With a Collectors’ VIP Opening Night that hosted more than 2,500 attendees, it’s clear that people were excited about the return of San Diego’s most anticipated contemporary art event. As expected, Art San Diego offered art aficionados and collectors an unparalleled opportunity to explore, experience, experiment, and discover.

Whether you were there and want to relive the highlights with us or you couldn’t make it this year and want to excited about next year’s show, read on for a recap of Art San Diego 2023.

ACCESS TO ART PROGRAM

Through Access to Art, Art San Diego, in partnership with UBS Financial Services, works with selected charities and those they serve to share opportunities in art, design, business development, and more. Art San Diego’s 2023 Access to Art partners were Monarch School, Humble Design, and ARTS DISTRICT istrict.

With their Hide and Seek: A Surrealistic Celebration of Colors and Dreams themed booth, Monarch students in collaboration with Liberty Station ARTS District artists and Humble Design showcased and sold their artwork to more than 70 appreciative attendees. Check out the Access to Art video to see an overview of the collaboration of this amazing program.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Art San Diego’s acclaimed programming once again caught the attention of fairgoers and media alike.

The Spotlight Program provided collectors with a focused look at several galleries and prominent artists who created a site-specific exhibition. Spotlight Program recipients for 2023 included:

• Alessandra Silvaberg Studio
• Carol Hartman
• Edna Oar Young
• Henry Blond
• Julia C R Gray

The [LOCAL TALENT] program’s recipients Jann Nunn, Chakib Bouhdary, Ann Golumbuk, and Yahel Yan also had a success weekend. Funded by Art San Diego and Presenting Sponsor UBS Financial Services, in partnership with the ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station and the NTC Foundation, [LOCAL TALENT] is intended to amplify and support San Diego’s visual arts community.

TOP SALES

With thousands of guests pouring in throughout the weekend, Art San Diego exhibitors reported strong sales. Here’s a sampling of some of this year’s top sales:

• Access to Art featured the Monarch School Art Program and sold 98 student artworks, including original paintings and sculptures, coasters, pins, buttons and pillowcases. In addition, the large LOVE collaborative piece was sold for $2,500. In total, just under $8,500 of artwork sold for this worthy community program.
• Mary Johnston sold multiple pieces from her Squares Collection including Trees in Green
• Jen Tough Gallery sold works by artists Alissa Van Atta, Dotti Cichon, Maureen Farrell, Danielle Krysa, L. BaLoMbiNi, Lauren Bencivengo, and Berenice L.
• Laura Ortiz Vega placed Van I
• Ivan Pahomov sold Transformation, a 60″ x 40″original for $2,500
• Ann Golumbuk [LOCAL TALENT] artist placed several pieces including Bad Ass Stick and Love Sex and Rock & Roll and took a commission
• Chakib Bouhdary [LOCAL TALENT] artist placed one of his Multi Modern Chess Boards
• Jann Nunn, another of the [LOCAL TALENT] artists placed 5 of her wall sculptures at $2,050 each, including Karma #5, Chameleon #6, Mystic #8 , Laguna #7, and Sun Ray #3 
• sister + sister: The Butterfly Effect special Art Lab sold several of the special installation pieces including a Lilies Sculpture, a Large Nest, and a Medium Nest
• Julia C R Gray placed several of her ceramic sculptures, including Coral She (23 Spotted Blue), 5” She Mini (Power Turquoise), and 5” She Mini (Charcoal, Nebula Blue) 
• Kate Taylor sold multiple pieces, including Daybreak, Day Sunny Days, Field at Night, Dreamy Days, The Deep, Garden Vista, Cool Waters, From the Bottom, Aquatic Dreams, and Ryans Tranquility
• Carol Hartman sold several of her 12″ x 12″ originals
• Ana Magazlon placed Cherry Blossom 
• Benjamin Rinenbach placed six of his 12″ x 12″ pieces in addition to 4 Minutes at Cabrillo
• Joux Art sold two of Andrew Mack’s pieces including New Journey and Rejuvenation Time
• Anne Kullaf sold Torrey Pines, a 36″ x 36″ piece for $7,500
• Scout Dunbar placed Pony, a 30″ x 30″ original, plus six Pony 16″ x 16″ drawings at $575 each, Rocking Horse, Audubon Fish Drawing, Coral Study, and San Antonio Cooking Class, a 20″ x 20″ at $2,200
• Dana Swedo Bernal placed three of her 24″ x 24″ pieces Blue Sea Glass, Green Sea Glass, Sea Breeze at $1,000 each
• Mecenavie placed Valentin Perrault’s Portrait among others
• Stephen Robeck placed Strata in the Clouds, Strata in the Water, and Strata 4
• Teresa Ferrari placed Mermaid for $1,500
• Pond Gallery’s Jia Lu placed Afterglow, Traversal, Traveler, Crossing Flames, Let It Go, and Sunday Afternoon, each at $2,000
• Mariah Morrell placed Valentina Bottle Print and Cholula Bottle
• Thomas Elias Lockhart III placed The Standard, Cotton Bowl, Power Players, BTBTTOFC, From Cotton to Roses, Eyes Don’t Lie, and Hord of S, in addition to four calendars and three posters
• Gia Chikuaidze sold Exotic Tea at $3,200
• Magz Yang sold several of her prints, plus Thank You For Golfing with Us, American Fuckery, and Stay Sexy
• Lennon Art Collection sold multiple pieces of John Lennon Art, including Working Class Hero, The City inn My Heart, A Cat Climbing, and Forever Love
• Troy Oglesbee Art’s ocean scenes were popular and he placed several Harvest Moon prints, plus Maui Blush, Calm Before the Storm, Pico Cove II, and Calm Before the Storm
• Lisa E. sold Biome 1, 2, 3, Desert Blush, Autumn Crush, and four Faces by Miche
• Sihyeon Park sold Ilwolobongdo-CA-2, a 24″ x 20″ original at $2,500
• George C. Falelo sold multiple of his Floral Expressions at various sizes for $175, $400, and $450 respectively
• Shelley Zentner placed The Dreaming, a 18″ x 18″ original at $2,800
• Sarah Stieber’s colorful works were a hit and she placed Monarch, Love & Let Go, Painting Happiness, Kismet, Evolve Study, Love & Let Go Study, After the Concert, Complimentary, Finding Center Study, and took a commission
• Walter Redondo placed Joined Experiences, a 49.5″ x 61.5″ original at $10,000
• Artavita / World Wide Art sold Marilyn Maxwell’s Rowdy, a 20″ x 30″ original at $2,000; Pham An Hai’s Obsess at $15,000; Olivia Kapoor’s Star Stump at $2,500, Elisabet Engqvist’s The Poppy Field, a 13″ x 9″ at $900; ClauDio’s Tropical 1; and Wendy Cohen’s Passion Play, among others
• Raphael Delgado placed Well Guarded at $3,000 and Portrait of a Girl with Magenta Hair at $3,500

