Note: Contains nudity. Bear Kirkpatrick is a photographer who ventures deep into the wilderness, seeking “hierophanies.” The term derives from the theories of religious historian Mircea Eliade, referring to moments when the sacred realm breaks into the profane (the material, everyday world). Kirkpatrick’s portraits feature nude figures in beautiful, tortured communion with the earth. In […]
Category: Animals
10 Artists Who Contemporize the Ancient Craft of Embroidery
Embroidery is a timeless craft that transcends cultures and geography, having been found as early as the 30,000 BC in Russia, 3500 BC in China… Although it started as a way to tailor and mend clothing, techniques were developed and opened up the possibilities for decorative stitching. As time went on, tapestries became increasingly sophisticated […]
Winter’s Requiem: New Works by Laura Makabresku
Stillness and winter’s chill permeate the newest works of Polish photographer Laura Makabresku. Describing her photos as “screenshots from beautiful but cruel fairy tales,” she often includes animals as symbols of transition and death. There is a sense of beauty, romance, and darkness that weave together to enrapture the imagination. From the woman embracing a […]
Tattoos with Moments of Splendor by Matyas Halasz
Budapest-based artist Matyas Halasz finds moments of splendor in his colorful tattoos. Inspired by the cosmos, many of his works incorporate the galaxy fused with people and animals. His subjects contain multitudes of stars, signifying that they are more than what’s on their surface—their personalities and meanings are boundless. While Halasz’s tattoos often have a […]
Energetic Ink Drawings as Tattoos by Felipe Rodrigues
Combining vibrant bursts of color with energetic lines, tattoo artist Felipe Rodrigues captures the carefree fluidity of a pen-and-ink sketch. The Brazil-based creative is inspired by quotes and music, often pairing the two on his popular Instagram. As a result, his subjects and themes are diverse, from animals and nature to religion and death. No […]
The Natural World Illustrated on Skin by Hannah Willison
Living the life of a vegan, Hannah Willison confesses she is “intrigued by our interconnection with animals & nature” and enjoys exploring themes associated with human and non-human animal consciousness. A few of her tattoos include a spiritual vegan cow and one that is “Not 4 Sale.” The animals are illustrated to resemble black pen […]
Tales of Love and Despair: Photography by Elena Helfrecht
Note: Contains nudity. The work of German photographer Elena Helfrecht is like emotional alchemy, combining dark symbols to unearth visions of beauty and despair. Inspired by the folklore and forest landscapes of Bavaria, her photos often include sylvan imagery, the moon, nude bodies, shadowed rooms, and the co-relation between life and death, dreams and awakening. […]
So PineNut’s Dark Retelling of Stories in the Bible
So PineNut is a Tokyo, Japan-based artist creating dramatic works entirely out of graphite. Inspired by the Bible, the works feature stories about Adam in the Garden of Eden, the animals of Noah’s Ark, and the famed city of Babel. PineNut’s emotionless figures engage in a dark and realistically-drawn retelling where cannibalism, sacrifice, and mutilation […]
Fish-Eyed Omens: Surreal Paintings by Hannah Faith Yata
Note: Contains nudity and sexual references. The world of Hannah Faith Yata is a psychedelic, symbolic feast. Interested in themes of feminism, environmental degradation, and morality, she produces large oil paintings of hybrid creatures in distorted worlds. Fish and fish-headed women—effectively, reverse mermaids—are recurring motifs, blurring mythology with a pained surrealism; their staring, lidless eyes […]
Phil Wilkinson Creates Dramatic Tattoos That Command Attention
Manchester-based artist Phil Wilkinson has a calligraphic flair in his expressive tattooing style. His animal subjects are crafted with chunky, angular marks, as if Wilkinson has chiseled them rather than etchings on the body. They create bold, deep lines that are dark and dramatic. It conveys a sense drama and urgency in his tattoos—the creatures command your attention […]