It’s not often that we get to watch an artwork come to life, but Helena Wurzel made that magic happen. For today’s Artist Spotlight, Wurzel’s walking us through the creation of her painting Garden Shadow—with pics galore! We strung those pics together in the gif above for a play-by-play of her process, and it’s pretty mesmerizing. Read more about what went into the final painting below. (And if you’re wondering why you recognize the image, it’s because Wurzel lent it to us...

Weekend food for thought: Beauty isn’t frivolous. It’s not a luxury, but rather a restorative force, a way to reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. That’s the idea that inspired Marcy Palmer’s recent photographic project You Are Eternity, which she describes as “an antidote for personal and political crisis”. And if that sounds like the medicine you’re desperately in need of these days, a) we’re right there with you and b) we’ve got an art...

Martha Rich's floor design for Mural Arts' Space Pads project to encourage social distancing Martha Rich is our kind of rabble rouser, channeling her acerbic wit and aesthetic talent into happy-making art and do-gooder deeds. And she’s one productive sparkplug! Rich has kept the art coming from her quarantine hub. The projects she’s poured herself into are absolute eye candy, but they’re also reminders of art’s crucial role in public communication. For instance, a hot pink social distancing...

There’s a picture of Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. next to “idiosyncratic” in the dictionary. Or is it “irreverent”? Heck, he probably appears in a few places—he’s got personality to spare. Known for his signature overalls and provocative edge, the proprietor of KennedyPrints! is well-versed in writing his own rules. We got better acquainted with his work through the 2008 documentary, Proceed and Be Bold!. Then we had the pleasure of working with him a couple years back to commemorate 10 years of...

From Kindah Khalidy's solo show Soft Serve at Chandran Gallery The urge to hibernate starts to hit hard this time of year, but before you impulse purchase footie pajamas let us point out something that always wakes us up: Kindah Khalidy’s riotous artwork. Khalidy’s sumptuous swirls, drips, blocks, curves, curled lines, layers, and luscious hues are all we need to power through a gray day. Her quirky, abstract shapes and characteristically prismatic palette ping-pong off each...

This week we finally made it to the New York Public Library to see Blue Prints. Pro tip: don’t sleep on this exhibition! It features the work of pioneering photographer and scientist Anna Atkins, tapping into over a decade of research and showing off the abiding beauty of Atkins’ cyanotype images. We could talk a blue streak (get it?) about this beautiful exhibition, but the thing we’re most keen to call out is that it’s closing...

Listen—with headphones, in the dark—to Pete Mauney at work on his incredible firefly photographs on these two episodes of Spinning on Air.Morning people get all the props, but this Artist Spotlight is dedicated to the night owls among us. Daylight is dwindling as we work our way toward winter solstice. Why not use this opportunity to delight in the dark? Our 20x200 take on the topic is more magic and meditation than things-that-go-bump, and we’ve...

Carolyn Castaño's piece, Heroine (After Policarpa Salavarrieta Jose Maria Espinosa), featured in her most recent solo show at Laband Art Gallery. Summer is Carolyn Castaño’s season. We’re saying that partly because the LA-based visual artist’s bright, passionate color palettes and energetic compositions feel warm-weather apropos, ebullient like a newly opened summer bloom. But we’re also saying that because we know Castaño was looking forward to the summer months and finally having more time to spend...