Still thinking about one of your favorite pieces from the show? Find the exhibitor in our Art Gallery and connect to see if it is still available. Who knows—you may find more than one that’s perfect for your collection!

AWARD WINNERS

While fairgoers shopped the aisles of great art, artists and galleries received special honors as we handed out this year’s Art San Diego Awards. Here are this year’s winners:

• INTERNATIONAL: Kate Taylor and Mina Arts
• BOOTH DESIGN: Katie Crown and Latchezar Contemporary
• DIRECTORS AWARD: sister + sister: The Butterfly Effect and Artavita/World Wide Art
• SCULPTURE AWARD: Willi Baptiste Palanza and Julia C R Gray
• BEST NEW EXHIBITOR: Arendt Graphics and Dr. Thomas Elias Lockhart III
• EXCELLENCE AWARD: Sihyeon Park
• SOLO AWARD: Benjamin Rinenbach and Lisa E.

Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors for their generosity and to everyone who attended the show. Our success was because of you! Until next year, make sure to follow Art San Diego on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes shots.

We’ll be looking forward to seeing you again for Art San Diego 2024, November 1—3 at the San Diego Convention Center.

The post That’s A Wrap: Highlights of Art San Diego 2023 appeared first on Art Business News.

Taking place at the beautiful Santa Fe Community Convention Center in the heart of the city, Art Santa Fe welcomes its esteemed exhibitors and attendees to a beautiful gallery-style venue. Artists from around the world will be exhibiting at Redwood Art Group’s Art Santa Fe fair this July during Santa Fe Art Week.

Here are nine artists to watch during this year’s fair! Get to know the talented group below.

Shan Ogdemli

“I believe there are unseen patterns and structures that exist in multiple dimensions across the multiverse, surrounding, connecting, and influencing everything in the material and non-material realms. My aim as an artist is to capture the essence of those unseen structures and bring them forth into the visible physical world in the form of colors, patterns, and images.

I’m inspired by light and color, Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos, patterns from biology, geometry, astronomy, physics, quantum physics, metaphysics, and the interconnectedness of all things. I’m intrigued by the mathematics behind the patterns and structures of living organisms, by the way the vibrational frequencies of sound can translate into visual structures, by the way the frequencies of spinning electrons create color, and how color in turn emanates vibrational frequencies, by the mysteries of quantum physics, the mysteries of space-time and the mystery and wonder of life.

My acrylic paintings incorporate diatomaceous earth with gel mediums to create heavily textured surfaces with expressive brush strokes that add movement and energy. I make my own brushes out of dust broom straw to achieve the directional textures. Color and the vibrational and emotional effect it has on the viewer is an important part of my work, with color harmonies meticulously built from several layers of translucent and opaque paint. The full effect of the color vibrations and energy emanating from my paintings are best appreciated in person.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR WORK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK?

