Self-taught artist Sofia Bonati captures nuanced expressions and personalities of a variety of female characters while also integrating them into abstracted environments and patterns. Her illustrations most often feature solo subjects melded with thunderclouds, dizzying mazes, and floral patterns. Bonita renders the women’s features in graphite and she uses gesso, paint, and markers to add colorful accents and build their surroundings. The strong, distinctive expressions on each woman’s face suggests that the characters are in control of their environments, rather than being subsumed by them.
Italian photographer Massimo Listri has spent decades traversing the globe to document the spectacular architecture, sculptural elements, and furnishings of historic libraries. His new book, The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries, includes views inside such rarefied locations as the Palafoxiana Library in Pueblo, Mexico and the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, France. Listri also includes descriptions and histories of each library. The 560-page tome is published by TASCHEN and available on Amazon and the TASCHEN website.
Klosterbibliothek Metten, Metten, Germany
Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Paris, France
Biblioteca do Convento de Mafra, Mafra, Portugal
Stiftsbibliothek Admont, Admont, Austria
Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbria, Portugal
Stiftsbibliothek Sankt Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
In a new group show at Beinart Gallery in Australia, nature's flora and fauna are explored. Courtney Brims, Lauren Marx, Crystal Morey and Thomas Jackson, each with his or her own distinctive approach and themes, contribute to “Botanical Bestiary,” which runs from Aug. 11 through Sept. 2 at the space. Much of the work is inspired by the terrain of Australia itself, from the native artists.
Currently on view at Talon Gallery in Portland, Oregon is artist Nick Sheehy’s solo exhibition of excellent new paintings entitled, “Swarm.”
For “Swarm,” the Gallery explains, “he continues to explore his development into the world of color with mixed media paintings. This has been a gradual process and these paintings represent another step on a journey away from the monochrome works, a palette which he says remind him of death, morning and loss, toward a fuller albeit still unnerving atmosphere. Exploring themes around conflict and constraint, aggression and repression, greed and destruction, Sheehy is not only commenting on his own experience, in what he describes as semi-autobiographical works, but also on our innate nature.”
“Swarm” will be on view until September 2nd, 2018.
Boris Groh is one of my favorite artists, mostly because of his works that feature LARGE skeletons just doing their thing
This is by far my most successful post on tumblr and I am really fucking glad because my main man Boris deserves to be recognized for his work. Even if its mostly getting passed around in the form of memes about cheese.
Hongmin Lee's paintings and drawings carry notes of manga and other pop influences, yet mutate and distort those familiar forms into something more monstrous. At one time, the artist was an active member of art collective Goo For Brothers, yet has since developed his own fine art career with these bold creations. Lee was last featured on HiFructose.com here.
Los Angeles-based illustrator and storyboard artist Victo Ngai produces layered illustrations that reveal elaborate worlds filled with unexpected details. A beautiful expanse of unencumbered nature stands guarded inside a wide-mouthed bullfrog, while a seaside city burns with brilliant flames in the fabric of a heroine’s dress. Each scene inspires the viewer to pause, making sure they haven’t missed a key character that might unlock the work’s tangled narrative. Ngai is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and provides illustrations for clients such as TheNew York Times and TheNew Yorker. You can view more of her colorful artwork on Instagram and Behance. (via Booooooom)
Christian Russo crafts illustrations that seem to both utilize and parody elements from popular culture. The Chicago-based artist blends multiple approaches to each aspect of a work, showing an ability in emulating tattoo art, comic characters, realism, and other styles.
Currently on view at Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo, Japan is contemporary master James Jean’s solo exhibition of fascinating new works entitled “Azimuth.”
Jean has delighted a generation of visual and imaginative senses since the early 2000s through his colorful and surreal ocular dreamscapes that defy categorization and are truly one of a kind artistic visions.
From the gallery: “The title of this exhibition, “Azimuth” – defined as the position of a celestial object in the sky in relation to the Earth’s horizon – poetically alludes to the artist’s internal compass in approaching the creation of these works, guided forth by the energy of blood bonds and filial love. Jean’s signature artwork style of delicate lines and ambient tones, described by many as moody dreamscapes of the fantastical and romantic, have often tended to veer into muted, darker themes. “Azimuth,” however, marks a turning point in the artist’s emotional landscape: The heart of the exhibition plays on the radiance of color and light, and conveys the hope of a somber spirit re-saturated by the brightness and innocence of his son’s childhood. We invite you to come witness the artist’s journey this time as he transcends his own atmospheric limits and embarks toward a new horizon.”
The exhibition is on view until May 3rd, 2018 and under no circumstances should be missed if you have the means of attending.
Lauren Marx
Hongmin Lee's paintings and drawings carry notes of manga and other pop influences, yet mutate and distort those familiar forms into something more monstrous. At one time, the artist was an active member of art collective Goo For Brothers, yet has since developed his own fine art career with these bold creations. Lee was last featured on HiFructose.com here.
Christian Russo crafts illustrations that seem to both utilize and parody elements from popular culture. The Chicago-based artist blends multiple approaches to each aspect of a work, showing an ability in emulating tattoo art, comic characters, realism, and other styles.
