Following up my previous post on the work of Aaron Smith I interviewed Aaron for the 2nd issue of the “Class of its own” magazine published in June. You can read the interview here or in the magazine… that can be found at very selected hotels and stores throughout the globe. Continue reading

Interview with Aaron Smith

01. Aaron Smith01. Aaron Smith

 
 

New Yorker Jennifer Rubell has recently gained a lot of well-deserved recognition for her food-related art installations exhibited at various renowned art institutions in the United States. The culmination of this was the smashing of a huge piñata in the shape of Andy Warhol’s head at the Brooklyn Museum’s gala. Continue reading

Jennifer Rubell

01. Jennifer Rubell01. Jennifer Rubell

 
 

One of my favorite recent artist discoveries is californian art professor Aaron Smith. His bold brush work is of sculptural quality. The thickness of paint that he applies adds a unique dimension to his interpretation of the – almost Edwardian – subjects in his portraits.

Aaron also runs an impressive array of blogs and tumblrs, sharing his sources of inspiration as well as giving the viewer an insight into his working process. A lot of his inspiration derives from the old masters. Besides the obvious, like Caravaggio, Aaron also regards Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler as a major influence on his work, which of course gives him some extra credits in my “patriotic” book.…

Bold Strokes

01. Aaron Smith – Chippy01. Aaron Smith – Chippy

 
 

During a recent visit to the Berlin art fairs I discovered the work of Selene Kimball.

It was the beauty of her collage work that instantly caught my eye. Even though Selena is active in various genres of fine art, it is in my opinion that body of her work where she excels.

Her collage is based on archival documents, beautiful prints found in historic books which she cunningly cuts apart in order to reassemble and create her own interpretation of historical scenes or events. The craftsmanship of the original print, that special quality of aged paper and her skills of cutting and reassembling form a perfect union.

In her own voice:
“My work …

Selena Kimball

Selena Kimball01. Selena Kimball - The Inferno (Detail)

 
 

Since his childhood, Nicola‘s main fascination had been and remained with the baroque works of the old masters. In addition to the professors at the Accademia di Bologna, which he would attend for five years, they were the ones to teach him the finer secrets of sculpture and painting.

While Samorì‘s painting skills could easily compete with those of the old masters, it was the unique artistic violence he applied to his work, which was to earn him a spot at the Venice Biennale, as well as recognition and exhibitions all over Europe. Samorì overpaints, draws or scrapes what appears to you as a perfect baroque painting. He goes further and uses a scalpel to …

Nicola Samorì

01. Nicola Samorì01. Nicola Samorì