Artist of the Week: Yngve Holen

[Image courtesy of strangeteaching.info]

It's been awhile since I've been able to write an Artist of the Week post, but I promise that they're back to stay! To christen this lovely Friday afternoon and the beginning to more featured artists, here's a quick profile on German artist Yngve Holen.

As a Berlin-based artist, Holen works primarily with sculptures and collaborations of large scale trinkets. As a contributor to the genre of modern art, he puts his own twist on his creations, whatever they may be.

[Image courtesy of http://s3.amazonaws.com/contemporaryartgroup/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/110718_Leighton_026.jpg]

From his work, it is clear to see that Holen has an interest in aviation. Compilations of airplane models with holographic "sheets" skimming the top of them make up just a few of his pieces. However, he makes them his own by sometimes placing them on obscure objects, such as washing machines (as seen in the second image pictured below).

 

 [Image courtesy of taboofart.com]

[Image courtesy of www.frieze.com]

To learn more about Holen and his exquisite designs, check out his profile at www.johanberggren.com to view some of his exhibitions and further work that he has produced.  

Artist of the Week: Jenny Holzer

Happy Sunday! I didn't realize how long it had been since I last made an Artist of the Week post. My apologies!

If I'm not mistaken, I think that I posted my last artist feature on Christmas Day. (Whoops!) No worries, they're back again with this week's artist, Jenny Holzer.

(Side note: I would have chosen a better picture of Holzer to include, but copyright infringement prevented me from doing so. *Sigh*)

As a neo-conceptual American artist, Holzer's creations are fueled by political and social movements of her time. Working and living in Hoosick Falls, New York, she has also been a prominent voice among the artists for feminism.

Holzer, now 65-years old, has incorporated the usage of projection and electric lights in her art work over the years. Each piece, as simple as the words may be, entails deeper and vivid concepts for the viewer to grasp.

The large-scale artist initially started her work by leaving paintings and script around the city of Manhattan. Eventually, that led her to begin to create billboard pieces and the building projections, where her career really took off. Holzer has also put some of her pieces on vehicles, as pictured below.

 

To learn more about Holzer and to view some of her most cherished and powerful work, visit her website at projects.jennyholzer.com.

Artist of the Week: Artie Vierkant

It's that time of week again, and just in time for Christmas! Through the madness that has ensued in my life in preparation of the busy holiday, I managed to come across another new artist: Artie Vierkant.

 Although I only recently noticed Vierkrant this past week, I find his style of art to be fascinating. Each piece seems to tell a different story through vibrant colors in his distinguished sculptures and exhibit displays.

The shades and hues that make up each work of art add to the overall attraction. Different color schemes and layouts keep the eyes going back for even more to see. From spray-paint patterns to geometric designs, each piece has its own unique flair. 

Aside from capturing different paths of light and prisms of color, Vierkant uses his art to create puzzle-like pieces out of realistic images. While he still seems to use vibrancy in the majority of his creations, he still has a solid grasp on the concept of using both gray-scale and the idea of realistic imagery.

From what I've seen, I admire Vierkant's media and ideas. While his website might not have much information to offer, it still has a good amount of his art on display that can be viewed here.

Happy holidays!

Artist of the Week: Kerstin Brätsch

With the chaos of my first semester of my sophomore year in college coming to an end and the holidays in full gear, I've finally managed to find some time to sit at my computer screen and compose my thoughts (and myself) together. This week, I thought that I would feature German painter Kerstin Brätsch.

Brätsch is someone that I have only recently come across. Regardless, that doesn't prevent some of her pieces from being among my top favorites already. The young artist has already become a big part of the art world, with some of her pieces featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

To say that her work is eye-catching would be an understatement. Her art has so much emotion and volition put into it that you can see it by a mere glance. With every stroke of paint, there is a deeper meaning just beyond the eye's grasp. Unlike other artists, Brätsch's pieces differ in color schemes, patterns, and general themes. While her work remains abstract, she tends to incorporate various styles and themes throughout her creations.

I can honestly say that I am more than thankful for coming across such a creative soul. With every untamed line and splotch of color, each piece is just as good as the next (if not better).

Artist of the Week: Charmaine Olivia

This week's artist is someone who I'm actually surprised that I haven't mentioned earlier. I first started following Charmaine Olivia on Instagram (@charmaineolivia) about a year ago and have been keeping up with her exquisite work ever since.

