Tell Me More: Colossal Releases a Limited-Edition Print with Liz Flores

Liz Flores, “Tell Me More”

We’re beyond excited to announce our latest limited-edition print collaboration with Chicago-based artist Liz Flores (previously). “Tell Me More” features one of Flores’ signature color-blocked figures in warm shades of pink and neutral tones. Lounging on a patterned rug with delicate tassels lining the perimeter, the woman lets her long braids drape over her body as she entreats the viewer for more.

The giclée print is signed and numbered and available in an edition of 100 from the Colossal Shop.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Tell Me More: Colossal Releases a Limited-Edition Print with Liz Flores appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/Dai7obY
via IFTTT

NASA’s James Webb Telescope Captures the Fiery Remains of a Dying Star in Unprecedented Detail

Image courtesy of ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, M. Barlow (University College London), N. Cox (ACRI-ST), R. Wesson (Cardiff University)

More than a year after NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope brought us images of the Southern Ring Nebula, the world’s most powerful observer captured the remains of another celestial body with stunning clarity.

Nebulae are massive clouds of dust and gas that sometimes emerge from dying stars. Both the Southern Ring Nebula and the Ring Nebula, which is the subject of the newly released images, were born from a star discarding its outer layers as its fuel reserves dwindle. Located about 2,000 light-years away, the latter is bright and often discernible from Earth with the use of simple binoculars.

Documented with the telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera, the Ring Nebula is now visible in unprecedented detail. The bright red outer ring is comprised of approximately 20,000 enormous globules of molecular hydrogen gas about the size of Earth. Inside, astronomers explain, “is a narrow band of emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs–complex carbon-bearing molecules that we would not expect to form in the Ring Nebula. Outside the bright ring, we see curious ‘spikes’ pointing directly away from the central star.” These prongs were barely visible in earlier images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and were largely only seen through infrared.

The most intriguing discovery, though, is the ten evenly spaced features nestled inside the halo surrounding the bright outer ring. Astronomers explain:

These arcs must have formed about every 280 years as the central star was shedding its outer layers. When a single star evolves into a planetary nebula, there is no process that we know of that has that kind of time period. Instead, these rings suggest that there must be a companion star in the system, orbiting about as far away from the central star as Pluto does from our Sun. As the dying star was throwing off its atmosphere, the companion star shaped the outflow and sculpted it. No previous telescope had the sensitivity and the spatial resolution to uncover this subtle effect.

According to a statement, research into the Ring Nebula is ongoing, so expect more information in the coming months. Until then, head to NASA  to see the images up close.

 

Image courtesy of ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, M. Barlow (University College London), N. Cox (ACRI-ST), R. Wesson (Cardiff University)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article NASA’s James Webb Telescope Captures the Fiery Remains of a Dying Star in Unprecedented Detail appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/tRErye0
via IFTTT

Remarkably Relatable Animals Prepare Breakfast and Commute to Work in a New Series by Cat Rabbit

All images © Cat Rabbit, shared with permission

Sporting tiny sneakers and plates of eggs on toast, Cat Rabbit’s newest adorable characters (previously) get ready for the day in style. A frog dons loafers and a stylish briefcase, a self-assured bear presents a plate of breakfast, and a bespectacled Bichon Frisé tucks a bag of chips into a tiny tote. The Melbourne-based artist sends her animals out on everyday activities, like rollerskating or commuting to work, imbuing each figure with an expressive face and confident personality.

The artist currently has a solo exhibition titled Working Through It at Nucleus Portland through August 27, and her children’s book How to Make Friends: A Bear’s Guide, published by Berbay Books, was just released in the U.S. You can find a copy on Bookshop, and explore more work on Cat Rabbit’s website and Instagram.

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Remarkably Relatable Animals Prepare Breakfast and Commute to Work in a New Series by Cat Rabbit appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/bBTqn57
via IFTTT

Flora and Fauna Entwine in Lauren Marx’s Mixed-Media Studies of Life and Death

“Made of Gold” (2021). All images © Lauren Marx, shared with permission

The living and the dead coexist in vivid color in the fantastic tableaus of artist Lauren Marx (previously). From her St. Louis studio, Marx entangles predators and prey with flora and fauna in dense scenes rendered in a mix of pen, watercolor, and colored pencil. Snakes burst open to reveal feathered wings, an owl snacks on the maroon entrails of a rabbit, and a three-headed creature sprouts dried grass from its midsection. Straddling the line between the beautiful and the brutally grotesque, the works intertwine myriad species and states of being.

Given the trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasingly destructive effects of the human-caused climate crisis, Marx says the theme of loss of life has become more poignant and profound. “I feel the tension is even greater now after seeing death become part of our daily lives nonstop for years. It went from a casual observation to a persistent one,” she shares. “It’s honestly very overwhelming for me.”

The artist translates this grief into the mythological, rendering creatures like unicorns and dragons in vibrant hues. Fanciful by nature, these pieces twist lush florals and technicolor serpents around the horned beasts, with their deep purple intestines peeking through white fur. “I felt this urge to create bright pieces in order to cheer myself,” she says. “Now, those subjects play a huge role in where I want to take my work in the future.”

In November, Marx’s work will be included in a group exhibition at Haven Gallery in Long Island. Peek into her process on Instagram, and shop prints and stickers on Etsy.

