A Groundbreaking Monograph Delves Into Simone Leigh’s Enduring Commitment to Centering Black Women

“Cupboard IX” (2019), stoneware, raffia, and steel armature, 78 × 60 × 80 inches. Image courtesy of Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. All images © Simone Leigh, shared with permission

Simone Leigh’s first monograph opens with this quote from the artist: “In order to tell the truth, you need to invent what might be missing from the archive, to collapse time, to concern yourself with issues of scale, to formally move things around in a way that reveals something more true than fact.”

It’s a lofty and perceptive statement that perfectly illustrates Leigh’s oeuvre. Working across sculpture, installation, and video, the artist returns to the aesthetics of Africa and the African diaspora as she amends the art historical narrative by putting Black women and Black feminist thought at the center. Her works draw on craft traditions and legacies through her material choices, including the ceramic pots and raffia skirts that meld with her figurative works. These hybrid forms draw attention to labor and value, particularly as they relate to women’s disregarded contributions throughout history and around the globe.

Spanning two decades of work, the 372-page book accompanies Leigh’s first major museum survey, which closed at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston in September. The exhibition is in the midst of a nearly two-year tour and currently on its way to the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., where it will open in November and continue through March 2024, before finishing its run at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and California African American Museum between June 2024 and January 2025.

 

Comprising bronze, ceramic, and video works, the retrospective highlights the artist’s visual vocabulary of cowrie shells, rosettes, and indistinct facial features, along with pieces from her milestone achievement: In 2022, Leigh became the first Black woman to represent the U.S. at the Venice Biennale with Sovereignty, an exhibition encompassing sculptures exploring self-determination and the interior lives of Black women.

Within the monograph, writing from brilliant scholars like Saidiya Hartman and Christina Sharpe elucidates Leigh’s interests and aesthetics, alongside historical photos, glimpses of the artist’s studio, and full-spread images of works. An essential and groundbreaking survey, the volume is celebratory, lauding Leigh’s expansive practice and enduring desire to fill gaps in the archive.

Simone Leigh was published earlier this month by Delmonico Books and is available on Bookshop.

 

“No Face (House)” (2020), terracotta, porcelain, ink, epoxy, and raffia, 29.5 × 24 × 24 inches. Image courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery

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Vorja Sánchez Brings the Past to Life in a Series of Uncanny ‘Ancient Pottery’ Illustrations

All images © Vorja Sánchez, shared with permission

Beastly jugs and vessels with legs comprise the latest in illustrator Vorja Sánchez’s eclectic and uncanny menagerie (previously). A new print titled “Ancient Pottery” draws inspiration from a wide variety of stoneware urns, bowls, and statuettes from prehistoric cultures around the world, imbuing each of them with the lively features of animals or mythological beings. Produced from an original piece made with pencil, ink, and watercolor on cotton paper, the artist emphasizes the appearance of age, as if a patina has formed over time across the entire composition.

“I am fascinated by the simple and imperfect but pure and free forms of ancient ceramics,” Sánchez tells Colossal. He continues:

When I started to study them—my cousin is an archaeologist specialized in ceramics and gave me a lot of information—I realized that they shared a common essence regardless of their origin. The older they are, the more universal the language is. I found that very interesting. That’s why I decided, sharing the same space, to make an accumulation.

Sánchez is currently working on new pieces that focus on individual pots. You can purchase prints in the artist’s shop, and find more on his website and Instagram.

 

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Researchers Decipher the First Word Written Inside in an Ancient Scroll Charred by Mt. Vesuvius

All images courtesy of the Vesuvius Challenge

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., it covered Pompeii and surrounding Roman towns with a catastrophic layer of volcanic ash. One small settlement buried in the aftermath was Herculaneum, which housed a luxurious villa with an extensive library of papyrus scrolls. A farmer discovered some 1,800 texts carbonized in the home in the 18th century, all of which were well-preserved and incredibly fragile to the point of being impossible to unroll and read.

