Installation
October 17, 2019

Artist Designs Machine You Crank to Earn Minimum Wage, One Penny at a Time

Conceptual artist Blake Fall-Conroy creates work that often touches on socio-economic themes. As a self-taught engineer, many of his art pieces involve mechanisms that allow him to get his point across. This is most evident in his Minimum Wage Machine, a lightning-rod installation that speaks about the value of labor and one's time. People are asked to turn a crank that will then release a penny at specific intervals.

Read Article

Photography
October 16, 2019

Photographer Uses LEDs on Drones to “Draw” Light Paths on the World’s Largest Salt Flats

Photographer Reuben Wu is known for his artistic landscape imagery, which he creates by using LED lights attached to a drone. By taking long-exposure photographs, Wu is able to have complete control over how we perceive light within the environment. His newest work even incorporates light painting for an even more surreal effect.

Read Article

Sculpture
October 15, 2019

Powerful Statue Offers a Contemporary Response to Confederate Monuments

For centuries, the equestrian portrait has played a pivotal role in the politics of art. Originally reserved for members of nobility in Ancient Greece and Rome, portrayals of people on horseback eventually featured high-status sitters and, later, military figures—including Confederate soldiers in the United States. Given the controversial history of these statues, it comes as no surprise that celebrated contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley has harnessed this motif to craft his latest piece, Rumors of War.

Read Article

Art History
October 14, 2019

How Pumpkins Have Inspired Yayoi Kusama’s Avant-Garde Art for Decades

Yayoi Kusama has carved out a name for herself as a top contemporary artist. Throughout her illustrious career, the Japanese creative has developed a signature approach to her craft. Characterized by polka dots, bold color palettes, and organic forms, her aesthetic is perhaps best typified by her pumpkin art, a collection of works celebrating the subject's “generous unpretentiousness.” Rooted in her childhood, Kusama's love of pumpkins has significantly shaped her practice for over 70 years.

Read Article

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.