A: I have always been able to achieve my goals despite life’s many obstacles and hurdles – through intense focus, perseverance, and hard work. I set high standards for myself, don’t give up easily, and am not afraid to take chances. Those qualities have been both a blessing and a curse throughout my life as sometimes you do need to know when to give up and taking chances doesn’t always turn out well. But those same qualities serve me well in my art practice, allowing me to expand my artistic range, finish even the most challenging projects, finish them well, and put in the hard work needed to make a living as an artist.

Q: WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?

A: Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Rothko, Georgia O’Keeffe, Yaakov Agam, Victor Vasarely and the Psychedelic and Op Art movements of the ’60s and 70’s.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

A: That is a hard one. I really have not gotten great advice. Most of the advice has been against following my heart. But if I were to give advice to a young person it would be to follow your heart, no matter what anyone else tells you. Your heart knows where you need to be and what you need to do in life to be happy and fulfilled. You just need to quiet your mind enough to hear what your heart is saying.

Q: WHAT DOES EXHIBITING AT ART SANTA FE 23 MEAN TO YOU?

A: I am thrilled to exhibit at Art Santa Fe 2023! It means having a chance to show my art to the sophisticated art community of Santa Fe, as well as from all over! I love that it is the only contemporary art show in Santa Fe, as my art is very contemporary. I love that it attracts art collectors, art enthusiasts, interior designers, art consultants, gallery owners, and other professionals from everywhere, including from Santa Fe.

Stacy Nixon

Stacy’s award-winning work has been shown consistently in some of the region’s most noteworthy exhibitions and venues, has been recognized by multiple artists in residence programs throughout the country, and can be found in private collections and illustrated publications around the world.

She has a deep desire to illuminate the connections between the conscious mind and the unconscious landscape of possibility, with lots of beauty on the side. Connection to history, story, myth, and magic is always present, waiting to be discovered.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR WORK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK?

A: I feel that to be successful in any business there needs to be a willingness to commit to all aspects of the vision. I would love to paint 90% of my time in the studio but that is often not the reality. Creative actions are always balanced by administrative actions. That being said when the Muse does visit- you listen!

Q: WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?

A: I am currently inspired by Mimmo Palladino, his simplicity of form and color sense are timeless. Deloss McGraw is also a real inspiration, the looseness in his work and the naivety applied to deep subjects is so beautiful.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

A: The best advice I have received is “Ready, Shoot, Aim”, which at first seems mad. The idea is that you broadcast a wide net, see what makes a connection, and then narrow the focus.

Q: WHAT DOES EXHIBITING AT ART SANTA FE 23 MEAN TO YOU?

A: I am looking forward to exhibiting at Art Santa Fe because it is my home town! Santa Fe is such a special place to be an artist and I look forward to connecting with even more wonderful people in the arts and art patrons at our event.

The Nick Haus

“I create because it allows me to live fully, it affords me a way to address unarticulated feelings and ideas. For me, painting becomes an intimate conversation with the canvas, brush, and paint. I prefer to paint with Acrylics, using movement and color to express the emotion and content of the work. I use fast strokes, allowing the brush and the emerging feeling of the composition to guide my progress. I approach works without preconceptions of structure but with a sense of something needing to be expressed. I think of my style as abstract expressionism, and although I have many influences, I think I’m most influenced by Freida Kahlo, and Jackson Pollock-probably more in their energy, need to create, and to regulate emotion through art rather than a specific style. Art has always been a crucial part of my life and continues to act as my sanctuary to cope with the painful trauma and remarkable beauty of life.

I hope all this is what my art communicates to others, and I hope to accomplish a greater interconnection to myself and an emotional connection with others thru my works. It feels bigger than me, and this nurtures my sense of being and my identity as a person and an artist.”

Those who love Abstract Art and bold colors would be great admirers of the works of Nick Haus. After all, she’s an Abstract Expressionist who grew up in West Texas influenced by the Marfa art scene.

But Nick Haus is more than just an artist who specializes in the creation of vibrant abstract paintings. The Nick Haus has been an art educator for the last 23 years.

Previously, she taught at a residential treatment center for at-risk youth from 2000-2020. She is currently working at a Classical Academy where she teaches art to K-8 grade. She has extensive experience in art education and working with students of various ages.

For her education, The Nick Haus studied at Sul Ross State University where she earned a BFA, MA specializing in Art.

Inevitably, The Nick Haus began focusing more on launching her career as a professional Artist in 2019. This journey started with experimenting with various mediums and subject matter, this is where she found herself continuously returning to abstract art. The Nick Haus found that through her abstract works, she was able to convey unarticulated feelings and ideas through her lines, color, and movement.

Since she launched her Art career, she has continued to paint and has worked on private commissions, and continues to take part in group exhibitions.

Vicki Todd

Hailing from Happy, Texas (the Town Without a Frown), Vicki Todd is a largely self-taught artist. Her fascination with art began in her Grandmother’s china shop and painting classes taught in her home attic. Todd’s Grandmother encouraged her to sit in during the classes and paint china pieces along with the adult students. At the age of 6, Todd announced that she wanted to be an artist during the question-and-answer portion of the Little Miss Happy beauty contest, which she participated in and won – a  memory she recalls through her mother’s telling of the story. However, art became a part-time hobby pushed to life’s back burner.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR WORK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK?

