What is a hero? Who should be called a hero? These are just a couple of the questions behind this series titled, yes, “Heroes”. This powerful portrait series is the work of New York born, South Africa based artist Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi. It’s a huge series of gorgeous portraits, but I was able to control myself and just picked a handful of my favorites. The people she has selected range from Thenjiwe’s own grandmother, poets and artists, to refugees and civil rights leaders. Powerful, moving, and beautifully painted.

Can you imagine walking into a Los Angeles laundromat and seeing a couple of iridescent mermaid tails hanging out of the rinse cycle? That’s where this beautiful and bizarre work by LA based artist Olivia Erlanger started out in 2016.  Last month, however, her fabulous tails/washers were at Frieze New York {with And Now Gallery}. Obviously they were a crowd favorite, because mermaids!

*Final, fabulous image above was found on Instagram via @imastudio

I always find myself holding my breath when I look at the work of  Cornwall based artist Susanna Bauer… you know, just in case. Delicate, crocheted, lace-like adornments connecting, surrounding, and transforming fallen leaves into fine art. Susanna’s work is currently showing at VOLTA Art Basel in Switzerland June 10th – 15th. Look for Swiss gallery Le Salon Vert (Stand C13), and you’ll find these lovely masterpieces.

*photos by art-photographers.co.uk

ps. Susanna’s work – and story – is featured in my book, A BIG IMPORTANT ART BOOK – Now with Women!

Gasp! As a person who loves forgotten bits and pieces, my garden, and vibrant color… well, these pieces are everything. This is the work of Swiss artist Mathilde Tinturier. I could go on and on, but the description on her site does a lovely job. Here is just a portion translated into English:

There are thousands of them, lost materials, trash, abandoned twigs, umbellifers, scotches, confetti, dandelions, Christmas balls, thrown at random into a world that is no longer theirs. What unites them? Nothing. What are they whispering to us? Nothing. What do they tell us about the world? Few things … What unites them? Chance and necessity, a secret order that Mathilde for each work reinvents and gives all these forgotten objects a place, a voice, a presence. 

Beautiful.

Sooooo, apparently this is paper. What? Yes. These meticulous pieces are the work of American artist / paper engineer Matt Shlian. I wrote about him way back in 2010… he was good then, but now? Whoa. Here is part of Matt’s artist statement:

“As a paper engineer, my work is rooted in print media, book arts and commercial design. Beginning with an initial fold, a single action causes a transfer of energy to subsequent folds, which ultimately manifest in drawing and three dimensional forms … He begins with a system of folding and at a particular moment the material takes over. Guided by wonder, his work is made because he cannot visualize its final realization; in this way he comes to understanding through curiosity.” 

His latest show, titled “Relief”, opens this SATURDAY JUNE 8th {2pm} at Duran Mashaal Gallery in Montreal.

Move over bologna and cheese… here comes silicone, urethane plastic, and acrylic. Mmm, yummy! These verrrrrrrry tall sculptures are the latest work from American artist Justin Richel. If you recognize his name, it’s because I wrote about his paintings – a whole bunch of times – years ago {he was featured in my first book, “Creative Block”, too}.  His paintings from back then also involved stacks of 2D stuff, but in the past couple of years Justin has taken his work to new heights… sorry, I tried to resist but it was RIGHT THERE. I’m always in awe of artists who push themselves to evolve. So inspiring, and very exciting to watch!

Paintings. All of these are oil paintings… okay, I guess the woman folded on the canvas-looking couch might have given that away, but still, I’m amazed by people who can paint like this. In today’s case, that person is Vancouver based artist Cara Guri. She “re-examines conventions and symbols that are found in historical portraiture by translating them into her current reality.” Yes, yes she does… enter a post-it note mask, spectrum-covered eyes, and of course, the aforementioned folded couch lady. Stunning.

Haunting and beautiful… these watercolor paintings are the work of Chinese artist Mohan Shi (aka Momo). She also works with oil paint, but there is something sad and mysterious about these greyscale portraits that I cannot resist. Monday mood, perhaps? ; )

I love how German photographer Matthias Heiderich sees the world… color, composition, and clever crops every single time. So. Good. All of these images are from his series titled “Summa”. Kind of perfect what with tomorrow being June 1st, no? Happy Friday.

ps. Follow him on Instagram because, as I’m sure you can imagine, his feed is GORGEOUS.

You know how I feel about cute/weird, right? Yep. This is the ceramic work of LA based artist Godeleine de Rosamel. Strange little creatures who, I can only assume, live in the magical forests of Godeleine’s imagination. Here are her words about what she does:

“They are imaginary animals adapted or evolved from reality, but nothing that really exists. I love that my work lets me play at being the original creator of new life forms. It really fits with my interest in natural history, evolution and the wonders of nature in general … I have also always been drawn to what is called “low tech”, and the fact that beautiful and meaningful art can be created out of very simple materials.

I also do illustrations for children’s books, inspired from my ceramic work.”

Yes, yes, yes! I was just about to say she should illustrate children’s books! Some of Godeleine’s work – ceramics and books – can be found in her online shop.

{Found via HeyThere Projects}