Be still my crystal-loving heart! I have written about American artist Chad Wys a bunch of times over the years, but how on earth did I miss these rock-covered beauties from 2014? All of this work is from Chad’s ongoing “ready made” series in which he adds his own contemporary touch to relics from the past … and the thrift shop. LOVE!

Okay, I need to touch all of these things… shiny, smooth, spiky, ALL OF IT. These bizarre still-life vignettes are the work of Wang & Söderström, a collaborative duo made up of Swedish spatial and furniture designer Anny Wang and architect Tim Söderström. They do all sorts of fabulous projects together, and strive to “create mind tickling and unexpected experiences through materiality and technology”. Nailed it. Here is a description of one of their still-life series:

“‘Common Odd Things’ is a still life series that aim to stretch the boundaries between the familiar and the unreal. The organic sculptures are created by the artist duo Wang & Söderström through digital data to physical form by 3D printing. They are made in various biodegradable PLA blends, such as wood, stone and glossy plastic, which creates different textures and appearance that is often found in Wang & Söderström 3D rendered work.

The objects have been brought together in different set designs and captured by photographer Mishael Phillip, who focus on boosting the surrealness yet keeping details to reveal the sense of the real world.

The title, ‘Common Odd Things’, invites to explore the work from your own perspective. The contradictory words ’common’ and ‘odd’ is a play of how things can carry familiarities at the same time feel bizarre and alienated. Things can look like an object from your dinner table or a sex toy. Or perhaps a creature, something alive. What makes them common and what makes them odd, is through the individual eyes.”  Photos by Mishael Phillip

Gasp! I love everything about this… lips on legs and play-dough like shapes on a grand scale? Yes, yes, YES. I wrote about the fabulous work of Japanese born, San Francisco based artist Masako Miki way back in 2013 and in 2011, but my goodness, the evolution of her work is astounding! If you happen to be in the Bay Area, she has a gorgeous show installed at BAMPFA – Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive – right now (install shot above). Here are a few words about “MATRIX 273”:

 “Her current work is “inspired by the idea of animism from the Shinto belief of yaoyorozu no kami [eight million gods] who are both good and evil with a wide range of personalities.” In defining this world of shifting boundaries, Miki creates larger-than-life-size, felt-covered forms drawn from the Japanese folk belief in yokai [shape-shifters] who can disguise themselves in any number of different forms. Miki creates the semi-abstract, sculptural forms utilizing brilliant colors and sets them into a magical environment suggesting another reality. The installation moves from the three-dimensional forms to abstract images on the floor and walls, conveying a sense of expanding boundaries.”

The show will be open until April 28, 2019. Happy Monday.

Um, yes, I need to go here immediately! This insanely beautiful, treehouse-looking fantasy is an art gallery in Mexico. That’s right, I said gallery. IK LAB, is a piece of art in itself {which, btw, was originally co-initiated by Santiago Rumney Guggenheim, the great grandson of Peggy Guggenheim} … okay, this just keeps getting better! Seriously, if you go to Tulum take a break from yoga on the beach, and GO HERE. IK LAB Tulum – along with its sister site, IK LAB Uh May – is a holistic center for human vision and evolution created in the jungle of Tulum by Roth (Eduardo Neira), social entrepreneur and founder of Azulik.

This gave me chills. Can you guess what that blinding band of light represents?

“The installation explores the the catastrophic impact of our relationship with nature and its long term effects. The work provokes a dialogue on how the rising sea levels will affect coastal areas, its inhabitants and land usage in the future.

This is specifically relevant in the low lying island archipelago of Uist in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, and in particular to Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre in Lochmaddy where the installation is situated. The centre cannot develop on its existing site due to predicted storm surge sea levels.”

