Enchanting Ecosystems Crocheted by Melissa Webb Envelop Interior Spaces with Verdant Fibers

“Lichenvision: Leaf Litter Living Room, Lakeside Home, and Zoom Date” (2021), 14 x 12 x 10 feet. Photo by Brian Kovach. All images © Melissa Webb, shared with permission

Lush, beguiling environments spill across floors and dangle from ceilings in the works of Melissa Webb. The artist dyes and crochets vintage fibers into mossy, botanical forms that when layered and stitched together, become enchanting installations evocative of forests and gardens. Shades of green tend to dominate the textile ecosystems as a nod to “growth, verdancy, and inevitable change,” Webb says. “Through my work, I imagine a reclamation of the earth by wildness—a less human-centered future where we learn to live and thrive in symbiosis with the natural world.”

Often paired or embedded with video projections, the site-specific installations position untamed growth in interior spaces like living rooms and industrial warehouses. For example, in “Local Authorities in the Spirit World Shape-Shift Through Time (We Call it Evolution),” Webb overlaid the soft benches and wooden architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Smith House with crocheted lichen, vines, and flowers. The altar-like “Verdantine Tabernacle” is similar, as it cascades outward with antique dolls, ceramic animals, and other found objects in the artist’s Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, apartment.

Webb is currently in progress on an installation at The Mill in Vicksburg, Michigan, and recently co-curated the exhibition Mending the Net for Detroit Month of Design, which will show “Verdantine Tabernacle” (shown below) through September 28. Explore more of her works on her site and Instagram.

 

“Local Authorities in the Spirit World Shape-Shift Through Time (We Call it Evolution)” (2021), 16 x 20 x 10 feet. Installation view at The Smith House. Photo by P.D. Rearick and the artist

Detail of “Local Authorities in the Spirit World Shape-Shift Through Time (We Call it Evolution)” (2021), 16 x 20 x 10 feet. Installation view at The Smith House. Photo by P.D. Rearick and the artist

Detail of “Lichenvision Lounge” (2022), video installation, four-foot diameter wood panels with embedded TVs, vintage lamp forms, electrical accouterments, depression glass, hand-dyed and crocheted vintage textiles, 14 x 10 x 12 feet. Installation view at Albert Kahn First National Building, Detroit, Michigan. Photo by P.D. Rearick

“Verdantine Tabernacle” (2023), hand-dyed and crocheted vintage textiles, pillows and stuffed furniture, assorted found objects, 13 x 10 x 11 feet. Photo by the artist

Detail of “Lichenvision Lounge” (2022), video installation, four-foot diameter wood panels with embedded TVs, vintage lamp forms, electrical accouterments, depression glass, hand-dyed and crocheted vintage textiles, 14 x 10 x 12 feet. Installation view at Albert Kahn First National Building, Detroit, Michigan. Photo by P.D. Rearick

Detail of “Lichenvision Lounge” (2022), video installation, four-foot diameter wood panels with embedded TVs, vintage lamp forms, electrical accouterments, depression glass, hand-dyed and crocheted vintage textiles, 14 x 10 x 12 feet. Installation view at Albert Kahn First National Building, Detroit, Michigan. Photo by P.D. Rearick

Detail of “Verdantine Tabernacle” (2023), hand-dyed and crocheted vintage textiles, pillows and stuffed furniture, assorted found objects, 13 x 10 x 11 feet. Photo by the artist

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In Detailed Paper Collages, Alexis Hilliard Delves Into Depth and Drama

“Forest God” (2022), collage on panel, 18 x 18 inches. All images © Alexis Hilliard, shared with permission

Portland-based artist Alexis Hilliard describes her collages as “visual symphonies,” blending numerous photographs and archival materials to create harmonious compositions. “Sometimes I use whole photos, not cut up much. That’s like sampling a bass line,” she tells Colossal. “Other times, I’m only using a tiny color swatch, so that’s more like adding a simple note into the mix.”

An avid collector of images, Hilliard scours everything from historical archives to oil paintings to Pinterest boards, amassing a collection of tens of thousands that span a wide variety of themes and content. And she is also drawn to working in a variety of scales. “When I first started, I worked a lot with WWI and WWII photos, but the collage technique itself quickly became the point…There is something to making large art pieces, the ones that surround your peripheral sight and evoke the sublime,” she says.

Hilliard explores a range of themes that tie together history, the volatility of nature, grandiosity, vulnerability, and more. She often emphasizes focal point, like running stags or a silhouetted couple seated on a bench, in the foreground of vast and dramatic landscapes. “I’m not the best at perspective… but that also gives me the shameless ability to add 8 vanishing points with reckless abandon,” she says. “It’s a fun way to play with perceived rules and break away from expectations—even your own.”

