Author: Sara Barnes

10 Contemporary Embroidery Artists Carrying on the Tradition

There’s no stopping embroidery. As more people discover the traditional craft, the more that it continues to grow and change. Although many people work in traditional stitches and application techniques, their use of contemporary imagery makes the age-old practice new and modern. Sol Kesseler’s work is an example of new-school embroidery reinterpreting techniques from hundreds […]

Colorful Complexity of Coral Reefs Recreated in Paper by Mlle Hipolyte

The colorful diversity of coral reefs lend themselves well to paper craft. Artist mlle Hipolyte has folded, rolled, and fringed the material into a variety of underwater-inspired forms for her work titled “Coralium.” Together, they comprise a two meter by one-meter piece; contained by a wooden frame, it’s as if we’re happening upon a living […]

Ceramics at the Intersection of Toys and Sculpture by Luciano Polverigiani

Artist Luciano Polverigiani crafts colorful characters that are at the intersection between toy and sculpture. The quirky figurines don exaggerated features that are appealing to kids but carry adult themes—such as the creature with a large spiky tail that it carries like an albatross. To produce these earthy-colored sculptures, he uses a variety of clay […]

Suzanna Scott Turns Coin Purses into Symbols of Female Empowerment

Artist Suzanna Scott reconstructs everyday objects as powerful comments on gender and equality. Her most prominent is an ongoing series of works called “Coin Cunts,” in which coin purses are turned inside out and sewn to form colorful representations of female genitalia. “In our new reality of untruths and the resurgence of misogynistic and racist […]

Complex Creatures Crafted Out of Balloons by Masayoshi Matsumoto

Balloon art is a common sight at children’s birthday parties, but artist Masayoshi Matsumoto has elevated the practice with his complex sculptures. Using only balloons—no markers, adhesives, or other sealants—he crafts creatures large and small and doesn’t limit himself to a particular size or species. While all are impressive, the bulbous forms lend themselves well […]

Tiny Microcosms Set in “Stone” Sculptures by Song Kang

Artist Song Kang imagines tiny microcosms in stone. In her series aptly-titled “Carved in Stone,” she fuses architectural structures onto and into “rocks” (using materials such as reed, plaster, foam, and paper mache). The bridges, stonework, and intricate wooden Cathedral-style windows follow the curves and forms of the rocks themselves and appear distorted in their […]

A Tattooed Twist on Fantastical Tales by Kati Berinkey

Combining elements of portraiture and fairy tales, Porto-based artist Kati Berinkey tattoos striking busts of women in vibrant, candy-colored hues. They have a sense of movement about them, with tiny lines that convey three-dimensionality. These characters often appear as modern day renditions of classic stories like that of Adam of Eve and Little Red Riding […]

Winston the Whale Keeps It Weird by Inking Trippy Tattoo Designs

Portland-based artist Winston the Whale, aka Dave, went viral a couple of years ago with his anaglyph 3D tattoos. Since then, he’s continued to grow from his simple (and visually vibrating) blue and red linework; his new designs are colorful and have a 1960s and 1970s-inspired aesthetic—even some influences from the Memphis Design era as well. […]