[ad_1] In vibrant effusions of color, Frances Priest creates ceramic vessels, tiles, and sculptural forms that explore the possibilities of pattern. The Edinburgh-based artist’s interest in decorative motifs stems from a book she received as a child, The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, originally published in 1856. Jones compiled elaborate documentation of decorative motifs […]
Ethereal Sculptures by Karen LaMonte Link Perceptions of Bea…
[ad_1] In porcelain, bronze, glass, and stone, Karen LaMonte’s sculptures explore ideas around femininity and conventions of beauty throughout history. She nods to time-honored sculptural traditions with silhouettes redolent of, for example, the three marble goddesses of the Parthenon pediment that have shaped classical sculpture and exemplified ideals of beauty for millennia. LaMonte conceives of […]
Greg Corbino’s Fish Puppets Made from Reclaimed Trash Migrat…
[ad_1] Beginning in the Adirondack Mountains and flowing south into New York Harbor, the iconic Hudson River stretches 315 miles through scenic valleys and creative towns. It’s also a migration route for numerous species of fish, from sturgeon and bass to herring and eels, which head upstream every year to spawn. Contending with habitat destruction […]
Dara Schuman’s Rhythmic Tiered Vessels Embrace Intuition — C…
[ad_1] Experimentation is a driving force in Dara Schuman’s ceramic practice. Out of her Chicago studio, the artist conjures striking geometric forms that appear stacked, ribbed, and almost architectonic. With an air of retro-futurism informed by mid-century modern style, her jewel-toned volumetric vessels don earthy yet bold glazes in deep reds, ochre, and smokey blue. […]
An Exhibition Celebrates the Self-Taught Immigrant Artists S…
[ad_1] Built on the traditional homeland of the Sauk, Fox, and Potawatomi peoples, Chicago is a city of immigrants. Just 13 years after the city was incorporated in 1837, more than half of its residents were born overseas, having flocked to the region from across Europe and Asia alongside tens of thousands of others. Today, Chicago […]
Descend into ICA SF’s New Space for Masako Miki’s Otherworld…
[ad_1] Huddled together like birds of a feather or standing resolutely on their own, Masako Miki’s vibrant, playful sculptures come to life at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco. Whether standing on spindly legs, seated on the ground, or suspended from the ceiling, there is a sense of movement and energy in the room, […]
Amiee Byrne’s Realistic Ceramic Sculptures Underscore the Ch…
[ad_1] Australian artist Amiee Byrne is drawn to everyday objects that are “so normal, they’ve become invisible,” she says. Meticulously sculpting clay into life-sized representations of their counterparts, Byrne highlights the tender charm and understated significance of forgotten and discarded goods. Creating an accurate portrayal involves the conscientious embrace of imperfections and defects. Take, for […]
A Miniature Musical Curio Shop by Chris Millar Spins Like Cl…
[ad_1] After he graduated from art school, Chris Millar (previously) worked in a toy store for seven years. “The shop, now defunct, was called Livingstone and Cavell Extraordinary Toys in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,” he tells Colossal. The store carried classics like tin wind-ups, electric trains, dolls, miniature soldiers, and teddy bears. Millar’s latest extravagantly detailed work was […]
Announcing Joy Machine, a New Art Gallery in Chicago — Colos…
[ad_1] As Colossal prepares to turn 15 this year, we’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be part of a creative community. During the last decade and a half, we’ve spoken with thousands of artists, designers, and makers and cultivated a vast network of friends and colleagues around the globe. Publishing has […]
Naomi Peterson Channels a Sweet Tooth and Sense of Togethern…
[ad_1] Frosted sponge and overstuffed pies are just a few of the sweet treats Naomi Peterson crafts from clay. Her playful “cup-cakes” take confectionery as a starting point, adding layers reminiscent of fondant, ice cream scoops, berries, and sprinkles. Many of Peterson’s pieces are functional, incorporating lids or handles to be used as vessels or […]