Hilliard documents much of her process, which you can find on Instagram.

 

“Volcano Study No. 2” (2021), collage on panel, 6 x 6 inches

“White Stags” (2020), collage on panel, 18 x 14 inches

“With the Current” (2016), collage on panel, 48 x 36 inches

“Portrait of Pele” (2022), collage on panel, 10 x 10 inches

“Foolish Decisions (2023), collage on panel, 18 x 14 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 In Detailed Paper Collages, Alexis Hilliard Delves Into Depth and Drama appeared first on Colossal.

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Top 10 Reasons to Visit The Other Art Fair in Dallas

Since 2011, The Other Art Fair presented by Saatchi Art has been nurturing its artist-led event for over 70 editions across the globe, serving visitors with surreal experiences and accessible art. The upcoming edition in Dallas, taking place October 5 to 8, will dazzle and delight with a unique lineup of surprising and colorful features. Advance tickets are available for a limited time and start at $18 for weekend admission.

Here are the top 10 reasons why people are talking about this event:

10. You can have your photograph taken by a Grey’s Anatomy actor-turned-artist. It’s time to unleash your inner animal as the fair welcomes photographer Charles Michael Davis as its Guest Artist. Each solo photo session will result in one unmasked and one animal-masked action shot, directed and shot by Davis himself.

9. Get a personalized haiku based on any word or phrase you offer the in-house poet.

8. Get poked! The stick-and-poke trend you’ve been seeing pop up in Dallas? You can get your very own work of art by the skilled and professional tattoo artists from Poetic Pokes (booking on a first-come-first-served basis).

7. A play on the “take what you need” bulletin, an all-new installation titled “The Karmacy” invites you to choose a bottle that contains what you need the most and allows the well-wishes of a “karmacist” to work its magic.

6. Peruse art after drinks are poured. The bar inside the fair offers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy while you browse.

5. All artworks are affordably priced! The Other Art Fair proudly offers curated collections of originals under $500.

4. Check out the New Futures winners! Art should never be elite. The Other Art Fair’s New Futures program is part of its continued mission to break down traditional barriers of the contemporary art world by giving prizes to talented, often underrepresented, emerging artists.

3. Become the artist by grabbing a friend and participating in one of the on-site workshops. This edition, the fair is offering sessions on sign lettering and watercolor landscapes.

2. Bring your family! Visit the fair on Sunday for a relaxed, creative vibe. Kids can get coloring sheets for your budding artists to share in the fun.

1. Now to the core of what makes The Other Art Fair, well, other. Unlike the usual gallery-led fairs, this event allows you to meet 130 independent artists. Artists who work with paint, clay, photographs, and more will be selling original work for you to take home.

To learn more and get tickets, visit theotherartfair.com/dallas.

 

Susan Whigham, “Purple Passion”

Elizabeth Dyer, “Untitled”

Chrissy Lush, “Untitled (record player)”

Quel Hynson, “SHINE”

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 Top 10 Reasons to Visit The Other Art Fair in Dallas appeared first on Colossal.

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In the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Contest, Breathtaking Wonder and Imminent Loss Are On Full Display

Igor Mikula, “Caring Parent,” Czech Republic

Chosen from more than 8,000 submissions, the winners of this year’s Nature TTL Photographer of the Year competition capture both the immense beauty of our planet and the threats we face with a changing climate. Thomas Vijayan took home the top prize for his heartbreaking panoramic of the Austofonna Ice Cap cracking and emitting gushing waterfalls into the sea. Covering more than 8,000 square kilometers, Austoffana is rapidly melting in a region experiencing the disastrous effects of warming temperatures and rising sea levels. Also recognized were a spectacular image of the Northern Lights streaming through an Icelandic cave, a jaguar wandering through a cinder block wall, and a ball of honeybees clamoring for a new home.

Find some of our favorite photos below, and view the complete gallery at Nature TTL.

 

Lucy Monckton, “House Hunting,” Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Thomas Vijayan, “Austfonna Ice Cap,” Svalbard, Norway

Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar, “Crossing Barriers,” Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Andy Schmid, “Crowd Control,” Skjervøy, Norway

Jane Hope, “Fighting Robins,” Scotland, United Kingdom

Josselin Cornou, “Strong Solar Storm Through an Icelandic Cave,” Iceland

Rowan Dear, “Depth Perception,” Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia

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 In the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Contest, Breathtaking Wonder and Imminent Loss Are On Full Display appeared first on Colossal.

