“Shadow Boxes” and “Remnants” … as a collage artist myself, all of these lovely {and kind of odd} pieces make my heart beat a little faster. This is the work of Brooklyn based artist Elise P. Church. Originally a landscape painter, Elise has found her place as an abstract collage artist. I love that these large paper pieces are unframed… and not rectangular! So many layers, textures, and here’s why:

Moving frequently had an impact on Elise’s artwork. She is a collector of discarded and second hand materials such as vintage sewing patterns or flotsam which dictate the direction and medium of each series. Currently, a collector of 1960’s snapshots, cut fragments become photo-collages and studies for drawings and large scale paintings. 

Ahhh, so refreshing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going into the studio to cut ‘n’ paste everything!

Gasp! It’s like spirograph come to life … with thread! This is the dizzying work of Chinese artist Gao Rong. A lot of her work involves “assimilating entire replicas of cars, tables, washing machines and other household objects in fabrics”, but this 2016 series took her in a more circular direction:

“A new direction in her oeuvre is an expansion of her fine embroidery practice, where she weaves abstract shapes across wooden hoop frames, looking at the intersections between domestic and public spaces. These works premiered in her second solo show in the U.S., “The Simple Line,” at Klein Sun Gallery.” 

Beautiful, right? Well, just wait until you see these beauties installed:

You’re welcome ♥

“Mountain Formations”  … sigh. This is just one of the many gorgeous series by UK-born, US-based artist Sarah Winkler. She does beautiful collage work – which I thought this was – but no, these are paintings. Most of Sarah’s paintings are acrylic paint on panel, but the final piece above, titled “Fjord Echo”, is acrylic on panel with iron oxide, gold flake mica and marble dust. Mable dust?!?! Oh, and it’s 60″x60″. Love, love, love!

I often say that “Oh, I’d love to jump into that painting and walk around”… so yeah, this. These interior murals are the work of Australian artist Camille Javal. Granted, she also does work contained on canvas, but there is something pretty special about these “all over” abstracts. Dreamy.

“Wall Forms” by Canadian artist Erin Vincent… and yes, I want all of these forms on my wall!  I love that some of these pieces look like they’re floating, especially considering the materials list: sand, acrylic, foam, wood, tar paper, wire, and it goes on from there! Happy Monday.

The title of this episode sort of says it all. Following what excites you / what makes you happy, will create work that excites you / makes you happy… and for Los Angeles based artist Michelle Kingdom, that happens to be telling stories with thread. I already admired her work so much, but finding out that she’s not only a well-known contemporary artist whose work is shown in galleries all over the world, Michelle is ALSO a full-time preschool teacher and the mother of a teenage daughter?! Well, the admiration went through the roof! When does she sleep? Apparently, she doesn’t. Listen right up there under “Life Will Divide Us”, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

First, just a whole bunch of Michelle’s work that I love… plus closeups, because who doesn’t wanna see closeups!?:

Yep. Those stitches, the stories, all of the stuff. Love.

Next up, this is the benefit of following Michelle on Instagram… you get to see everything that goes into each meticulous piece:

Seriously, I don’t know how she has the patience to do this kind of work… but I’m really happy she does!

You know who else is happy? Pillow Talk, the band that used “What Is Done Cannot Be Undone” for the cover of their latest album:

So. Cool.

Also cool {and admittedly a personal dream of mine}, a full feature in Hi-Fructose Magazine:

Gah! Ridiculously cool.

Now, I think this is so important to show, and so great that Michelle has these pieces on her website. These are some of her older works – the pieces she mentioned that were stitched onto little bits of silk and other random fabric {and shown to no one for years}:

Oh, so fascinating to see where she began her artistic journey, and my goodness, how far she’s come!

And finally, I obviously had to include the red Mary-Janes, and maybe just a couple of photos of Michelle in action too:

Love love love. Gigantic thanks to Michelle for taking time away from her insanely busy life to talk to me; thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting yet another episode {FYI: Saatchi’s hosting “The Other Art Fair” in LA this weekend so check it out if you’re in town}; and big old thanks to you for listening. There will be more Art For Your Ear next Saturday.

ps. Also, a super huge gigantic THANK YOU to my amazing husband/producer, Greg, who edited this podcast from a hotel room in Toronto so there’d be an episode this weekend! xoxo

Other links:

1. Michelle’s show in New York at Foley Gallery, April 4 – May 13
2. Michelle on Instagram

Oh, so dreamy. These ice creamy-colored oil paintings are the work of China-born, California-based artist Vincent Xeus. All of them have a old meets new feeling… perhaps this is why:

[via Artsy] “Vincent Xeus’s atmospheric portraits are driven by a reverence for Italian and Dutch Old Master paintings as well as a desire to challenge classical constraints. “I loved their traditions and I had an equally strong desire to break away from it,” he has said of 16th- and 17th-century artists. “This conflict gave me struggle, and the struggle kept painting alive for me.” After immigrating to the United States from China to pursue a career in architecture, Xeus shifted his focus to oil painting. In portraits of historical figures, cultural idols, and personal friends, Xeus combines traditional techniques such as impasto and chiaroscuro with bold strokes and idiosyncratic details that disrupt otherwise classical compositions.”

Beautiful. Happy Friday.

In. Awe. This is the elegant, meticulous, and kind of haunting work {hand embroidery, petit point on cotton} of Australia-based artist Ying Chew. All of these lovely faces look like they have stories to tell … and quite a few secrets to keep. Beautiful.

Now this is my kind of mess! Neon tape, bright orange construction cones, and the greenest plants I’ve ever seen. These paintings {acrylic, gouache, latex, and spray paint on canvas} are the work of Swiss born, New Orleans based artist Max Seckel. Here’s where these crazy worlds come from:

“My work aims to explore my own reactions to and perception of the world surrounding me. Informed by memories, dreams, conversations, and just plain looking around and being I assemble a world constructed of absurdities and references. Objects are clustered together and arranged with little respect to context, intending to create a sense of wonder and confusion as the viewer works to make sense of the situation presented.”

Wonder and confusion, indeed. Love.

Acrylic and collaged wallpaper on canvas. I thought I should say that right up front since my first question was, “what is that!?”. This the unconventional landscape work of UK based artist David Wightman… now, if I could find a lemon yellow waterfall to jump off, my summer vacation would already be in the calendar!

ps. Some of David’s work is available via Rise Art.