 

“The First” (2016)

“Starry Eyed” (2021)

“Good Luck Spells” (2022)

“Crow and Blueberries” (2020)

Left: “Unicorn II” (2021). Right: “Unicorn” (2020)

“Queen of the Night” (2021)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Flora and Fauna Entwine in Lauren Marx’s Mixed-Media Studies of Life and Death appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/NRZ3oLg
via IFTTT

Subtle Hues and Papery Textures Create Intimate Atmospheres in Lea Woo’s Tender Illustrations

All images © Lea Woo, shared with permission

Lea Woo coaxes subtle polarities from her illustrated interactions. Centering on women in moments of quiet affection and admiration, the renderings contrast a vintage style with modern subjects and a largely soft color palette with spots of bolder hues. “Red, a frequently used tone in my works, represents bravery and boldness and green a close relationship with mother nature,” she shares. Grainy, paper-like textures add to the retro feel of the scenes, which convey a warm tenderness between people and the birds, fish, and cats around them.

Based between Shanghai and Hangzhou, Woo draws stark distinctions between her personal works and commissions—recent collaborators include Burberry and The New Yorker. For the latter, she tends to start with a sketch that captures the directive, while other projects are more instinctive. “I open my heart for all possibilities and unexpected ‘accidents,’” the artist tells Colossal.  “I collect and save my daily doodles and pictures I took for future use. With less set-ups, more random arrangements, I find it so much fun to freely combine different elements and they turned out to be harmoniously together at the end.” 

Woo has prints, postcards, and other goods available in her shop, and you can follow her latest projects on Instagram.

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Subtle Hues and Papery Textures Create Intimate Atmospheres in Lea Woo’s Tender Illustrations appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/cE1lFJM
via IFTTT

For the Love of Dog: A Group Show Fetches Wide-Ranging Interpretations of Our Favorite Companions

Nicholas Bono Kennedy, “Maybe I Can Have Some?” (2023), acrylic, oil, and pastel on linen, 30 x 24 inches. All images courtesy of Hashimoto Contemporary, shared with permission

Dogs have been humans’ best friends throughout the ages, so it’s no surprise that they’ve also been prime subjects of art—the first works depicting pups date back more than 8,000 years. A group show opening at Hashimoto Contemporary this month extends this long-running tradition through paintings, ceramics, and plush sculptures that look to our canine pals and their wide range of antics for inspiration.

For the Love of Dog features works of over thirty artists who dig up adoration, fear, and other affinities for the beloved companion species: Katie Kimmel sculpts scrunched-up rolls on a chunky basset hound, Joey Wolf’s lounging gray bulldog takes on human characteristics, and Debra Broz (previously) splices a chaotic pack of pups that makes it difficult to distinguish heads from tails.

A playful and heartfelt ode, For the Love of Dog is on view from August 19 to September 9 in Los Angeles.

 

Katie Kimmel, “Daytona Peppers” (2023), ceramic, 16 3/4 x 12 x 12 inches

Joey Wolf, “Girl in Pink Armchair” (2023), oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Debra Broz, “Dog Pile” (2023), secondhand ceramics and mixed media, 16 x 15 x 20 inches

Jillian Evelyn, “Olie” (2022), acrylic on wood panel, 24 x 18 inches

Stephen Morrison, “Orchids” (2023), oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches

Jodie Niss, “Untitled” (2023), oil paint on wood panel, 8 x 10 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article For the Love of Dog: A Group Show Fetches Wide-Ranging Interpretations of Our Favorite Companions appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/2Dg9zam
via IFTTT

Enigmatic Scenarios Unfold in Levi van Veluw’s Complex and Confrontational Sculptures

“In the depths of memory.” Photos by Michèle Margot, courtesy of Galerie Ron Mandos. All images © Levi van Veluw, shared with permission

Combining translucent polymer clay with saturated pigments or carving delicate ridges from tulipwood, Levi van Veluw constructs enigmatic, immersive narratives. The Dutch artist has been fascinated by symbols and rituals since childhood, spurred by an upbringing in a religious household. The complexity and conviction of faith and “the stark visual language of its practice made him sensitive to the visual vernacular of religious seduction,” reads a statement for the artist’s series Beyond Matter.

Memory, architecture, and storytelling manifests in Beyond Matter through the portrayal of naves or chapel-like spaces, altars, and mandalas redolent of rose windows. Geometry and repetition interact with light and shadow in meditative patterns, exploring the parallels of spiritual experience and viewing art. Van Veluw prompts questions about what and how we see and our role in completing the picture.

In another body of work, In the depths of memory, van Veluw explores portraiture and interactions between figures in a series of framed reliefs that echo movie stills or storyboard frames. And an immersive room stacked top-to-bottom with identical portraits invites viewers to stand in the center of a mysterious chamber. Mirrors on the floor and ceiling reflect the walls and one another, giving the impression of a space that is both confined and infinite. The artist leaves its interpretation open: Are you in a studio? A fever dream? Inside the artist’s mind?

 

“Dinner”

Van Veluw’s uses portals, windows, and the power of the gaze to invite us into the narrative. “In between,” for example, depicts an unhappy family in a car, viewed straight-on through the windshield. In “Dinner,” an argument has been interrupted, and one subject turns around in his seat to face outward in frustration. “Stared at by piercing gazes, you are made complicit in a situation that unfolds before your eyes,” says a statement. “You are being looked at, but, in a way, you are also looking at yourself from the outside.”

An acquisition of van Veluw’s piece “Planetary Chapel” by the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam is scheduled to go on view soon, and he is currently preparing solo exhibitions for the Singer Museum in Laren, The Netherlands, and Les Filles du Calvaire in Paris. The artist is represented by Galerie Ron Mandos, and you can explore his work in much more detail on his website. He also shares updates and amazing process videos on Instagram.

 

“In between”

Detail of “In between”

“In the depths of memory”

Detail of “In the depths of memory”

“Circular Compound”

“Beyond Matter”

“Distinct”

“Divine”

“Conversation”

“Abstruse”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Enigmatic Scenarios Unfold in Levi van Veluw’s Complex and Confrontational Sculptures appeared first on Colossal.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/VpzoFlc
via IFTTT