Ethereal and luminous, Kevin Kopacka’s oil paintings capture a fantasy world in which shadowy forms melt into color. Kopacka finds inspiration for this surreal imagery from the literature and poetry of the Viennese Modern Age at the turn of the 20th century. He says elements of the paranormal—“ the notion of things existing that go beyond our perception”—also influence his…
Vibrant colors and patterns characterize Amy Boone-McCreesh’s 3-D installations, mixed media and paintings. A reverence for culture and rituals mark her work, which derives inspiration from “decorations, holiday celebrations and even funerary displays from around the world,” she says. According to Boone-McCreesh, “I love the idea of non-artists expressing themselves visually to mark an important moment in time.” The artist…
Playing with positive and negative forms, Tomomi Morishima creates oil impressions of space, figures and architecture before dissolving into the abstract. Vibrant colors bring a playful touch to the final canvas. “I begin to paint at first without a plan and see what happens,” he says. “At that time, it looks like a pure abstract painting, and that inspires me.”…
British artist Ian “Denimu” Berry manipulates denim to create detailed portraits and rich urban landscapes. He believes the universal familiarity of the fabric opens the doors of connection with his audience. His “painting with denim” has received international acclaim from both critics and collectors. “I am comfortable and confident wearing [denim] in my life, so I transfer that to my…
Realist painter Elsa Muñoz explores shadow and light in her oil paintings of figures, landscapes and still life. Nature and personal experiences have a large impact on her work, and her landscapes frequently portray natural disasters. “I enjoy solitude, creative thinking, and the challenge of conveying a feeling or a thought through the use of images and symbols,” she says.…
Through his oil and acrylic landscapes, Dan VanLandingham captures the vastness of space and the delicate light that inhabits it. His most recent work serves as “common ground for distressed and sublime spaces at the mercy of human encroachment,” exploring the abusive effects humans have on natural spaces. “Creating images allows me to become, simultaneously, the architect, the landscaper and…
Lauren Coulson layers acrylics, inks and dyes on canvas, fusing the mediums to create eye-catching, active imagery. She “assists with the aftermath” of mixing these mediums, molding the paint to obtain “the desired balance of chance and control.” The cosmos and natural phenomena play prominent roles in her work. “I am fascinated with everything—from the macro to the micro—and love…
Illustrator and photographer Vimal Chandran frequently travels throughout India, gathering inspiration from the country’s vibrant pop culture and social politics. The self-taught artist has been painting since childhood and became a full-time visual artist after leaving his job as a software engineer. “I wanted to do more on my own, so I thought art was the right medium to express…
This is not a photograph! It is a detail of an oil painting in progress by photo-realist John-Mark Gleadow. The image was commissioned by Thomas Sorensen, the famed goalkeeper of the English Premier League. Since 2006, Gleadow has been working on his “Bibliotheque Series,” images of book spines which viewers find hard to believe are oil paintings. Due to their…
Israeli artist Guy Ben-Ari has used his interest in “psychoanalytic theory and semiotics” to lay the groundwork for his narrative and nonfigurative paintings. His recent collection explores the technology-driven contemporary culture of image consumption, a “reality through digital media: one that is removed, distant, dissociative, and at the same time very pleasurable and in high-def,” he says. Ben-Ari received his…
