Author: Mary W

Justin Piccirilli is a London-based artist weaving a tapestry of narratives that delve deep into the human experience. His artistic journey is not just about aesthetics; it’s an exploration of societal issues, particularly those concerning disability, inequality, and mental health. Piccirilli’s artistic arsenal is diverse, spanning across various media. From installation and VR to video and performance, he fearlessly traverses different avenues to convey his message. His work transcends mere visual appeal; it serves as a catalyst for dialogue, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths lurking beneath the surface of society. At the heart of Piccirilli’s practice lies a commitment…

“Cheyenne Chasing Antelopes” at Donald Ellis Gallery’s booth at Expo 2024 Chicago; all artworks from A complete Marienburg picture book (1876) Illustration by Bear’s Heart (Nockkoist, Tsis tsis’tas) and Ohet-Toint (Ohettoint/High Forehead) unless otherwise noted (all images used with permission) Earlier this year, there was an exhibition at David Nolan Gallery in New York Fort Marion and Surrounding Areas: Native American Ledger Drawings, 1865-1900, a collection of more than 100 works on paper by indigenous artists from the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Hidasa, Kiowa and Lakota tribes. Presented in conjunction with the Donald Ellis Gallery, the exhibition highlights the work of the…

Arie Otten, born on November 25th, 1954, in the picturesque city of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, emerges as a self-taught artist in the realm of contemporary art. His artistic odyssey commenced in 2009, ignited by the luminous guidance of Frans Polman, a revered artist in the Apeldoorn art scene. It was under Polman’s tutelage that Otten first dipped his brush into the colorful palette of modern and abstract art. Over the years, Otten’s artistic journey has been marked by an insatiable thirst for experimentation and innovation. While Polman laid the foundation, it was the mentorship of Rob Weddepohl that propelled Otten’s…

Along the 24th Street stretch of Manhattan’s High Line, cast human and wolf heads sprout out of trees made from bones and bare branches that grow from and around a steel skeleton. Some plants languish under the weight of dying flowers, while others splay like the fingers of a skeletal hand reaching out from a buried grave, grabbing at the air. Italian artist Giulia Cenci’s Secondary Forest (2024) is a new commission that blends the natural and industrial worlds, kicking off a contemplative spring at the High Line. Placing humans, animals and plants on equal footing, the installation is a…

In the realm of artistic expression, few creators possess the depth and ingenuity of Lauren Naomi. As a fourth-generation floral crafter, Lauren’s medium of choice is hand-sculpted clay petals, weaving together her passion for art and psychology into a captivating tapestry of human emotion and introspection. Armed with degrees in both fields, she channels her expertise into sculpting, painting, and arranging thousands of clay petals across a diverse array of structures, from wall-hung artworks to suspended and free-standing sculptures. Lauren’s work is characterized by its multifaceted nature, seamlessly blending art, education, imagination, and social consciousness. Her creations serve as abstract…

Editor’s note: The following text is excerpted and adapted with permission from Portrait of a Woman: Art, Competition and Revolution in the Life of Adelaide Lavel-Guial Author: Bridget Quinn Published April 16 by Chronicle Books and available online and in bookstores. Do you know the word c?Hieroscuro? Maybe you remember it from an art history class you once took or a mostly forgotten book. Or maybe you know it well. It’s a word that feels good in your mouth. Chiaroscuro. It means “light and darkness”. Western painting owes its hallucinatory realism to the play of light and shadow. Whether visually…

In the bustling streets of New York City, where every corner echoes with stories untold, Diane Leon was born. An abstract and mixed media collage artist, Leon’s canvas serves as a conduit for her emotions and memories, woven together through vibrant hues and intricate layers. Leon’s artistic philosophy is grounded in the belief that color is not merely pigment on canvas but a potent language of expression. Each stroke of paint, each torn piece of paper, speaks volumes about her innermost thoughts and feelings. For Leon, the artistic process transcends the intellectual realm; it is a visceral experience, an emotional…

A much-anticipated work from the 2024 Venice Biennale will be unveiled on video screens, while the object itself will return to its country of origin, albeit on temporary loan from the American institution that has owned it since 2015.The sculpture is a wooden portrait of a white colonial ruler in the 1930s, made in the Belgian Congo in revenge for a local rebellion that resulted in the official’s death. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in the United States has allowed the Dutch pavilion of the Biennale to broadcast images of the sculpture, following an initiative by a Congolese…

Born on October 29, 1973, in Sassari, Luca Sanna, an Itialian artist passion and dedication. From his early days, art has been his constant companion, shaping his journey through life. Sanna’s artistic odyssey began at the Filippo Figari State Institute of Art in Sassari, where he honed his skills and laid the foundation for his future endeavors. But it wasn’t until 2004 that he decided to take a leap of faith and pursue his dreams wholeheartedly. Enrolling at the Mario Sironi Academy of Fine Arts in Sassari marked a pivotal moment in his life, leading him to graduate with a…

For more than a century, her face has watched the traffic of Midtown Manhattan, the throngs of tourists and guests entering and exiting the famed Plaza Hotel. In Saint-Gaudens’ “William Tecumseh Sherman” (1903) at Continental Plaza in Manhattan, she is the winged Victory, one hand raised, the other Holding a palm leaf in one hand, he strode in front of the titular character. But it was not until 2023 that Hettie Anderson received official public recognition through words rather than likeness. About a thousand miles away in her native South Carolina, the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission placed a…