Okay, who wants to go on summer vacation with this guy? Me too! I often post about painters whose work looks photographic… well today I had to do double-take for the opposite reason. Yep, these saturated dreamlands are photographs, not paintings. This is the work of Australian photographer Ben Thomas, and yes, I would happily plan my next holiday using his colorful portfolio as my itinerary … looks like we’re going everywhere from Coney Island to Dubai! Happy Friday.

psst… Some of Ben’s work is part of a summer group show currently on view at Duran | Mashaal in Montreal.

Prince, Madonna, and misogyny … well, you know this is going to be interesting. This is the gorgeous mixed media collage work of LA based artist Yasmine Diaz, from a series titled “One Way Or Another”. It is beautiful and intense, and with that I’m going to hand it over to Yasmine to explain:

“This series of collage and mixed media works on paper is inspired by the 3 months Diaz spent in Yemen when she was 15. Fragmented memories are reconstructed with imagery collected from magazines, books, personal archives, and online research.
Having only known the streets of Chicago, the experience of traveling to Yemen was a surreal contrast of the worlds she was still struggling to make sense of. As a teenager in the 90s, MTV was a daily priority. Artists like Salt-N-Pepa unapologetically affirmed that a woman’s sex life is “None of Your Business,” while Madonna boldly claimed her independence and sexuality. Their defiance left a mark on a teenage girl covertly rebelling against the misogyny of her family and community.
In the highlands of Yemen, everyone knows everyone’s business and then some. It was there that Diaz learned, via gossip, who she was arranged to be married to. It was also there that she resolved to eventually escape the fate of a forced arranged marriage and a life of oppressive misogyny and limited freedom.”

Well, I just found my new weekend wardrobe! These lovely oil paintings on paper are the work of American artist Sophie Treppendahl. They’re part of a series titled, “Clothes I Like Owned by People I Like”. I like them too! These jeans, shirts, and hats are hanging with a bunch of their stripy, patterned friends in Sophie’s solo show at Studio Allston Hotel in Boston, opening in August.

There is so much to love about this! These pieces are the work of Milan based artist and illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli … not only do I love her style, her color choices, and of course, spaghetti… it’s her reason for creating these images of women so thoroughly owning their pasta-eating experience. This is the show description via Galleria Antonio Colombo Arte Contemporanea:

The show “How To Eat Spaghetti Like A Lady” overturns the series of photographs of the same name taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt, published in the American magazine Time Life in 1924, which is presented as a tutorial made of eight close-ups portraying a charming model in the act of composedly consuming a plate of spaghetti.

Olimpia, who in her illustrations favors the representation of soft, amused and colorful women, gives us a brilliant interpretation of the meaning of “like a lady”, thus drawing a series of portraits of girls who are tasting their plate of spaghetti in a completely singular and authentic way. Distant from established rules of conduct, from unnecessary poses or conventions, the women reveal their creativity and an unexpected and personal attitude.

With her works, Olimpia Zagnoli opens a window through which we can glimpse a fragment of the moment when, in their domestic intimacy, women voluntary forget the precepts of their education. And it is exactly at the same time that “they do what shouldn’t be done, they create new paths and new languages. There will be the woman who eats her spaghetti in bed, the one who eats them upside-down, the one who weaves them with her own hair, and so on”, says Olimpia.

Bravo!

WHAT? Oh my word, I have just come across the work of Melbourne based artist Louise Meuwissen and I am now officially madly in love. Beads, sequins, shells, glass … a whole bunch of other stuff! Her objects are intricate, precious treasures but can we talk about the piece suspended from a gallery ceiling? STUN. NING. That piece is showing at Rubicon Gallery {Melbourne} until June 9th. If you go, TAKE PICTURES!

ps. The painting behind Louise’s work is by Ebony Gulliver.

Sigh… she’s done it again. This is the latest work from Portland based painter Lisa Golightly. Dreamy, sun-filled memories of beachy days gone by. I can smell the lake from here. Lisa has a show opening in Seattle at Lisa Hodges Gallery {316 1st Ave S}… so Seattle, I guess you know what you’re doing this Thursday from 6 – 8pm!