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Slouching Ceramic Vessels by Philip Kupferschmidt Ooze with Heavy Drips and Gloopy Glazes

All images © Philip Kupferschmidt, shared with permission

From his studio in Chino, California, Philip Kupferschmidt (previously) fashions cavernous ceramic vessels that drip and ooze with vibrant glazes. After throwing a piece on the wheel, the artist warps, stretches, and crushes the walls of a vase or pot that he later covers with thick droplets or chunky globs. Many of the sculptures appear to slouch under the weight of the liquid, their sides folded and creased into skewed shapes.

Kupferschmidt has been creating drip-covered works for several years and recently began a series of Supergloops, vessels with more pigments and material variances than his typical one- or two-toned works. “I’m exploring interactions of color and texture that overall, hope to give impressions of otherworldly environments if one were shrunk down and navigating the confined spaces of the vessels, kind of like in the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” he says. “Additionally, I’m channeling my love/awe of nature, frustration with man-made natural disasters, and memories of my 90’s childhood into this work.”

If you’re in Los Angeles, you can see Kupferschmidt’s works as part of a group show opening September 28 at Tappan Collective. The artist plans to release pieces in his shop later this fall, so follow him on Instagram for news about that drop.

 

 

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Vibrant Lines of Paper Twist and Surge Through Ilhwa Kim’s Dynamic Landscapes

“Atomic Wind” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 184 x 152 x 13 centimeters. All images © Ilhwa Kim, courtesy of HOFA Gallery, shared with permission

Meandering rows of flat paper seeds flow through Ilhwa Kim’s landscapes, creating densely lined paths among the abstract expanses. The South Korean artist (previously) rolls tight wads of Hanji paper, which she’s dyed primarily in greens and blues with occasional pinks and yellows, and binds the individual components in a rectangular form. Variances between the slim, tall seeds and the short, wider pieces add texture and depth to the aerial-inspired works that appear to look down at a settlement or pastoral scene from above.

The sculptures shown here are part of Kim’s forthcoming solo show at London’s HOFA Gallery titled Tacticle Hands. Referring to the pieces as “living architecture,” the artist gravitates toward movement, conveying heaving breaths or the way a breeze can make a field of grass seem as if it’s dancing. “I create artworks that combine sculpture and painting in order to explore the richness, dynamism, and depth of sensory experience on canvas,” she says. “These layered, entangled, and ever-evolving sensory experiences, happening in a world defined by nature’s infinite possibilities, are what I strive to capture in my works.”

Tactile Hands is on view from September 29 to October 11. You can find more of Kim’s sculptures on Instagram.

 

“Developer” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 119 x 93 x 13 centimeters

“Archaeological White” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 132 x 164 x 13 centimeters

“Private Walk” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 119 x 93 x 13 inches

“Rocket’s High” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 119 x 93 x 13

“Low Altitude Flight” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 192 x 224 x 13 centimeters

“Tender Strokes” (2023), hand-dyed Hanji paper, 132 x 164 x 13 centimeters

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Meticulous Patterns Bring Harmony to Salma Price-Nell’s Inky Drawings of Trees

“Tree of Duality.” All images © Salma Price-Nell, shared with permission

Salma Price-Nell gravitates toward patterns, harnessing their aesthetic and metaphorical properties through ink drawings. Currently based in the U.K., the Cape Malay illustrator painstakingly renders wispy willow tendrils, gnarled trunks, and wide, sloping canopies with delicate crosshatching and linework.

She tells Colossal that her interest in natural motifs—and those found in trees, in particular—was born from mediation and a realization that everything is connected. “All matter is made from the same elements, and although every individual thing is a different composition of those substances, we are all results of a sequence of patterns that have formed and been refined over time, billions of years of time,” she shares. “These patterns have established our laws of physics and many invisible laws that we are bound to.”

Price-Nell’s practice reflects these ideas as she draws small, recurring forms like individual leaves or the crinkles in tree bark to form larger scenes. She finds peace and calm in this slow, repetitive process, and the resulting works reflect what the illustrator most admires about her subject matter. “Trees seem to have developed some of the most harmonious and admirable traits during the course of their evolution,” she says. “Of course, I am not a tree and can never be one, but I can aspire to be more resilient, generous, nurturing, independent, patient, present, grounded, secure, humble, balanced, nonjudgemental, peaceful, graceful.”

Shop prints and originals on Price-Nell’s site, and head to Instagram for a glimpse into her meditative process.

 

“Willow”

Detail of “Willow”

“Velvet Shank Mushrooms”

“Tree of Presence”

“The Charmed Tree”

“Sanctuary”

“Mystic Japanese Camphor Tree”

“Lucky Mushroom”

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