Art

February 20, 2021

Chinese Artist Covers Paper Torsos in Ancient Paintings to Challenge Traditional Femininity

Contemporary Chinese artist Peng Wei puts a spin on tradition with her paper sculptures of female torsos. The figures, composed of layered flax and cotton, are painted with images from ancient Chinese narratives including Paragons of Feminine Virtue by Ming-dynasty thinker Lv Kun and Strange Tales from the Chinese Studio by Qing-dynasty novelist Pu Songling.

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February 17, 2021

Henry Ossawa Tanner: The Life and Work of a 19th-Century Black Artist

The 19th century was not an easy time to be a Black person in America, especially if you were trying to make it as an artist. For that reason, it is extremely remarkable to note when an American artist of African descent is able to rise above the racial discrimination so prevalent during that time period and become a renowned artist of international acclaim.

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February 15, 2021

Beautiful 50-Foot-Tall Sculpture Pays Tribute to Native American Women in South Dakota

High above the Missouri River in South Dakota sits a magnificent sculpture that’s a beautiful tribute to the Native Nations of the Great Plains region. The 50-foot-tall artwork is called Dignity of Earth and Sky—often shortened to just Dignity—and is a statue of an Indigenous woman wearing a Plains-style dress and receiving a star quilt. In highlighting this figure, the memorial recognizes the often-overlooked group of women of the Lakota and Dakota Nations.

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February 9, 2021

Fragmented Metal Sculptures Capture the Ephemerality of Human Life

Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, artist and sculptor Regardt Van Der Meulen molds deconstructed—seemingly deteriorating—metal sculptures. His fragmented steel creations, at once firm yet fragile, play with themes of “time, memory, and mortality.” These figures, plagued by decay, are ironic manifestations of the vulnerability and ephemerality of human life.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.