Doesn’t this look like one of those “artists in their studio” photos that you’d find in an art history book … well, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly where this photo is headed. Today I’m interviewing TWO talented ‘n successful artists at the same time… two talented ‘n successful artists who also happen to be a married couple. Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson live together, make art together, have a daughter together, teach together, and yes, they even show their work together! In fact, they’ve got a show opening next Thursday, June 7th, at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles (Culver City). I’ve been lucky enough to get to know this hilarious, insightful, talented couple over the past few years, but this episode gave me a chance to ask ALL of my very important questions… like who made the first move!? Listen right up there under that super cute photo of Esther & Mark from 2002, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First, a zine. Now if I’d had this ahead of time, I wouldn’t have had to ask Mark about his childhood in Las Vegas:

Ok, now I have more questions.

Speaking of zines, I give you the BUTT BOOK:

Hilarious! This is one of many collaborative creative projects these two do when they get together with all of their amazing friends. Butts as a zine theme … pure gold.

So, I’ve interviewed Esther before – both on the podcast (Ep.28), and also for my new book about women artists. Her “memory” paintings are a beautiful, funny (and sometimes sad-ish) nod to her childhood:

Gah! I love them so much! She doesn’t have any sculpture in this upcoming show, but I couldn’t control myself … I had to put that tornado in.

Next … Mark’s records! Paintings, ceramics, googly eyes, and Lionel Richie:

Seriously … SO FUN!

I got to hang out in their home studio last time I was in LA, and it really is filled to the brim with fantastic stuff. Here’s a tiny peek:

Love! AND, that final piece above is finished and ready to hang in the new show… it’s the FOOL MOON painting Esther was talking about. Yet another serendipitous moment ♥

Ah yes, and here’s one more moment (brace yourself if you’re afraid of heights):

A post shared by Mark Todd (@mark_todd) on Nov 29, 2017 at 6:39pm PST

No. Just NO.

Almost finished, but clearly I have to show you Esther’s bulldog cowboy boots:

… and since Mark doesn’t have boots that are this cool, here he is with a dinosaur. Thanks so much to Mark & Esther for doing this with me! I’m counting down to hanging out with them when I’m in LA this fall! Speaking at Art Center, eating mac ‘n cheese, and hopefully painting a butt on something. Thank you to Saatchi Art and Thrive for supporting this episode, and of course, big thanks to you for listening. The final episode of season two will be up next weekend.

Other links:

1. Esther, Episode no.28
2. Esther on Instagram / Mark on Instagram / Lili on Instagram!
3. Art Center College of Design, Pasadena
4. Aaron Smith, Episode no.90
5. Martha Rich, Episode no.1 & Episode no.72
6. Fun Chicken (their online shop!)
7. Kolaj Fest, New Orleans
8. JUNE 7, 2018 … Their show at Vielmetter Gallery, Culver City CA

Seriously, I don’t think that final image, titled “Tesla” could be more appropriate! American painter Scott Listfield has a new show opening this Saturday, June 2nd at Spoke in San Francisco {816 Sutter St}. The show is titled “ALGORITHM”, and here’s what it’s all about:

The new series continues the saga of Listfield’s central protagonist, a lone astronaut navigating the post-apocalyptic landscape of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. His latest oil paintings are set in a world populated by drones, self-driving vehicles, and robots. The work presents a derelict aftermath, inviting the view to consider a cityscape overrun by technology and devoid of human life. The work is critical of the ways in which we interface with an ever-changing technological landscape. Examining this pivotal moment in time, Listfield ponders:

“Just because we can do something, does that mean we should? What is technology without the human component? And what kind of problems are we solving?”

Excellent questions, Scott … excellent questions.

Oh my goodness, one month from today I will be in Venice Italy, about to kick off the first day of the Contemporary Art Course at the European Cultural Centre! There are a handful of spots left, so if you’ve been thinking about it {especially anyone in Europe who can just hop on a train to get there} now is your chance!

