So apparently, that is what you look like after turning zillions of hand-rolled paper cones into gigantic paper caves! If you have Instagram {hahaha!} you’ve probably seen these insane “Paper Caves” by American artist Samuelle Green. Most recently, the interweb was going crazy over her work at the Art on Paper fair in New York. Well good news … if you’re in New York, you can still wonder through one of her paper caves at 601Artspace until May 5th. Here are a few words from Samuelle’s site about this work:

Upon entering the cavern like space, viewers will be aware of the amount of time and work involved in the creation of the installation and liken it to often overlooked art forms in nature. There is structure and design inherent in the natural world which we constantly draw from and take for granted. We generally fail to acknowledge the skill, time, and detail required to manifest the intricate structures found in objects we encounter regularly — such as those found in bird and wasp nests, beehives, spider webs, rock formations, anthills, feathers, and countless others. Samuelle’s installation references these forms on a human scale – inspiring contemplation.

Gorgeous styling + Puns = Lizzie Darden. Well, I just fell down the rabbit hole that is Lizzie Darden’s Instagram feed, and I loved every pun-filled second! I think my faves are the macaroknee pads, the prank caller in a prank collar, and those potato wedges!?! I’m going to make you guess the rest over your morning coffee. Be like Lizzie and “take life pun day at a time.”

ps. I think it would be irresponsible of me not to show you these pins from Lizzie’s shop… ‘brain freeze’, ‘cheese cake’, and ‘let’s taco bout it’! Bahahaha!

Paper paint drips? I don’t even, but how, are these, I don’t, oh my word. That was exactly what went through my head when I came across the paper-cutting work of Seattle {now Stockholm based} artist Joey Bates. If you’d like answers to all of my highly intelligent / well-spoken questions, just keep an eye on Joey’s Instagram feed for the inside scoop on how he does what he does! It’s all a little bit insane… in a wonderfully inspiring way, of course. ps. Joey and I are in a show together, titled “pa-per”, that opens on April 26 in Philadelphia at Paradigm Gallery! The opening reception is from 5:30-10pm.

Represented by Montreal’s Galerie Youn

“I tend to think of myself less as an artist and more as a Bower Bird, compositing and arranging archipelagos of intricate nests.”

Currently based in South Korea, American artist Jessica Oreck makes multiple collage series, all of which live under the theme of “Sent From Where I Am”. This dreamy grouping, for example, is titled “Manila, Philippines : Collected November, 2018”. It’s basically a mix & match game using faded historical figure flashcards she found in a dusty bookshop in a mall in Manila. LOVE. Here are Jessica’s words on why she does what she does…

“I am enthralled by the objects and remnants that fall through the cracks – caught somewhere in limbo between belonging(s) and trash – the habitually forgotten residues of other people’s lives … The collages each engage directly with a sense of place. Every collection is comprised of materials gathered in a single location. Drawing on the limitations and precision of the imagery, the collages reveal a sort of palimpsest of ethos – a layering of mutating cultural vogues, the anonymous censorship of time, and my own socially muddied sense of self.”

Beautiful. Happy Friday.

That final image is proof … cold hard proof that those delicate, thin, perfect little lines are done by HAND. Yes, the hands of California based artist Kelly Ording are responsible for all of this goodness. Paintings, drawings, collages made from cut up drawings all of which feature her insane line work. Seriously, my hands get shaky just looking at these pieces! If you happen to be in Sun Valley, Idaho in the next week, she currently has a show – titled “An Unseen World” – at Gilman Contemporary until April 15th, 2019.

ps. Some of her work is also available to buy via Local Language.

Jaw. Drops. 

This insane sculpture of an Italian facade being unzipped (!?) was just unveiled at Milan Design Week by British sculptor Alex Chinneck (in partnership with IQOS.) And, apparently, he’s not quite finished! On his Instagram feed yesterday, Alex writes, “This is the most ambitious work I’ve ever made – and there are two more to come. See it at Via Tortona 31 all this week.” Insane.

*Photographs by Marc Wilmot

Oh, HELLO perfectly perfect two-person show! I have written about both of these artists, but never together … clearly, that needs to be corrected! Yes, the mysterious and crystal-filled work of Canadian painter Rebecca Chaperon, and American artist/jewelry designer Debra Baxter will be shown together at Roq La Rue Gallery in Seattle. The side-by-side shows open this Thursday, April 11th 6-9pm … and speaking of side-by-side, both Rebecca and Debra will be there. You should go too.

Big, beautiful, woven CERAMICS. Oh my word. This is the absolutely stunning work of Dutch artist Cecil Kemperink. Elegant ceramic rings, in quiet colors, interconnecting to create a little bit of poetry…

“Her sculptures are connections between her varied passions: textile, clay, dance, fashion and sculpture. Kemperink works intuitively. The sculpture grows in her hands. The manual process of connecting the circles gives rise to an attentive, and labor-intensive process. Her sculptures have many appearances. They are more than 3 dimensional;  you can also change the form, hear the sound and experience the feeling when you touch the work.”

I want to touch them, pick them up, and carry them around just like Cecil! Happy Monday.

Okay, that Godzilla girl, aka “Blowing Smoke”, is everything! ♥ These pieces are the work of American / Amsterdam based artist Mando Marie. They’re also part of a group show, titled Spotlight: Stencil, that opens tomorrow night {Saturday April 6th 6-8pm} at Hashimoto Contemporary in New York. I have written about Mando so many times, and I’m not stopping any time soon! That said, I’ve never seen her work in person, so if you’re in New York please go to this show so I can live vicariously through you. Thank you.

All artists in the show: Eelus, Jana & JS, Joe Iurato, Mando Marie, OakOak, Penny

Beautiful and bizarre … yep, always a fabulous combo. I wrote about UK based artist Claire Loder waaaaay back in 2011, so clearly it’s time to do it again. Oh look, here’s a perfect excuse … a brand new gallery, Hey There Projects, is opening in Joshua Tree, California this May, and they just announced that Claire’s work will showing there in September. Flower faces staring directly into your soul while the middle of the desert? Yes, please!

ps. Hey There is the creation of LA’s Mark Todd and Aaron Smith. Both of them are amazing artists, they both teach at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and they’ve both been on my podcast. Obviously they needed to add “both own a gallery” to that list.