Art

September 5, 2024

Psychedelic Landscape Paintings Capture the Spirit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Lake Tahoe-based plein air artist Phyllis Shafer brings the mountains, lakes, and forests of the American West to life in vibrant oil paint. But instead of going for photorealism, she focuses on capturing the energy of the landscape with twisted perspectives and a touch of the surreal. Having grown up in a rural area of upstate New York, Shafer has always had a love of nature.

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September 3, 2024

Mysterious and Macabre Oil Paintings of People Shrouded in Textiles

Swedish artist Markus Åkesson is perhaps best known for his mysterious and slightly macabre paintings, which feature people shrouded in patterned textiles. The textiles, also designed by Åkesson, are covered in motifs inspired by history, from engravings by Albrecht Durer to paintings by Hans Holbein. As a result, his oil paintings form a dialogue with the past. Painted with precision, Åkesson's work is incredibly realistic.

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August 26, 2024

Colorful Thread Art Depicts Day-To-Day Life of Los Angeles’ Latino Communities

Sewing machines are often used to create garments and accessories; but, for artist Erick Medel, they are fully rounded artistic tools. Using colorful thread on deep blue, heavyweight denim, Medel depicts the daily routines of the latino community of Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood, where he lives. His images, which blur the lines between photography and memory, truly capture the vibrancy that runs through the area. Medel began experimenting with thread art in 2019.

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August 23, 2024

100-Year-Old House in Japanese Village Looks Like It’s Blowing a Bubble

Have you ever seen a house blow a bubble? Deep in the Japanese countryside, visitors to Murono Village discover an ancient wooden house blowing a luminous bubble. Ephemeral Bubble, the brainchild of MAD Architects’ Ma Yansong, was created for the 2024 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT), one of the world’s largest international outdoor art festivals. The semi-transparent installation extends from the 100-year-old China House Huayuan, a local hub of Chinese art and cultural exchange.

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