Lifestyle

2023 was the year of Pablo Picasso, as private collectors and global institutions banded together to host a series of touring exhibitions to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Spanish artist's death. For those who could not venture great distances to see his work in person, there is a new online portal containing photographs, paintings and sculptures detailing Picasso's oeuvre, including works previously unseen by the public. The archive was released courtesy of the Picasso Museum in Paris, containing thousands of interviews, essays, artworks and images aimed at researchers and in-resident artists, but to which can equally enjoyed by everyday fans alike. There's arguably no artist who has had a bigger impact on shaping modern art than Picasso over the past century. Alongside his contemp...

London's Tate Modern will unveil a new solo exhibition of light installations by the acclaimed British artist Anthony McCall. Long before today's 'immersive' shows, McCall was captivating audiences as early as the 1970s through a fusion of sculpture, cinema, drawing, and performance, by casting three-dimensional beams of light that undulate in form through smoke-filled spaces. Opening on June 27, Solid Light encompasses a series of existing works that will illuminate across the Tate Modern's George Economou Gallery. McCall first captivated onlookers through his seminal Light Describing A Cone (1973), described by the artist in the past as "habitable tents of lights", which invited visitors to interact with the various projectors displaying complex sculptural forms whose temporal structure ...

WNDR Museum in Chicago's West Loop has introduced a reimagined atrium featuring Yayoi Kusama’s "LOVE IS CALLING" and a new WNDR Lounge. “We’re always evolving to spark curiosity and creativity,” said Brad Keywell of WNDR Museum. The lounge offers local food and drinks to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests.Kusama’s "LOVE IS CALLING" is her largest infinity room to date, inviting visitors into a mirrored space filled with inflatable, polka-dotted forms that glow in various colors, creating an illusion of infinite space. Accompanied by Kusama’s voice reciting a love poem, it adds a contemplative layer to the experience. This marks the Chicago debut of the piece, originally premiered in Japan in 2013.The WNDR Lounge, open during museum hours, features local food and beverages, accessible to...

Library Street Collective presents Temple of Silence, a solo exhibition by New York-based artist Sam Friedman. The exhibition features four large-scale "Cave Paintings" that explore existential themes through meticulous lines and vibrant colors.Friedman's work examines how individuals construct personas to navigate an overstimulating world. He suggests that humans develop mental and emotional "armor" to cope with life's demands, which can isolate them from their true selves. Reconnecting with nature and painting helps Friedman restore his sense of humanity.Temple of Silence aims to create a serene space where visitors can escape daily pressures. The paintings, ranging from 9x9 feet to 25x9 feet, feature smooth transitions and gentle forms, fostering a sense of security and fluidity. Inspir...

Ryan Todd’s 365 Days of Drawing project features a clever and insightful series of daily sketches. The challenge of creating one drawing per day for a year was significant and Todd humorously acknowledged moments of doubt in his interview with ItsNiceThat. His goal was to cultivate a habit of daily creativity and conceptual exploration, which he achieved by setting a strict routine to record his visual thoughts.Todd carried his sketchbook everywhere, finding the constant need for ideas both difficult and enjoyable. This daily practice nurtured a playful and inquisitive mindset. The collection, marked by its simple black and white style, includes whimsical puns and observations from his surroundings, serving as visual exercises and social commentary. Changing locations often inspired new su...