Art

BEYOND THE STREETS Publishing and CONTROL Gallery have announced the release of a comprehensive book of sketches from celebrated Los Angeles-based artist, Mark Machado aka Mister CARTOON.Titled "Sketches: Book One," the offering features over 290 drawings and 180 pages that explore over two decades of work from the artist. The book is said to include intimate looks at the artist's ideation process and work that has appeared in tattoos, magazines, commercial projects, and more – including never before seen work.Having gained popularity for his distinctive style of tattooing, which incorporates elements of fine art, graffiti, and Chicano culture. Mister CARTOON’S work often features intricate black and gray designs, incorporating images of iconic figures, lettering and cultural symbols.Over ...

There seems to be a new art fair popping up every other month, from smaller entries like Future Fair in New York to ART SG in Singapore. Last year, Contemporary Art Now (CAN) in Ibiza was initiated to celebrate the island's rich cultural history, by emphasizing contemporary artists and galleries that capture the laidback Mediterranean spirit. Madrileño Sergio Sancho founded the event to fill the void of an international art fair on the island, which for many, is largely known today for its boozy nightlife, but which has actually been a haven for artists, writers and thinkers of all backgrounds dating all the way back to the Phoenicians. Housed at Recinto Ferial (FECOEV), the inaugural edition produced extraordinary results, selling 80 percent of the art last year. While the fair features a...

David Kordansky Gallery is celebrating 20 years in business with a new group exhibition that chronicles its rapid ascension in the Los Angeles area and the art world at-large. Ceremoniously dubbed 20, the show will include paintings, sculptures and installations by Chase Hall, Valentin Carron, Jonas Wood, the late-Sam Gilliam, Lesley Vance, Fred Eversley, Adam Pendleton, Torbjørn Rødland, Matthew Brannon, John Armleder, David Altmejd, Mario Ayala, Rashid Johnson, Guan Xiao and many more. Founded in 2003 in LA's Chinatown neighborhood, the gallery still operates with an artist-first mentality, which has translated in fruitful dialogues between creatives of varying backgrounds which persists to this day. For 20, there will be a number of artworks specially made for the occasion, including ne...

An exhibition honoring the life of JAY-Z is set to take place at the Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch this month.Entitled "The Book of HOV," the multimedia exhibit is executive produced by Roc Nation and is billed as one that "explores JAY-Z’s global impact as a musician, innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist" and will feature archived objects such as original recording masters, never-before-seen photos, his iconic stage wear, awards and recognitions and videos and artifacts from Hov's professional life."Our goal, with The Book of HOV tribute exhibition, is to provide a behind-the-scenes look at a Hall of Fame songwriter and performer, successful business person, and a consequential philanthropist who has never forgotten the lessons he learned on the road to success," the offi...

Already a global giant in its own right, Frieze has been making leaps across the art world over the past five years, hosting fairs in Los Angeles and most recently in Seoul. To add to its growing empire, Frieze announced today that it will acquire the Armory Show in New York and Expo Chicago. As two of the longest running art fairs in the United States, both the Armory Show and Expo Chicago will continue to operate under the same name and with the same teams, while providing business services, such as finance, sponsorships, digital and legal. Naturally, the question of what would happen to Frieze's existing fair in New York would come into question. But Frieze CEO Simon Fox told ARTnews that both fairs have "different audiences, different histories", which will allow each to "coexist very ...

Earlier today, Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto's giant Venus of the Rags installation in Naples was destroyed by an alleged arson attack. The artwork was first created in 1967 during the height of the Arte Povera movement, in which Pistoletto juxtaposed a statue of the Roman goddess Venus, which alludes to beauty and fertility, against a large pile of rags as a commentary on the adverse effects of consumerism. The destroyed artwork was the largest of several different iterations of Venus of the Rags that are housed in museums around the world. Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi expressed "deep dismay" at learning the artwork, which has been housed in the city's Piazza del Municipio, was set ablaze. “Now, however, is the time for a response from the city: I have already heard from Pistole...

Chicago's Kavi Gupta Gallery is showcasing a new exhibition of works by African-Canadian artist, Esmaa Mohamoud. Entitled Let Them Consume Me in the Light, the Toronto-based artist is presenting a series of sculptures that probe into what the artist calls “Black body politics”, or a web of interconnected social, historical, economic and personal connotations of Blackness — both perceived by the Black community and non-Black people alike. Cinematic in tone, Mohamoud is showcasing four paradoxical sculptures that act as monuments of nostalgia on a road towards nirvana. Perched high up the gallery is a tall peacock chair made of rattan that is named to pay homage to an actress who once towered over her contemporaries, while simultaneously dissecting darker undertones to which the original pea...

Floral artist Azuma Makoto continues to break botanical boundaries with his ethereal floral installations. In the latest iteration of his In Bloom series, Makoto has amalgamated a stunning slew of floral textures and shapes to create a vibrant sculpture that sits thousands of feet deep on the ocean floor. Carefully curated with utmost attention to detail, Makoto's deep-sea installation rests admist untamed Japanese waters, reminding us that coexistence with our natural environment is not only doable, but beautiful.The artist is no stranger to the sea floor, as the first two sculptures in the "In Bloom" series rest underwater as well, though in more peaceful ocean waters in Okinawa, Japan. Makoto intentionally selected this specific location for his latest lush arrangement, enlisting the he...

Meguru Yamaguchi, whose Awakenings series was initially introduced in Hypeart's 'NOISY REALITY' exhibition in March, has returned with a captivating new extension to the body of work. Recently showcased at Tokyo Gendai, this series delves into the mesmerizing dynamics of energy in nature, drawing inspiration from various sources.One notable influence on the series is Katsushika Hokusai's renowned masterpiece, the 36 Views of Mount Fuji, which the artist vividly remembers reproducing during his childhood. Yamaguchi skillfully incorporates elements of the sea and the rhythmic motion of waves, seeking to capture the essence of nature's powerful energy. In addition to Hokusai, Yamaguchi's artistic vision was also shaped by the works of Leonardo da Vinci. The artist combines the techniques of t...

The organizers behind Paris+ par Art Basel have announced major expansion plans for the art fair going into its second year. Commencing in October, the event will return to the Grand Palais Éphémère with a new Conversations program in six historic venues across the French capital, including a group exhibition entitled La cinquième saison (The fifth season), made in collaboration with the Louvre Museum, which will be on view at the Jardin des Tuileries. Additional venues hosting programs include the Domaine national du Louvre, the Chapelle des Petits-Augustins des Beaux-Arts de Paris, and the Place Vendôme, as well as three new entries, the parvis de l'Institut de France, the Palais d'Iéna, and the Centre Pompidou — the latter of which will play host to the newly minted Conversations progra...

The Brooklyn Museum is gearing up to host a major exhibition honoring the city's fabled son, Spike Lee. Entitled Creative Sources, the forthcoming show will present a comprehensive survey into the filmmaker's storied career through immersive installations that paint a portrait of the many people, places and over 300 objects that have inspired him along the way.Drawing from both his personal collection, along with his many critically acclaimed films, the exhibition seeks to offer a "fresh perspective on a cultural icon," according to curator Kimberli Gant. “By making Lee’s collection accessible to the public, this showcase celebrates his legacy while honoring his deep connection to Brooklyn, a place that has been an integral part of his storytelling.”The show will be anchored around seven t...