A: I call myself a memoir artist because whatever is happening in my life makes its way into my art. This practice began when I transitioned from a nonworking wife in a failing marriage, who lost a baby I knew I was not meant to conceive, into a university professor, after going back to school to earn a doctorate degree to teach public relations. During this tumultuous time, I began painting expressive female portraits to convey my feelings of anxiety, fear, hope, and determination. After teaching for 17 years, the call to pursue my love of art prompted me to resign from my tenured professor position at the age of 50 and focus on creating art full-time. This leap allowed me to write and perform a one-woman show called Shine Happy Shine!, for which I created 30 body print paintings and seven paper mache fairytale masks. I used the play format as an evolving art exhibit that urges viewers to follow their heart’s whispers, rather than society’s shouts of what is expected. In 2018, I took the plunge into clay and began sculpting female figures that include flowering vine motifs, which symbolize evolution, self-growth, and transformation. My hope is that my artwork in all its forms gives others joy, strength, and resilience, and inspires them to probe their own dreams.

Q: WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?

A: I took a class from Kristine Poole, a sculptor in Santa Fe, who transformed my practice as an emerging artist/sculptor. She taught the class how to build a female nude at 60 to 75 percent life-sized. Learning to sculpt larger figures has prompted me to not only increase the size of my work but also explore more challenging body postures and expressive hand and foot gestures. Seeing her uber-realistic nude figures in striking poses has helped me to think more expansively when crafting my own sculptures.

I recently viewed an exhibit by another Santa Fe sculptor, Clea Carlsen. The extreme detail that she hand-builds into her sculptures’ coiled hair and sometimes deconstructed body parts inspires me to push the limits of what flourishes can be successfully added to a sculpture.

I love the bold colors, magnitude, and immersive quality of Niki de Saint Phalle’s sculptures and installations, which is a possibility I would like to explore in the future.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

A: Two separate mentors told me: “Onward and upward!” and “Don’t look at the mountain. Focus on one rock at a time.” These sayings help me when preparing for a large exhibit, such as Art Santa Fe, but also on a daily basis when I might feel a little stuck and need to keep my art flowing forward.

Q: WHAT DOES EXHIBITING AT ART SANTA FE 23 MEAN TO YOU?

A: After teaching public relations at the university level for 17 years, I evolved through the novice-proficient-expert scale. Upon quitting my tenured professor position, I once again became a floundering beginner trying to find my footing as an artist. Being accepted to exhibit at Art Santa Fe as an emerging artist in the SOLO Pavilion gives me a sense of validation that I am on the right track once again. I look forward to connecting with galleries and collectors and welcoming new open doors of opportunity through this dynamic art experience.

Victoria Veedell

“Places have a memory, a history, a feeling that we connect with. These memories, like faint echoes, are revealed as light moves across the landscape, transforming the color and texture of a place. It is these moments and experiences that I capture in my atmospheric landscape paintings.

My fascination with the landscape stems more from an interest in exploring our primal connection to the land rather than a focus purely on the aesthetics of a place. My paintings trace the effect light has on a location, how it leaves its mark on the landscape, and how it illuminates the essence of nature–creating different moods, transforming a scene, drawing us in, focusing our gaze, changing the temperature physically and emotionally, and capturing movement. Combined, these elements relay the feeling and memories of a place. My paintings are a snapshot of a particular moment in time. Recording these moments is an act of resistance documenting places that are threatened by increased urbanization and catastrophic climate change. They are a call to preserve these places and a reminder of the important symbiotic relationship that we have with nature.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR WORK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK?

A: I have a very strong work ethic and take my practice seriously. I am a full time painter and keep regular 10-5 studio hours. This helps me stay focused and create the paintings I want to make. Travel is an important component in my work. I attend artist residencies regularly so that I can explore a place for an extended amount of time while being able to paint and record my experiences straight away. I am a prolific painter and feel like there always more to learn in painting. Nature supplies endless inspiration.

Q: WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?

A: Wolf Kahn, Joan Mitchell, and Richard Mayhew.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

A: Show up to your studio every day and make the work.

Q: WHAT DOES EXHIBITING AT ART SANTA FE 23 MEAN TO YOU?

A: I’m looking forward to making new connections and nurturing new relationships. I want to share my paintings with a new audience of collectors, artists and art lovers.

Michele Thompson

Michele was born and raised in a rural canyon community in Orange County, CA, where she recognized her symbiotic relationship with the natural world and developed a fondness for artfully capturing her interactions with it. She demonstrated an interest in drawing and painting from a young age, developing her skills gradually. Although she was accepted into the fine arts degree program at Laguna College of Art and Design in California, and eventually attended Colorado Mountain College and Alaska Pacific University in Outdoor Recreation and Wilderness Therapy degree paths, she never attained a degree. Instead, when she wasn’t attempting to piece together an education, she was coping with the slow loss of her mother and eventually her father. Having spent her 20s experiencing the time-consuming tribulations of grief and attempting to find a purpose in the world, Michele is now devoted to her art practice as she seeks to use painting to deepen her understanding of life and death and demonstrate the commonalities of these collective experiences. She has participated in three international artist residencies which have allowed her to expand her understanding of the cultural and spiritual leverages between humanity and nature. Having lived in many U.S. states thus far, she currently resides in Arizona with her husband.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR WORK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK?