These scrolls are now the subject of the monumental Vesuvius Challenge, an ongoing competition to use machine learning and computer imaging technologies to read the ancient texts. Scientists have discovered a way to digitally unroll the scrolls using X-ray tomography and ink detection, producing a viewable 3D scan that reveals the writing without damaging the physical object. The competition, in turn, will award $700,000 to anyone who can discern a substantial portion of the text, at least four passages each with more than 140 characters.

With 79 days to go, this part of the competition is still ongoing, although a 21-year-old college student has already deciphered one word. Luke Farritor “became the first person in two millennia to see an entire word from within an unopened scroll this August,” the challenge says, and that word is porphyras, which translates to “purple.” This color is incredibly rare in texts from antiquity, making it an even more exciting finding and boosting intrigue about the rest of the scroll.

It’s worth checking out the Vesuvius Challenge website to learn more about the entire process behind the discovery and for the ambitious, to find out how to join in.

 

A carbonized scroll

The virtual “unwrapping” of the scroll

A scan of the scroll showing columns of text

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In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong

“For Show.” All images © Calvin Ma, courtesy of Modern Eden Gallery, shared with permission

The figures in Calvin Ma’s otherworldly sculptures soar through the night sky, encounter swarms of insects, or stand among tropical flowers in Blend In: Standstill at Modern Eden. The artist continues an ongoing series (previously) exploring the intense desire to belong or fit in, creating hybrid individuals that don the likenesses of myriad birds, from peacocks to owls to pigeons. In nature, feathers provide protection, camouflage, and communication with other birds; in Ma’s meticulously crafted ceramic pieces, they reflect a yearning for comfort and connection.

If you’re in San Francisco, you can visit Blend In: Standstill until November 4. See more on the artist’s website and Instagram.

 

“Sleepless”

“Standstill”

“Fresh Start”

Left to right: “Safe Space,” “Wait and See,” and “It’ll Be Alright”

“Looking Back”

Left to right: “Blend In Mask: Eastern Blue Bonnet,” “Blend In Mask: Rufous-Tailed Jacamar,” and “Blend In Mask: Pigeon”

“For Show”

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Pat Perry Frames the Earnest and Eerie Moments of Midwestern Life in ‘Which World’

“Brief Candle #9” (2023). All images © Pat Perry, courtesy of Hashimoto Contemporary, shared with permission

In Which World, Detroit-based artist Pat Perry (previously) conjures a sense of whiplash that characterizes modern life, particularly in middle America. “I was thinking mostly about scale, and about how all the grand, contemplative ideas in the world are peppered amongst the banality of daily life, like listening to Hannah Arendt or Richard Rhodes on audiobook while driving to Toledo to buy a matching sink and toilet off of Facebook Marketplace,” he shares. “Our experience of the world in this moment jerks us back and forth between the two poles.”

On view now at Hashimoto Contemporary, Perry’s solo exhibition peers into a range of mundane instances familiar to Midwesterners, all captured candidly and earnestly. Taking cues from home videos and Craigslist ads, the artist paints scenes cropped at strange angles—a young girl’s figure is cut off in “Brief Candle #5” —while other works hone in on the eeriness of everyday life. “Craigslist Still Life 14 (Garden of Togetherness),” for example, features two green squares pinpointing a pair of plots for sale in a cemetery. Many of the works consider how we find dignity and meaning when “far away from the hubs of power or influence,” a timeless question that feels especially pertinent in the Midwest.

While Perry’s subject matter reflects the ordinary, the paintings emphasize the empathy and understanding gained by reflecting on these seemingly common moments. The Brief Candle series is particularly important in this respect as it’s derived from YouTube videos documenting families launching bottle rockets and other fireworks near their homes. “That’s the kind of subject matter I love the most, always has been, probably always will be: the kind of thing that never seemed worth noting until you looked at it for a while longer and realized, maybe it was,” he says.

See Which World at Hashimoto Contemporary’s Los Angeles space through November 4. Perry recently completed several new murals and is preparing for an upcoming solo show next year, which you can follow on Instagram.