This powerful light installation, titled “Lines (57° 59′ N, 7° 16’W)”, is a collaboration between Finnish artists Pekka Niittyvirta & Timo Aho for Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

{via designboom}

If it’s possible, Canadian artist Susannah Montague, has taken Dutch vanitas to an entirely new and disturbing level! I’ve written about Susannah a few times already {plus, she’s one of the artists featured in my upcoming book}, so I happen to know that a lot of her work revolves around her twins and the struggle she faced trying to bring them into the world. Her detailed, meaning-packed work is stunning, but even more so in person… AND if you happen to live anywhere near Calgary Alberta you could see these bizarre, flower-covered delights this weekend! Her latest show, titled “Lucid Dreams” , opens this Saturday {March 16, from 2-4 pm} at Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art. Here is Susannah’s statement about the show:

“… The inspiration comes from mysticism and esotericism which touches on daydreams and the fantastical elements that haunt our nights. Within the eerie beauty of these ceramic sculptures is an exploration of the intersection between dreams and reality – at the same time, fusing innocence and corruption in the flowers, dolls, lizards, toys and skulls that fervidly explode in these contemporary baroque compositions, asking us to revel in the beauty of the absurd.”

I have to share a story Susannah told me about the final piece above … “The piece with the gold halo is my daughter. She was born “unresponsive”. The necklace – with the arms – is from Mexican religious iconography which symbolizes “embrace and touch”, because after 36 hours of labour, I fought to keep my twins together, close with me and out of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by doing “Kangaroo care”. The artichoke at the core has a heart, symbolizing love – and, throughout history, artichokes have represented hope, peace and a successful future.”   I’m not crying, you’re crying. A beautiful story from a beautiful person {And, I’ve met her twins. They are creative, kind and amazing … just like their mama.} 

*photos by Lilly Louise Photography

“Uncommon Thread” is my latest curatorial endeavor, and I could not be more proud! Soft sculpture made with thread, embroidered thread, paintings with thread, paintings of thread, and knitted thread… just kidding, that’s knitted GLASS. I mean, come on! Here’s my curatorial statement:

Thread – an everyday, utilitarian, domestic material – until you put it into the skillful hands of these artists. Winding, tying, twisting and stitching its way through the work of all seven featured artists, this is in fact the common thread that ties their work together. However, there is nothing common about the way these women manipulate their materials of choice, and their reasons behind the work itself. Paint, glass, ink and – yes – actual thread will be on display, resulting in a very uncommon group show. UNCOMMON THREAD features artists from Seattle to New York, Los Angeles to small town Canada.

The show is now open at bG Gallery in Santa Monica, but the opening reception is this coming Saturday March 16th 6 – 9pm. Go, be amazed, buy art. Thank you to bG for inviting me to do this, and thanks to these seven wonderful artists for participating : {the order above} Natalie Baxter, Sarah Detweiler, Nike Schroeder, Lindsay Arnold, Ellen Schinderman, Michelle Kingdom, and Carol Milne.

Marshmallow-like dots and green lettering that I desperately want to touch. Speaking of which: “beyondthebrittletownsasleep”  “hereandnownotforever”   “imayimightimust”   “idespair”   “nevereinthefieldofhumankindness” … there, now you don’t have to squint/guess what they say! These amazing ceramic wonders are the work of Australian artist Glenn Barkley. I was already so impressed by his work, but then I read his bio:

“Glenn Barkley is an artist, writer, curator and gardener based in Sydney and Berry NSW, Australia. His work operates in the space between these interests drawing upon ceramics deep history, to popular song, the garden and conversations about art and the internet. He was previously senior curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (2008–14) and curator of the University of Wollongong Art Collection (1996–2007).”

impressiveandinspiring.

“Thursday’s Drawing Class Had Run Its Course”, and, “Roger Worried That His Hair Style Was Out of Fashion”… So. Good! I always love whatever LA based artist Kelly Puissegur does, but these two? Oh, YES. Kelly created these for a curated collection on Saatchi Art, titled “Refuse To Be The Muse”, in honor of International Women’s Day. Nailed it. 🔥

psst… Kelly happens to be one of the 75 female artists featured in my book, “A BIG IMPORTANT ART BOOK – Now With Women” , which is also very appropriate for today!

Ah, the stunning work of Rome based artist Micaela Lattanzio. All of these images are from her ongoing Fragmenta series, but these ones are extra special because they’re part of her latest solo show. Fragmenta – A Journey Beyond the Body, opens this Friday, March 8th at 6:30pm at Galleria Ca’ d’Oro in New York {179 10th Ave.}. Sigh, can you imagine seeing these fractured beauties in person? Go if you can!