A: In the last couple of years, I’ve let go of the pressures involving ‘my place in the world’ and have begun freely carving my own path. My philosophy is simply to be authentic. In remembering where I come from and holding on to the most important things in my life, I become more inspired to create. All of it has evolved into this beautiful cycle of inspiration, research, and creative production. I have found that the more inspired I am during a painting, the more enthusiastic buyers and other artists are about it. Genuine enthusiasm for my work is one of the greatest achievements I can attain. It validates my work and my life – And there is virtually no separation between the two.

Q: WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?

A: I’m foundationally inspired by French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, which brings many artists to mind, such as Berthe Morisot and Vincent Van Gogh. Art Nouveau and early 20th-century American Illustrations also interest me. Artists like J.C. Leyendecker who have styles involving intricate and specific mark-making, and painters like Monet and Renoir who mastered the art of capturing light in a scene, are currently influencing my work in significant ways. The historical contexts behind the art of the late 1800s – early 1900s are also plainly fascinating to me, as the Western world was exploding into modernity. The deeply evocative works of Kathe Kollwitz are an eternal source of inspiration as well.

I’m constantly learning about contemporary artists whose works and processes motivate me and provide stimulating insight. Some off the top of my head include Erika b Hess, Angela Chin, Mark Maggiori, and Pat de Groot.

The writers who have recently influenced my work include Mikhail Bulgakov, H.G. Wells, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Gustav Flaubert, W.B. Yeats, Edgar Allan Poe, and Ernest Becker – Male writers providing a variety of perspectives on femininity and romance, sociopolitical criticisms and solutions, and historical and cultural insights.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

A: “Use more paint.” This changed my life. After I dropped out of art school, I clung to my rigid realist approach. This meant I was afraid to make changes to a painting after making a certain amount of progress on it. Many painters can probably relate to this: being early in my career, I didn’t have enough experience making mistakes, so I didn’t know how to fix them. Not being in school prevented me from receiving that much-needed third-party influence to teach me how to overcome this. I would preemptively apply less paint out of fear so that I could wipe it off and still have a clean surface for another try. During an artist residency in 2014, a mentor and friend told me to use more paint and began periodically painting on my canvases, which I found off-putting at the time, but I now realize how much that helped me. It messed with my palette, my ego, and my sense of what art even is. Now, I’m an Impasto painter and find so much enrichment in spreading around copious amounts of paint! Experimenting with texture and movement is essential to my process now.

Q: WHAT DOES EXHIBITING AT ART SANTA FE 23 MEAN TO YOU?

A: It feels like I’ve been promoted. To present my work to industry professionals and collectors in this setting will be an incredibly valuable experience. The opportunity to have enriching discussions about art, not just about my own but about any art at the fair and about the industry in general, will be constructive no matter the outcome. Being around other artists stimulates my creativity and motivates me to learn. The feedback I receive will ultimately fuel my deep desire to be the best painter that I can be. I’m honored to have the opportunity!

Olayinka Kasali

“My sculptures are primarily made of clay, wood, fiberglass, and bronze, with humans and animal forms as the predominant subject matter. To give the idea more depth, I add elements like antique musical instruments, fossils, and everyday objects. My sources of inspiration are both current events and historic sculptures from West Africa. My sculptures are intended to communicate my spiritual revelations,  African traditional ideas and values while educating through provocative thoughts.”

Olayinka Kasali is a creative and forward-thinking artist and teacher who creates paintings and sculptures that speak to the religious, social, and political cultures of people while also capturing their minds and emotions. He studied Fine Arts with a major in sculpture at the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, Lagos state, Nigeria. He also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, which allowed him to work as an art teacher in Nigerian schools. Olayinka decided to study special education for a master’s degree in New York City because he has a passion for kids and wants to utilize his work to inspire students with disabilities. A few people who are successful artists in their own right all around the world have been influenced and mentored by Olayinka. He has three solos to his credit and numerous group shows at home and abroad including “Turning Point; 2008, “Blossom; 2009”, Treasures of Creation; 2013, African Arts and Crafts Expo; 2013, New York Art Expo 2016, Contemporary Nigerian Arts Exhibition, Chicago; 2016, New York Art Expo 2022 etc. His works are housed in hundreds of private and corporate collections around the world.

In ancient African cultural traditions, art is used as objects of worship and symbols of royalty and nobility. I believe artwork should be aesthetically appealing and convey a message. This message should stem from intellectual, social, cultural to spiritual matters. This is the reason why my work is focused on exploring life issues, cultural and human spiritual well-being. As much as I pursue great aesthetic value in my art, I strive to make my works tend to man’s subconscious mind and essence of living. I am inspired by Pablo Picasso’s artistic lifestyle and a living legend; Michael Chukes who once told me: “You only have one life, don’t be afraid to live it! He went further to say: “Ask yourself how you want to be remembered, as the guy who played it safe and kept his job or the artist that took a leap of faith and created something that brings positive change to the world!”

