Gasp… cowgirls, gold leaf, and tassels!? Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes! These beauties are the most recent work by Pittsburg based artist Crystal Latimer, and as we speak they’re being installed at Paradigm Gallery + Studio in Philadelphia. Here’s a description from the gallery’s site:

“In her practice, Latimer reinterprets Western historical art to create a connection between the past and the present. The mixed-media paintings in KEEPSAKES are colorful and bold, as the artist uses acrylics, gold leaf, and cotton fiber tassels. The works look like tapestries, an art form that was long ago favored for its accessible and portable storytelling abilities and through the use of contemporary iconography, Latimer tells stories of inner strength, positivity and triumph. In her previous work, the artist painted masculine imagery like battle scenes of conquest and male historical figures, but for KEEPSAKES, the imagery and color story is re-interpreted as feminine. Power comes from within and Latimer’s works act as an evocative visual reminder of that inner strength.”

Amen to inner strength! “KEEPSAKES” opens TOMORROW, Friday December 4th at Paradigm. Find more info on their live online event right here. A link to the live event will be emailed to all ticket holders prior to the opening.

This is the work {soft pastel & graphite} of American artist Pace Taylor… and every single one of their gorgeous, rich drawings makes me wish I could hug people again. Sigh. One day. Here is Pace’s description of these recent pieces:

“My drawings are constructions of intimacy between people. I build the images from found photographs of assumed queers from past decades, both alone and in the company of others. Through the translation from photograph to drawing, I invite a false memory to distort their bearings, bringing them into my world and covering them in planes of mutable soft pastel and the warmth and weight of lead. As memory and time distort appearance, the body becomes both a fixation and something inconsequential. Just an emotional shadow, vibrating color. In a rejection of the Binary, the body acts as a point of hesitation for the viewer; an opportunity to project their own experience of being in the world; an offer to be held by another’s language.” 

Beautiful and powerful. Follow Pace on Instagram… their in-studio photos are lovely.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Iwamura EN (@eniwamura)

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:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rachel Burke (@imakestagram)

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

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Suyao (@suyaotian)

Okay, now that is inspiring… creating stunning artworks with a little assistant at your ankles! This is the absolutely dreamy work of Minneapolis based artist Suyao Tian. Sigh. I want to wander around in all of these magical worlds… I bet it would smell like flowers and taste like candy! That said, I did read this little snippet via the Soo Visual Arts Center : “As a child, she was often caught collecting small bugs in jars and would talk to these creatures since she didn’t have siblings. These childhood creatures have become symbols and language that she uses in her watercolor paintings.” Hm, so maybe I wouldn’t taste stuff… just in case they’re bugs, not candy! Here is Suyao’s artist statement:

“My creative process is to extract the fragments of memory and separate, reorganize and integrate them. This process is my communication with them, and a process of self- release and expression. These peculiar images often appear in my memory, dreams and subconscious imaginations, so I use abstraction to catch a moment, feeling, and unclear form when they appear in my mind. I use bright colors to celebrate my freedom. The title is the moment in time when I start creating, these moments have transformed my mind through beauty or ugliness I put into my work, that becomes my identity to speak out to the world.”

Beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, to buy Suyao’s work please email her here: tiansuyao@gmail.com {ps. I found her work through SooVAC, a gorgeous gallery in Minneapolis.}

Weird ‘n wonderful! Those are the two words that always come to mind when I see the work of California based artist Teresa Watson. Bits of conversations, social observations, and I’m pretty sure the occasional odd thought that magically pops into her creative brain serve as the inspiration behind all of her kitsch-meets-folk / outsider artwork {how’s that for a description?}. All of that to say, I LOVE IT ALL. Oh, and if her last name seems familiar, her sister is LA based artist Esther Pearl Watson… yep, this family is jam-packed with artistic talent!

Some of Teresa’s work is available through Webb Gallery in Texas.

Yep, I think we’re a bit of “a mess” at the moment. A self-described Punjabi Liverpudlian {ie., born in Liverpool, to parents from India}, UK based artist Chila Burman pays homage to both these backgrounds in all of her wonderful work. I could go on and on about the many things she creates {by pointing you to this great video from 2018}, but today I have to talk about “Remembering A Brave New World”. Stunning! This year marks the 4th annual Winter Commission at Tate Britain, and yes, Chila is this year’s artist… and oh my word, look what she did!? Here’s the description from the gallery:

TATE BRITAIN WINTER COMMISSION: “This magnificent installation, remembering a brave new world, combines Hindu mythology, Bollywood imagery, colonial history and personal memories. Inspired by the artist’s childhood visits to the Blackpool illuminations and her family’s ice-cream van, Burman covers the façade of Tate Britain with vinyl, bling and neon. She changes the figure of Britannia, a symbol of British imperialism, into Kali, the Hindu goddess of liberation and power. The many illuminated deities, shapes and words are joined by Lakshmibai, the Rani (queen) of Jhansi. Lakshmibai was a fierce female warrior in India’s resistance to British colonial rule in the 19th century.

Burman is celebrated internationally for her radical feminist practice, spanning printmaking, drawing, painting, installation and film. Her Punjabi and Liverpudlian heritage enrich her self-expressive work. Burman mashes up stereotypes to create new identities, beyond the limitations imposed on South Asian women in a British cultural context.

The commission opened to coincide Diwali, the Festival of Light. It is a celebration of new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. remembering a brave new world takes inspiration from the luminous struggles and victories of the past to offer hope for a brighter future.”

Yes, yes, yesssss. Every detail in this piece has meaning, some of which are explained in this interview Chila did with dezeen last week. My favorite tidbit is the ice cream van, a nod to her father who drove one when first arriving in England. Love. Yet another fabulous thing about this installation? Even though the gallery is closed because of COVID, you can see this beauty without going in! Chila’s work will adorn the facade until January 31, 2021.

These paintings {oil on aluminum!?} are the most recent work by American artist Hilary Swingle. I’ve always had a thing for female portraiture, and lately I’ve been all about hyper-real bows so, clearly, these gorgeous pieces are working for me! Now, as joyful as those ribbons are, you might notice the subjects are not happy at all. Here’s why:

“Hilary Swingle was brought up in a home which didn’t celebrate holidays. These oil paintings explore the threads between her social anxiety and the exclusion from these festivities while in her youth. The bows symbolize anxiety and inflict an irrational weight on her subjects.”

Beautiful and powerful, much like the artist herself.

{Found via Ashley Longshore … she just bought one of Hilary’s pieces. Smart move.}

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Marela Zacarias (@marelazacarias)

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.}