totally different head, totally

I realized recently that it has been over six months since I last posted here... But in the past six months, I have found loads of new artists to post. So. Without further preamble, allow me to share with you the ceramic work of Natalia Gruszecka, a Polish "ceramic designer" who works from her studio, ENDEsign. Of all of the work in her Etsy shop, her doll head cups are my favorite.

She says of her cups' design: "This cup was made during my work in porcelain manufacture in Poland. One day I found this warehouse full of old plaster molds, nobody used for production anymore. Among many others I found this treasure: a mold used to produce porcelain heads for dolls decades ago. I was fascinated! I decided to give them a new life…."

I also really love her slab-built cups. They're so delicate and organic (not two things I often associate with slab-built pieces).

across the universe

When these constellation and nebula-inspired paintings by Elise Mahan appeared on my Etsy Activity Feed, I knew I needed to share them with everyone I knew. Here are but a few (and some of my favorites) of her paintings.

the paper lunch bags you wish you'd had in elementary school

Loving these illustrations on paper bags of famous people (and cats) by Californian Chris Crites. I wish my paper sack lunches from elementary school had been this cool.

portraits of an artist

There is something so simple and beautiful about a portrait.
Right now, I'm loving the portrait work of Mike Piscitelli.

burned

I first saw Japanese artist Etsuko Ichikawa's work on AllSaints' website several years ago, and was instantly enamored. Using molten glass, she creates abstract images by touching the tip of the melted glass to the surface of the paper and allowing it to catch fire and burn. Extraordinary.

all sewn up

I've really been into stitched and sewn art lately, so when I discovered Lauren DiCioccio's series sewnnews and National Geographics, I was enthralled. Each piece is hand stitched with needle and thread to resemble newspaper and magazine articles, or other items/public figures of poignancy in today's society:

"My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand?"

via Colossal

second skins

On the hunt for new artist-crushes, I came across Max Colby, a Boston-based mixed media artist. From his website: "The stress of Max’s work is placed on external manifestations of identity construction as a highly performative act." He works in both 2D and 3D, but I find his mixed media sculpture series Skins for a Casual Day to be my favorites.

via Gladys.H