As I made the decision to go into my art full time with grit and determination, facing and conquering any challenge that may arise like a bull faces a lion head-on and chases it away, Art Santa Fe will be my first solo show; a great propeller and launching pad into the limelight in the art world.

Brianna Timourian

Brianna Timourian was born and raised in Austin, Texas. From a young age, she always had a passion for storytelling and this led her to make short films and keep a spiral of poems in order to express her highly imaginative thoughts and feelings. Today, Brianna believes her creative muse can be spread through her paintings of abstract women and abstract expressionist art. She studied Studio Art and Kinesiology at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Brianna then decided to pursue art and become an art teacher. She taught for 4 years at Hopewell Middle School in Round Rock, Texas. Currently, she teaches Art 2 and Art 3 at Benold Middle School in Georgetown, Texas. Brianna enjoys spreading her love of art with others and helping students find their own creative voice to express themselves. She loves color and is inspired by bright Pop art. Brianna had her own art exhibition titled: Eclectic Synergy in January of 2023 at the Georgetown Public Library. Brianna is keenly interested in nature and the outdoors and she spends time hiking, kayaking, practicing yoga and playing tennis.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR WORK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR WORK?

A: My work philosophy is that art is not work, it is therapy. I choose to make art. I am always trying to do my best, but some days a piece may not turn out as good as other days. That is okay. I will take a break and come back to it later or just chalk it up to good practice. Everything may not be a masterpiece and that is okay. The process of making the art is my first and foremost goal. As I said before, art is therapy to me. I think this impacts my work because I don’t put too much pressure on myself when working because it is just an enjoyable experience that is part of who I am as a person. I make art to feel good.

Q: WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?

A: I am very inspired by Frida Kahlo because of everything she went through in her life and her amazing symbolism in her paintings. I am also very inspired by Andy Warhol because of his cleverness and bright use of color.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?

A: “There can be 100 people in a room and 99 of them don’t believe in you, but all it takes is one and it just changes your whole life.” -Lady Gaga

Q: WHAT DOES EXHIBITING AT ART SANTA FE 23 MEAN TO YOU?

A: It means the world to me. I am so happy to be recognized as an artist. I am so excited to have this opportunity to showcase my artwork amongst so many great artists! I can’t wait, and I will soak up every minute of it!

Billion Gallery

Billion Gallery is thrilled to share the success of its represented artists at Art Santa Fe 2023. Among them is the brilliant Mexican artist whose works have been displayed around the world. Our artists possess experience in painting, plastic arts, photography, and drawing, and each piece is carefully crafted with a perspective inspired by Mexico’s idiosyncrasy while incorporating global trends.

Our artists seek to express feelings through their art, going beyond aesthetics to provoke empathy with the viewer. The themes of their works are philosophies of life and feelings from a unique perspective, seeking to cause a spark in the eye of the person and transcend.

At Billion Gallery, we believe that art generates an incomparable feeling for each human being, motivating them to be and do their best every day. Therefore, everything that materializes in the hands of our artists is born from passion and purpose.

We draw inspiration from all great artists, whether in painting, sculpture, music, photography, or any type of art. We believe that each of them has something to contribute to us and their techniques.

Our philosophy is succinctly captured in the advice we’ve received: “The drop of water pierces the rock, not because of its strength, but because of its constancy.”

Exhibiting at Art Santa Fe 2023 means a lot to us. It is the result of many hours, months, and years of hard work behind this project. Exhibiting at one of the most important art fairs in the United States is a source of pride for us, and representing Mexico means everything.

We couldn’t be more proud of our roots and the entire team behind this that made it possible.

We invite all art lovers and collectors to experience the fresh and sophisticated works of our artists at Billion Gallery, the premier destination for contemporary art collectors.

For tickets to Art Santa Fe 2023 click here.

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Artexpo New York returns for its 46th edition to Pier 36 in Manhattan’s trending Lower East Side. And speaking of trending, the artists and galleries selected for this year’s coveted Spotlight Program are definitely doing something unique and forward-looking.

Of course, Artexpo New York will once again have an interesting mix of exhibiting galleries, art publishers and dealers, and artists from across the globe, showcasing original work of 1000+ artists that includes prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, giclees, lithographs and glass works, among other contemporary and fine art.

This year’s Artexpo New York takes place from March 30-April 2, 2023 at Manhattan’s newest destination for art, Pier 36. Each year, the fair’s special programs range from immersive artist-led Art Lab experiences to compelling Art Talks and exciting Meet the Artist sessions.

From the amazing list of exhibitors, Artexpo’s curators present their Spotlight Program, providing collectors a focused look at several cutting-edge galleries and artists recognized for their skill and achievement in the visual arts.

