If you’re an art nerd like me, then at any time you might have a handful of artists bouncing around in your brain, sparking your creativity and keeping your interest in art alive. So here’s to my fellow aspiring artists out there — my list of six contemporary artists I’ve been gushing about lately. Grab your easels and get ready to make some art!
1. Cayce Zavaglia
Imagine the patience, the headaches, the pricked fingers that went into making these pieces of art, and Zavaglia’s works only get more impressive. It’s time to rethink embroidery floss — instead of making those friendship bracelets that no one wears anyway, try spicing it up a bit and using it as a faux-paint!
See the whole picture at caycezavaglia.com.
2. Barbara Kruger
Do monochromatic color schemes make you feel warm and fuzzy all over? Do you love provocative text that can be borderline offensive to some people? Check out Barbara Kruger. She’s got it all. The photography is skillfully taken, the text carefully thought-out and boldly plastered on — it’s like Snapchat, but professional!
3. Brooke Shaden
Okay, I understand that physics is confusing, but this is just ridiculous. There is some magic (or just some high-tech equipment) going into Shaden’s works that they’re not telling us about.
Grab your camera, hit up your nearest friend, and throw together a photoshoot if you want, but don’t expect to get the same results on the first try — there is clear dedication and experience that goes into these photos that the beginner can only dream of. Kudos, Brooke Shaden.
See more physics-defying art at brookeshaden.com.
4. Kara Walker
Drawing on her heritage and history, Kara Walker’s pieces focus on stories of racism and violence. Plastering the walls of the galleries they grace, Walker’s silhouettes boldly and fearlessly tell honest and sometimes gruesome stories. These may seem like your average silhouettes, but there are often secrets hidden in the images — look closely below, and you’ll find an extra pair of legs under the lady’s skirt.
5. Jess Dobkin
Unfortunately, it is hard to portray the magnanimousness of Dobkin’s work in an article — she is a performance artist, loud and proud, appearing on stages and often in video works on her website. Comical, somewhat lewd and always entertaining, Dobkin’s works contain feminist undertones (Meninists, warning, you may be uncomfortable viewing this art) that comment on social issues and make you laugh, too.
Watch her stuff at jessdobkin.com.
6. Gabriela Tylesova
My current art crush. My dreams. My goals. Illustrator and designer Tylesova has stolen my heart and my waking thoughts through their detailed illustrations, fantastical characters and — hold up.
She makes costumes, too? As designer for the Australian Ballet’s "Sleeping Beauty," Tylesova’s tutus and dresses stole the spotlight on stage with intricate perfection and dazzling attention to detail. As my friend would say, “I aspire.”
Check out more at gabrielatylesova.com.
