Loooooove! These are the hand-cut collages of New York / Atlanta artist Christa David. I’ve been following her for awhile, and ooooh, these latest pieces made up of… is that skirt?… are so great. The compositions, color choices, and the stories they stir up:

“In my artwork, context, specifically story, is essential. Stories, like currency, are circulated. Using materials sourced from historical archives, vintage and contemporary magazines and newspapers, I cut and compose mostly intimate-sized narrative collages that describe my thoughts about the stories I’ve heard and told about myself and others.”

Yep, once again, I’m gonna need my scissors and every old magazine I can find. Happy Wednesday.

ps. Christa’s work is available in her shop.

Oh, be still my collage-loving heart! This is the work of California based, English artist Katie McCann. There is just so much to see! Flora, fauna, random oddities, collages within collages… so weird, so wonderful. Here is Katie’s description of what’s going on up there:

“The female face is central to much of my artwork and often acts as a reflection of the natural and sometimes magical world. She can be surrounded by birds, fish and butterflies or submerged in a dense wallpaper pattern which either represents her prison or her liberation.

I have recently found that my collages are becoming more orderly and methodical – neatly arranged, strange objects fill the page like rows of paper microscope slides or specimens in a tiny cabinet of curiosity. My need to obsessively cut can sometimes outweigh the composition of the piece, so I am often left with piles of abandoned cuttings – lost bones, moths, fungi, feathers, coral, shells and butterfly wings. Eventually these too will find a place to reside.”

Yessssssssss. Okay, I have to go cut stuff out. Immediately.

{found via Kolaj Magazine}

Ooooh! These things make me wanna make things! These pieces, all of which were created during the summer of 2020, are the work of Amsterdam based artist Rocco Pezzella. Clay, sculpture block, wood, sand and other found objects balanced in perfect harmony:

“This is a collection where organic and artificial forms blend together in a harmonious body. A study between design and art where different materials combine, coexisting in shapes that recall nature and the human touch at the same time.”

Ah yes, human touch… remember that? Happy Monday.

{Found via Andenken Gallery’s IG}

Ah yes… politics and art have gone hand-in-hand since, well, forever. I’m Canadian, but it’s pretty much impossible not to watch what’s happening in the United States at the moment. Enter, “Not Normal: Art in the Age of Trump”. This book is a visual protest of the Trump administration featuring 147 artists with over 350 works. The creator of this project is American activist and curator Karen M. Gutfreund. Here is a description of this timely collection:

“Artists around the United States are raging against Donald Trump in visual protest. Not Normal: Art in the Age of Trump, Second Edition, documents this artistic movement in a curated collection. Their outrage is evidenced in full Technicolor on subjects ranging from racism, the Covid pandemic, xenophobia, immigration, promotion of hatred and violence, mistrust of science and facts, misogyny and of course, a narcissism that puts our entire country and world at great risk. While the subject matter is serious, the art is alive with color and detail and is delivered with an irreverent sense of humor.”

2020 will most certainly be one for the history books, and seeing what artists create during this time might be the only thing keeping me going. I’m bracing myself for angry Trump supporters, as everyone has their right to their opinion. That said, all of these artists also have the right to create artwork based on how they feel. I see this as a time capsule… a surreal, ‘this is so not normal’, time capsule.

{Artists show above: 1. India Tresselt; 2. Holly Ballard Martz; 3. Brenda Oelbaum; 4. Michele Pred; 5. Bryan Buckley; 6. Tm Gratkowski; 7. Cabell Molina + more pieces can be seen here}

Wait for it … quaranteens! So good. Clearly, my first thought when I saw the ‘Quaranteen Creeps Class Reunion 3020 Senior Class’, was to save this post for Halloween… but there is no way I could wait that long! These creepy weirdos are the latest work by Austin based artist Combs. As a mother of a boy who just started high school yesterday, in the middle of a global pandemic, yeah, these spoke to me. Wash your hands and wear your masks, kids!

The scale!!! This is the striking and powerful work of Ghana born, Detroit based artist Conrad Egyir. All of these pieces are paintings… and then some! Oil, acrylic, and mixed media on canvas and wood. In some cases that means glitter, synthetic flowers, crystals buttons, mounted plexiglass, and… is that “bookmark” a really big ribbon?! Most of this work is from his 2019 show, “Ameliorations”, at Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco. Here is part of the description of this exhibition from the gallery’s site:

“Addressing contemporary American culture, biblical parables and Ashanti iconography from his native Ghana, Egyir’s work explores questions of ethics, honesty, identity and the social-psychology of community. Monumental, uncanny and often satirically grandiose, the paintings combine the graphic sensuality of Pop Art with the far-reaching narratives of history painting.”

Love.

Oh my. This is the work of Los Angeles based artist Todd Gray. Well, actually, he works between Los Angeles and Ghana, where he “explores the diasporic dislocations and cultural connections which link Western hegemony with West Africa.” Brilliant and beautiful. As a collage artist, I am absolutely in love with these stunning compositions / juxtapositions of images… and all of those found frames? LOVE.

These gorgeous mixed media paintings are the work of Atlanta based artist, illustrator and educator Charly Palmer. His painted and collaged flowers are what grabbed me, apparently an element he started incorporating into his work after his mother passed away in 2008 {which makes me love them even more}. Speaking of love… most of us have been cursing 2020, but Charly is having a VERY good summer. In June, the album cover he painted for John Legend was released, in July his work was on the cover of TIME Magazine, and in August… he got married! Yep, he’s making 2020 look pretty damn good:

Congratulations, Charly!

Gasp! So. Much. Glitter! This is the very personal work of Chicago based artist Moises Salazar. Their artist statement is so powerful, so I’m just gonna let Moises tell you about this work:

“Growing up in Chicago to immigrant parents has cemented a conflict of belonging and safety within my identity. Being first generation, I was thrown into a society that constantly challenges my rights as a U.S. American and targets my community because of their immigration status. I had to survive in a social space that had little regard for the complexities of growing up ethnically Mexican in a racialized society. Safety and security were things that were never a part of my experience while living in the Unite States. With fears of my family being deported I felt alienated by a country I had to pledge myself to. Furthermore, this alienation was reinforced by my queer identity. Being a body that has experienced violence, neglect, and homophobia within and outside my community has become the catalyst of my work. For this reason, the body has become my conceptual focus.

Whether addressing queer or immigrant bodies my practice is tailored to showcase the trauma, history, and barriers these people face. Reflecting on the lack of space and agency they posses, I present my pieces in environments were they can thrive and be safe. The work I create is colorful, innocent, gentle, soft, and safe. The use of clay, paper mache, glitter and crochet are important in my work because of their cultural and personal value. The use of accessible material has always been important in my practice and in the cultural development of my communities. I use material and methods that have been passed down by generation in my family to showcase the importance of their experience and honor their endurance. My art is a vehicle to celebrate the majesty of cultural heritage contrasted with challenges of living safely in the United States as a member of the immigrant and queer communities.”

Bravo! Some of Moises’ work can be seen in “Forget Me Not”, a two person show (also featuring Caroline Liu) at Roots & Culture in Chicago. It will be up until the end of August.