Check out this year’s Spotlight Program recipients below!

Artur Gelumbauskas – Booth S809  

Artur is a New York-based landscape photographer who works in a variety of styles. His work often incorporates symbolic elements and text to explore themes of identity, memory, and perception. Gelumbauskas’ work has been shown in galleries and art fairs throughout the United States and Europe, and he has received numerous awards and grants for his creative accomplishments. He sees his work as providing the viewer with a memory or an escape — whichever is the case for you, you’ll find the work amazing to enjoy.

D’Arcy Bellamy – Booth S101  

D’Arcy Bellamy is a sculptor from Idaho known for his modern style. His work frequently employs abstract forms and addresses themes of movement, balance, and tension. Bellamy says he is an object maker, creating abstract (often kinetic) sculpture from steel pipe in a subtractive method. Spirals, geometric patterns, the human form, plants and animals are all there to surprise and delight the viewer and engage the senses of sight, touch, and wonder. His imagination comes to life in each piece.

Galerie Minrath – Booth 600 

Galerie Minrath is a contemporary art gallery located in Cologne, Germany. The gallery focuses on exhibiting and promoting contemporary artists from Germany and around the world. For over two decades, gallery owner Jörg Minrath has been a modern painter creating sophisticated large and small-format paintings with elaborate techniques. He uses abstract motifs, unusual surface structures, and expressive colors to captivate and inspire viewers. In addition to Minrath’s work, the Galerie Minrath seeks to demonstrate the power and variety of young, modern contemporary art.

Jael Roznicki – Booth S701 

Jael Roznicki is an Alberta, Canada, abstract artist, currently residing in Edmonton.  She primarily works in oil paint on canvas as her medium.  Having experimented with acrylics, she landed on the texture and pliability of oil paint, mostly using palette knives and brushes and sometimes fingers, to achieve a variety of final effects and textures. Having a long history in creative expression, she was formally trained as a graphic designer, which enables her to envision in things spatially and in proportion. Using color theory and play on shapes and textures to evoke an emotion or to express an emotion is a key component of Roznicki’s work.

Lilac Gallery – Booth 701 

Lilac Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in New York City. Lilac Gallery was originally established in 1972 as Lilac Fine Art by Hungarian-born American artist Albert S. Nemethy who immigrated to the United States in 1950 and settled in New York’s  Hudson Valley. Lilac Gallery re-opened in Manhattan in 2012 with a mission to bridge Fine and Contemporary Art. Today the gallery’s vision is to present uplifting works of art into the art world and to bring them into the homes of our collectors seamlessly. With a focus on contemporary realism, abstract expressionism, and pop art, there’s definitely something to catch your attention. Is there something to add to your collection?

Valentinarte Gallery – Booth 503 

The gallery is located in the historic center of Bellagio Italy, an area renowned by American and international elite art collectors. Thanks to the dedication of his wife Barbara and daughter Valentina, the gallery has thrived since the death of its founder, Emanuele Valentin, in 2016. The gallery works directly with both established and emerging artists, offering a diverse range of art that piques the viewer’s interest. Its holdings range from nineteenth-century Italian art to contemporary artists.

For tickets to Artexpo New York 2023 click here.

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Much like the Museum of Arts in Fort Collins, Black Americans and other minorities are just a blur in Fort Collins’ big picture. Google states: “Fort Collins, Colorado, sits just north of Denver, Colorado. Its Old Town historic district has 1800s houses, a vintage trolley, specialty shops and restaurants. The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery features interactive science, history, and nature exhibits, plus a digital dome theater. West of the city, trails crisscross Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, known for the peak’s distinctive Horsetooth Rock formation and Horsetooth Falls. Elevation 5,003 population 166,069.”

There’s not one mention of the Museum of Arts, even though it was here long before the Museum of Discovery. Of the 166,069 population black Americans make up a hefty 1.6 percent. However, you rarely see us represented in publications or advertisements for the city. This is the space I occupy in the story, a Black American woman in a relatively white town. I am originally from Chicago and living in a town where you see very few people and things that reflect you and your culture takes some getting used to. I have been in Fort Collins for a number of years, and I like it. The pace is slow and the traffic, not bad to someone coming from Chicago. The art scene could use a little work; however, the racial visual narrative definitely leans toward the unbalance when it comes to representing the Fort Collins population as a whole. The city’s public narratives are lacking in color in their overall presentation to the world, but hey, I figure that is why I am here. Stirring the pot.

Following some incidents at Colorado State University dealing with race and just the whole of 2020, I decided it was time for change. I started my new mantra, “Change where I stand.”  In 2020, I created the Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show in Fort Collins, A visual Arts Expo of work by Black American artists. Each September during Labor Day weekend. It is small right now, but my hope is to literally flood Fort Collins with Black American culture and people.  At a Juneteenth gathering in 2020, I showed an exhibit of my own work called We Are Still Watching to incite dialogue with the public gathered in Old Town Square. The response was most people felt they had been robbed of their education; they were saddened by the fact that they were lied to and cheated out of the truth all these years. Because they knew so little about the contributions that Black Americans had made, as well as about some of the things that white people had done to stop their progress. My finding during this time was that most people want to be united as a human race.

