“Baxter’s work playfully pushes controversial issues, creating an accessible entry point for unpacking matters of tension in today’s political and social landscape.”

Yep, things like money quilts and crazy golden flags, for example! Seriously, every time I swing by her site to see what’s new, Brooklyn based artist Natalie Baxter does not disappoint. Pretty and powerful … a fabulous combination that truly packs a punch.

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for collage … those palm trees? The greyscale swimming pools? Be still my cutting/pasting loving heart! This is the work of artist/illustrator Miki Lowe. She is an Anglo-Japanese artist, who was educated in France and is currently based in London… which explains a lot:

Formed as an illustrator, her portfolio demonstrates an interdisciplinary practice between the designer and the artist. Mixing techniques such as  printmaking, drawing, digital manipulations, she creates images playing with surreal elements or abstraction. This refusal to stick to a method, or to choose a single identity (a connection with her multiple nationalities) is a main characteristic of her work. 

Love.

ps. Speaking of collage, in one week from tonight, I’ll be at Kolaj Fest in New Orleans! I think there are still a few tickets left for my talk, so if you’d like to come, grab one now … hm, I hope I can talk with a mouth full of beignets.

Oh! So … fun? These powerful pieces are from a series titled “Little Terrors” by Arizona based artist Nathaniel Lewis… and yes, I felt slightly nauseous when I saw them. Amazing that rainbow-hued wooden “toys” can cause such a reaction. Here’s to doing everything we can to ensure that playtime for our children – and our children’s children, and everyone else’s children – involves playing with wooden kitchen sets instead of primary-colored security checkpoints. Shudder.

Ahhhh, I can feel the warm summer breezes – and smell the chlorine – from here! This is the work of American painter Seth Smith. I’ve written about him before, but these motels and their cool pools are calling to me today. Westward, Ho!

ps. Seth’s work will be part of a group show at Sager | Braudis Gallery  {Columbia, Missouri  | July 31 ~ Sept 1}

Gasp! Flannery Cronin, aka Friend of All, is a Brooklyn based glass artist – and yes, ok, I may have had to stop myself from including everything from her site and Instagram feed – can you blame me though?! Her work is just so elegant and dreamy. Now, who wants an A-frame cabin in the woods with one of Flannery’s triangular windows?! Me please!!! I think her faithful hound, Lily, might want one… although she looks pretty happy with that gorgeous one-of-a-kind “Spirit Holder“. LOVE.

Ok, well now I want to eat stacks of Licorice Allsorts alllllll day long. These sweet paintings are from a series, titled “Totems”, by Texas based artist Nicci Sevier-Vuyk. Why so many piles of pastel-hued candy?

“Little stacks of fun. Or are they small comments about our culture…?”

I’ll leave you to ponder that… while I go eat candy. Happy Monday.

Gasp! Just when I thought I couldn’t love the work of UK based painter Annie Kevans any more than I already do, I discovered this recent series titled “Drag”. Gorgeous paintings of {in this order above} Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, Grayson Perry, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Marcel Duchamp as ‘Rrose Selavy’, and Andy again. The paintings are lovely, but her reason for the series … perfection:

“Both ‘The History of Art’ and ‘Drag’ series examine gender inequality in the art world. ‘The History of Art’ features women in art history who were once acclaimed in the art world – some were even international celebrities – and whose history and significance have been gradually eroded so they are ultimately forgotten to a modern audience. 

In the ‘Drag’ series, Kevans reveals male art stars comfortably posing as women but confident that their achievements will not be forgotten.  Artists such as Francis Bacon, Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Robert Mapplethorpe and Cecil Beaton all photographed themselves in drag but the question remains: would these artists continue to be so revered had they been born women?”

Excellent question. And on the same topic, I could not be more thrilled that Annie’s story and work is featured in my new book, “A BIG IMPORTANT ART BOOK – Now With Women”. The book will be on shelves this October, but you can pre-order it right this very minute. Thank you!

Exhale. This is the dreamy/washy work of Canadian painter {and mother, clearly}, Lauren Mycroft. Through pouring, staining, and mark-making Lauren makes these lovely worlds come alive. Here is a little snippet from her site that explains her hows and whys:

“Using a contemporary palette and methodical layering technique, Mycroft creates process-driven artwork that feels both fresh and familiar. The compositions are created freely and intuitively, learned through years of practice and formal art training. Inspired by memory of place, Mycroft reflects on our emotional attachment and not specific locales. Through her unique palette and fields of stains, Mycroft offers the viewer a sense of nostalgia and elicits a personal response based on their own experiences with the landscape.”

Yep, I’m definitely getting flashbacks of life on the West Coast. Love.

ps. I just discovered Lauren’s work last week. How? She’s in my new Thrive Mastermind group! Seriously, talent is spilling out of this crew. BTW, Thrive is already half full for their September 2018 sign up, and the next intake isn’t until Spring 2019… so if you’ve been thinking about it, now might be the time. Give them a shout if you have any questions about the ins and outs.

I want to kiss these oil paintings too! This is the work of Australian artist Matthew Quick, from his series titled “Monumental Nobodies”. I love all of them, and had to stop myself from posting the entire series. That said, the first piece in this post, titled “The Last Lap” comes with an artist statement that is, well, fantastic!

“There are lots of women in the great art galleries of the world. Just not many women artists. In 2012 about 62% of art and design students in the UK were female. But an audit of London galleries found that just 31% presented work by women. The Tate purchased only 21% of the works from living females artists, while in LA and New York galleries the number was 32.3%.  In an age where gender equality is legislated, it still seems the way for a majority of women to get into galleries is to be featured in the work. Often sans clothes. But surely this life preserver keeping the old ideology afloat is an anachronism. Eileen Cooper (the first woman appointed Keeper of the Royal Academy) says the art schools graduates of both genders are as strong as each other. With both quality and numbers, the institutions must surely collect and promote female talent. And yes, the irony that this painting featuring a naked woman was made by a man is not lost to the artist. Does this diminish the issue or lessen the voice?”

Nope! As for the full series, Matthew’s statement is just as eloquent :

“By replacing their crowns and thrones with ordinary objects, the aura of emperors and gods are demoted to powerless nobodies. Through ridicule I play with their initial grand goals, querying their motivations and questioning the orthodoxy of accepted history. And in doing so I reference themes such as individual freedom, social control, surveillance and the deceit of rulers who intentionally fail to act as they speak.”

{found via Booooooom}

Ahhhh, yes. These lovely still life paintings make me want to take a deep breath, relax my always tight shoulders, and stop for a moment to truly notice simple, everyday beauty. Given the news we’re being bombarded with each and every day, these quiet paintings – by American-born, Nova Scotia based painter Briana Corr Scott – are a very welcome change of pace.