our extensive holdings of Mesoamerican art are also included.”

The show runs from February 8 until May 12, 2019. Go!

So weird… so fantastic! This is the beautifully bizarre work of Calgary-based duo daveandjenn, aka David John Foy and Jennifer Saleik. Their newest show, titled “Whenever it Hurts” opens Saturday January 19, 3-6 pm at General Hardware Contemporary in Toronto. Also, if I ever saw that final piece while frolicking on the beach… yeah, I would need to change my swimsuit.

If these cheerful little fellas don’t scream, HAPPY MONDAY, well, I don’t know what does. These ceramic hounds are the work of Mojave Desert based artist Katie Kimmel. Her current show, titled “Dog Park”, just opened this past weekend at Hashimoto Contemporary in San Francisco. Here’s what it’s all about:

“Inspired by her visits to the park with her dogs, ‘Dog Park’ is filled with the energy and joy of meeting new  friends. Dogs of all shapes and sizes serve as starting points for Kimmel’s cheerfully glazed ceramic works from fluffy white poodles to purple spotted dalmatians and neon mutts. Each of the artist’s ceramic vases and sculptures has a gleeful personality and it is not hard for the viewer to imagine them frolicking with each other, creating a sense of community within the installation. Lovingly hand formed and painted, the artist’s hand and witty sensibility is evident in each piece.”

I’d love to frolic around in this installation! Dog Park will be at Hashimoto until January 26th, 2019.

Doesn’t that last piece make you want to call your BFF? Or paint? Or paint with your BFF? This is the work of American artist Daisy Patton. Watching her career flourish over the last few years has been so inspiring… she pushes her work every time she steps up to one of those giant panels. More detail, different color combinations, new techniques, and images that all have their own stories behind why she chose them. And guess what? I’m with Daisy right now! Yes, we’re in Aspen together for BIG PICTURE, BABY {a beautiful show that I curated that happens to be opening TONIGHT at Skye Gallery}. We’re putting on our snow boots and mittens, and heading out at 6pm… hope to see you there!