Last year I went during the Art Biennale, but I’m so excited to experience the Architecture Biennale this time. Are you assuming it’s just a bunch of models of buildings? That’s what I thought too, but that is not the case at all. Here’s proof from past years:

Stunning! And FYI that bottom most image will be our classroom {Palazzo Mora}. One of the instructors last year was architect, James Taylor-Foster {co-curator of the 2017 Nordic Pavilion} who explained what the Architecture Biennale is truly all about… and it took my breath away. Conceptual / Aspirational thoughts about our planet, the environment, design, community, and how people live together in this crazy world of ours. So much of this inspiration can be applied to the way you think about your artwork … also, we’ll be in Venice!

Here is a peek at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, and the Murano School of Glass, Abatte Scuola di Vetro … both of which we’ll be visiting during the week:

… and Murano:

Ahhh! I’m so excited!!! Now, I’m a planner so I like to know exactly what I’ll be doing every moment of every day, so I thought I’d share the schedule with you:

ps. the team at the ECA have offered a special something to Jealous Curator readers: a promo-code for €100 off of the tuition! Enter BIENNALE2018 when you apply online.

Right!? It’s going to be AMAZING!  Gallery visits, private behind-the-scene tours with curators, boat rides around Venice, pasta / gelato / coffee / and a lot of Prosecco! If it’s good enough for Audrey and Salvador, it’s good enough for me! Hope to see you there ~ Danielle

Brace yourself, because you’re in for a hilarious, inspiring, glittery, curse-filled adventure! New Orleans based artist, artrepreneur, and fabulous woman Ashley Longshore is my guest today. She makes, well, everything! From paintings to bedazzled large-scale lipstick tubes. Personally, I think her next art/product should be a flowery pink perfume {with glitter floating in it, obviously} called “#fuckyeah ~ exuding confidence and pure joy since 1976”. I’d buy it by the barrel! You can listen to our conversation right up there under those fabulous lips, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First up, a few of my favorites from her “painting” section – from Jesus to Lil Wayne, Mona to Frida:

Love! Even more love when you see the scale… that’s Frida now living in the home of one of Ashley’s collectors. Stun. Ning.

Ok, I think Ashley is all of us in this photo and video. If and when the New York Times writes a glowing review of you / your work… sobbing:

A post shared by Ashley Longshore (@ashleylongshoreart) on Apr 26, 2018 at 6:36pm PDT

Yep. Alllll of that.

Next. Cake sculptures. A big one to jump out of, and one that I truly lived:

Ok, fine, I didn’t know what bukkake was, BUT I DO NOW. Clearly I’m going to need that sheet cake sculpture… she literally did make me google bukkake {but I don’t think she was sorry!}.

Ahhh, the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman. I had a lot of favorite moments in this interview, but the way she went from being invited to show one piece, to taking over the entire space? Yeah, Ashley Longshore is officially my spirit animal. Here’s a peek into just some of the fabulousness of that show, and the opening night in New York:

Gah!!! Ah-mazing. And yes, that’s Blake Lively lovin’ everything Ashley creates, AND one of the windows on 5th Avenue. Arrived? Yes, I do believe so.

But wait, there’s more! Ashley’s book, a memoir titled “You Don’t Look Fat, You Look Crazy”:

So FANTASTIC!

And finally, after all of the insanity that is Ashley’s life at the moment, she will be retreating back into her studio to recharge and MAKE MORE STUFF:

Hell, yes! I hope you’ve come away from this episode feeling absolutely inspired and empowered… I sure have! Make work, know your worth, sell your art and REPEAT. Thanks so much to Ashley for taking time out of her exciting, crazy busy life to do the podcast; thanks to Saatchi Art and Thrive Mastermind for supporting the episode; and as always, huge thanks to you for listening – there will be more art for your ear next weekend. xo

Other links:

1. New York Times article on Ashley
2. Bergdorf Goodman show
3. Blake Lively
4. Vie magazine {photo of Bergdorf Goodman window}
5. Create Magazine Interview
6. Artgasm
7. Raw Republic Juice
8. Ashley on Instagram
9. Kolaj Fest – July 12-15 New Orleans