1. One of my current obsessions on Instagram is @fashion_for_bank_robbers. The account is curated by German-Iranian artist Carina Shoshtary, who makes wearable art and jewelry. Carina showcases the work of other artists in addition to her own creations on the account. Each post is thought-provoking and delightful, playing with form and identity.
2. I am a bookbinder. My husband creates animations for a planetarium. This Book is a Planetarium marries our interests so beautifully. This pop-up book includes 6 interactive spreads including a 3-D dome that projects constellations.
3. I’m constantly wowed by the work of Taili Wu. Her work is colorful, imaginative and filled with whimsy and humor. I particularly love her ceramic work, but her range of skill with animation is also quite engaging.
4. Alok is a fierce dresser. I am captivated by their bold choices in color, pattern and silhouettes. But more than that Alok is an inspiring figure for the LGBTQ community and how one can express themselves in ways outside of the traditional norms or expectations. Alok travels around the world, speaking about their experiences, breaking down stereotypes and just being a completely amazing person.
5. Magical Circle Variations is a body of work by sculptor Rogan Brown. In this series, Rogan makes a connection between the human microbiome and coral reefs. After extensive research, pastel-colored papers are intricately cut and arranged to mimic the equally vast and diverse habitats that make up coral reefs.
6. I’ve been a fan of Michelle Kingdom‘s work for sometime now. Her dense embroidery is so expressive and lively. Michelle paints so beautifully with thread to create a perfect balance of light and shadow within her characters as they dance across the canvas.
7. I am awestruck by the illusions make-up artist Mimi Choi is able to create on the human face. Most recently she styled Ezra Miller’s face for the Met Gala Camp in 2019. Mimi is incredibly talented and teaches her techniques at the Blanch Macdonald Centre in Vancouver.
8. A few years ago while taking a workshop at Penland, I had a chance to visit their gallery. I was wowed by the sculpture work of Kensuke Yamada. His bulbous characters are filled with emotion and delight. I love his use of color and texture. His work is really engaging and even more rewarding to see in person.
9. In this mesmerizing short, filmmaker Rus Khasanov developed a technique for capturing the seamless mixture of two or more droplets of pigment. This is done without any human intervention. The dazzling colors explode together and make new shimmering ones. It’s quite amazing to witness in his film Unity.
10. The sculpture work of Susannah Montague is alluring. Her main subject is cast from toy baby dolls and adorned with bouquets of flowers, butterflies, skulls and chains. The angelic white ceramic is sparsely decorated with splashes of gold, pale pink and blue, and black.