I have been a huge fan of the oil painter for quite some time now. The way that she is able to bring such vibrant colors together in the most elegant way possible is a talent that I envy greatly.

 

While Charmaine Olivia primarily paints portraits of other people, she does occasionally add her own twist to items and figures found in the everyday world around us.

As I mentioned earlier, she has a keen sense for painting delicate portraits of many different people, especially pop culture icons like Marilyn Monroe, who is used in quite a few. Other famous muses used include two of my favorite celebrities: Johnny Depp and Lana Del Rey.

Hands down, Charmaine Olivia is one artist that I highly favor in today's day and age. If you like what you see, take a look at her pristine website www.charmaineolivia.com to peek at her gallery, follow her on social media and potentially purchase some paintings.

 

Artist of the Week: Lawrence Weiner

In search of a new artist to showcase this week (and also to peak my personal interest), I came across Lawrence Weiner. With a bit of a different style, the New York resident expresses his creativity through typography.

 

Using different fonts and phrases to cover the walls of his exhibitions, Weiner allows a person to read and comprehend what they are seeing, rather than absorbing a visual image into their mind.

Up until today, I have never really discussed my interest in typography. I have been interested in the art form for quite some time now, and I could not be more thrilled that I came across Weiner to share in this post. The phrases and words that he strings together, combined with simple color here and there, have so much more meaning than there appears to be. 

I actually found it incredibly difficult to pick just a few pictures that I wanted to attach to this post. I saved about twenty files before realizing it might be a bit excessive to add them all. (But really, is there such a thing as excess in the world of art?)

 

Perhaps the most crucial lesson that Weiner represents in his art, is that there is no limit to artistic expression.

Artist of the Week: Veron Ennis

Better late than never, right? For this week's featured artist, I decided to go with someone who really knows how to use color and an open mind in her work. Floridian artist Veron Ennis expresses herself through abstract creations with vibrant tones.

With an ever-changing color palette comes endless possibilities. Ennis proves this to be true with her usage of different shapes and designed accompanied by popping color schemes. The artist primarily works with flat paintings and cubes. The wooden cubes that she paints unfold to reveal eye-catching composition.

 

I have been posting these weekly artist profiles for a while now, which means that I have been able to write about and discover new artists along the way. I only recently came across Ennis, but I am finding it easier and easier to say that she has quickly become one of my own personal favorites.

 

The simplistic designs and beautiful gestures never fail to captivate my attention. There is something so intricate in each and every one of Ennis's abstract pieces that leaves me feeling so serene each and every time.  

Artist of the Week: Zio Ziegler

Last week, my sister was taking a look at my blog and suggested an artist for this week. She introduced me to West Coast artist Zio Ziegler, and I'm super excited that she did.

Ziegler's abstract lines and shapes come together to make phenomenal creations. By using both black and white paint as well as color, he is able to showcase his talents in an imaginative way. Ziegler typically does graffiti murals on buildings, which are splattered over the San Francisco area.

 In fact, Ziegler's work is so impressive that he has designed his own line of Vans shoes that are
colorfully and intricately created. He also decorates vehicles with paint at times.

 

(To be honest, I think the only reason my sister mentioned Ziegler's name is because she likes to think she is the biggest fan of Vans.)

Regardless, I'm thrilled that I get to start following Ziegler and his work now that I know about him, and that I get to share him with those of you who might not have known about him before reading this! 

 Here's a look at my favorite Ziegler creation to wrap things up. Stay tuned for next week's author!

Artist of the Week: Alexey Adonin

As I sat in a coffee shop earlier this week thinking of a new artist that I could highlight this week, I came across artist Alexey Adonin. I was immediately awestruck at the way that Adonin uses his pieces to allow the viewer to see what they want to see. His images take on a life of their own from what he is able to envision, and the results are nothing short of extraordinary.

From Jersusalem, Israel, Adonin uses his incredible painting talents to captivate the eyes of anyone who views his work. His art is truly mesmerizing through every oil paint stroke on canvas he makes. The varying hues and undertones present in his pieces makes it easy to stare at for a rather long time. With nothing too vibrant or too soft, his palette conveys the perfect color scheme in his pieces. Each color works together to make something so intricately beautiful and unique.

From what I've seen in his work, Adonin creates an escape from reality in his abstract techniques. I can't help but create stories in my mind and imagine different things from what Adonin is able to bring to life.

To learn more about Adonin and to see more of his striking work, visit http://www.saatchiart.com/adonin.