 

“Which World” (2023)

“Ameliorator” (2023)

“Recreating” (2023)

“Brief Candle #5” (2023)

“Craigslist Still Life 14 (Garden of Togetherness)” (2023)

“Craigslist Still Life 08” (2023)

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Express Yourself with a .ART Domain

“Omega” by Rone (© rone.art)

In a crowded digital environment where every artist seeks a distinctive presence, securing a .ART domain is not just about finding a niche—it’s about creating a legacy rooted in creativity and authentic self-branding. Let’s explore the rich potential a .ART domain offers for carving out a reliable and future-focused digital identity.

Stepping into this realm grants you more than just a digital address; it’s a statement of your dedication to art and culture.

Brand Reinforcement

A .ART domain not only highlights your commitment to art, culture, and community but also boosts your visibility in art-related online searches, connecting you more readily with art enthusiasts and potential patrons on the lookout for authentic cultural engagements.

Tailored to Your Unique Needs

Individuality is the cornerstone of the .ART domain, meeting the unique requirements of each creative. Artist Ronen Tanchum, for instance, uses ronentanchum.art to host his portfolio and gather links to his social platforms, establishing a unified online presence.

 

Ronen Tanchum’s Rococo series (© ronentanchum.art)

“For me, .ART was a way to distinguish my artistic practice from my other work and general online presence. It is a really good way for me to showcase my artworks online and my portfolio, and it’s obvious for everyone what it is.” – Ronen Tanchum, artist

Numerous creators, including digital artist Stepan Ryabchenko (strangetime.art), illustrator Hilbrand Bos (hilbrandbos.art), and photographer Jon Imanol (jonima.art), echo Ronen’s sentiment, utilizing .ART domains to forge a distinctive online space for their work.

 

Stepan Ryabchenko (strangetime.art), “Dawn” (2020), digital print on aluminum under plexiglass (Diasec)

Craft Your Art Marketplace

Many artists use their .ART domains as robust e-commerce platforms, where artistry meets business. Artist Naomi Vona, for example, leverages naomivona.art as a one-stop shop offering art masterclasses, limited-edition prints, and more. .ART names are also ENS compatible and can function as an ENS name in Web3.

 

Contemporary neon art collage on vintage group shot by Naomi Vona (© naomivona.art)

Spotlight on Art Projects

A .ART domain can also serve as a spotlight, highlighting specific art projects or exhibitions, providing them a dedicated space to shine. A case in point is the Council of Europe’s project, “Free to Create – Create to be Free.” Hosted at freetocreate.art, it acts as a living archive, continually showcasing artworks submitted by member states that depict varying perspectives on artistic freedom in Europe today.

You too can start your creative journey and explore the countless opportunities at the intersection of art and technology with a .ART domain.

Secure your .ART today on get.art or through your preferred registrar.

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Chris Wolston’s Wicker Chairs Weave Bodily Exuberance with Functionality

All images © Chris Wolston, shared with permission

American artist and designer Chris Wolston (previously) conceptualizes the possibilities of melding the human body with the form of a chair. Emerging from his second studio in Medellín, Colombia, Wolston’s Nalgona series highlights the South American country’s tradition and abundance of mimbre, or wicker.

In a video documenting the process of making a chair from this collection, Wolston explains that “Nalgonas are simultaneously a chair and an anthropomorphic embrace, a human form embracing a human form.” By incorporating raised, wiggly arms, arched legs, and bottoms, Wolston’s work imbues playfulness and joy with the practicality of furniture design. The results are unique, exceptionally humanistic, and welcoming.

The artist works with local weavers in Medellín, using wicker sourced from the Colombian Amazon. Beginning the process in his studio by sculpting tentative chair forms out of clay, Wolston then creates blueprints of the final design before welding a frame for the wicker to be woven into. Experienced weavers who have practiced the craft for decades slowly but surely bring each bodily piece to life, row after row, detail after detail.

His forthcoming solo show, Chris Wolston at Hotel Bel-Air, opens in Los Angeles on October 25. For more information, follow along on Instagram.

 

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