Artist Charly Palmer stated: “Art should change the temperature in the room”

Towards the end of 2020, I reached out to the Director of The Museum of Arts in Fort Collins, Lisa Hatchadoorian. And the exhibit A Culture Preserved in the Black Experience‘ was born.  Lisa was open to my idea of an art exhibit featuring all Black American artists. It had never been done before in Fort Collins. But that was not the only reason for doing it. She also, like I, wanted to draw attention to the lack of representation Black artists had in museums as well as the unfair treatment of Black Americans in this country. The exhibit was originally slated for January 2021 to fill a void in the museum’s exhibit schedule after 2020 left the museums budget low. After much conversation and discussion, she decided to move it to 2022. This move allowed the museum to raise the money to bring it in correctly as well as give it a prime space on their exhibit schedule.

I remember years ago when Lisa took over as the new museum director, many spoke well of her and her desire to see more impactful exhibits at the museum. Lisa is an innovative person that thinks outside the boundaries of the norm. She understood what I was trying to convey to Fort Collins and the world.  Fort Collins and the world need exhibits like this.

Actor Tom Hanks recently did an interview where he stated he found out about the Tulsa Race Riots and Black Wall Street two years ago because of an article that was in the New York Times on May 25, 2021. From his Op Ed published in the Times on June 4, 2021, he writes of his dismay and surprise: “I never read a page of any school history book about how, in 1921, a mob of white people burned down a place called Black Wall Street, killed as many as 300 of its Black citizens and displaced thousands of Black Americans who lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“Rather in my history classes, I learned that Britain’s Stamp Act helped lead to the Boston Tea Party, that ‘we’ were a free people because the Declaration of Independence said, ‘all men are created equal’, that the Whiskey Rebellion started over a tax on whiskey, that the Articles of Confederation and the Alien and Sedition Acts were cockeyed. Rightfully, Sacco and Vanzetti, Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party and the Wright Brothers had their time in my classes.

“But Tulsa was never more than a city on the prairie. The Oklahoma Land Rush got some paragraphs in one of those school years, but the 1921 burning out of the Black population that lived there was never mentioned. Nor, I have learned since, was anti-Black violence on large and small scales, especially between the end of Reconstruction and the victories of the civil rights movement; there was nothing on the Slocum massacre of Black residents in Texas by an all-white mob in 1910 or the Red Summer of white supremacist terrorism in 1919. Many students like me were told that the lynching of Black Americans was tragic but not that these public murders were commonplace and often lauded by local papers and law enforcement. How different would perspectives be had we all been taught about Tulsa in 1921, even as early as the fifth grade? Today, I find the omission tragic, an opportunity missed, a teachable moment squandered.”

This interview and his opinion is exactly why Black American art should be collected, preserved and exhibited in museums and other public historical institutions for the same reason white American painting and European counterparts art are collected and preserved. To document lives lived, stories, a culture, a time, an historical moment, and the events of a group of people. This serves to preserve in time and forever an artist’s visual interpretation of the world as he/she sees it. That story has not been allowed for the Black artist.

Our visual narratives have not been allowed to be heard, or accepted, the Black artistic voice has been silenced only accepted amongst its own communities, galleries, and at art fairs. The percentage of museum-owned Black work is staggeringly low compared to their white and European counterparts. 85.4% of the works in the collections of all major U.S. museums were created by White artists and 87.4% were by male artists. African American artists accounted for the lowest share with just 1.2% of the works. As Gerald Griffin explained in his painting 2 Buckets: “The American Dream seems to be malapportioned. Though there is abundance of life to be had in America, more often than not we as Black people are still left with 2 buckets of chicken feed.”

A Culture Preserved (in the Black Experience) represents how we as Black artists preserve our culture visually, how we speak out against injustices, how we live our lives, raise our children, our successes, and failures. It is how we pave the way for future generations and leave our mark, we were here. It reflects our strong heritage that has shaped the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a nation of people who have been stolen, beaten, and enslaved; yet thrived and survived. A people that has risen from the muck and mire, and have been continually degraded, a people that have persevered in the midst of challenges and continual oppositions to define our own identity and path.

The artwork in this exhibition takes our cultural heritage and mingles it with our present-day struggles, reaching those unobtainable and denied goals and achievements to become the voice for the Black culture community today.

“The black artist is dangerous. Black art controls the ‘Negro’s’ reality, negates negative influences, and creates positive images”. Sonia Sanchez

The Negro, Black, African American artistic story does not always paint a pretty picture of America, but it represents truth told from the Black artist perspective.

“All art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story; to vomit the anguish up.”

― James Baldwin

This exhibition exists for preservation, cultural awareness, and affirmation as well as to share the cultural richness of the Black community. It is designed to present to the viewer a visual narrative told through the eyes of the Black artist from around the country. It is meant to spark conversation collectively, and to create dialogue that stimulates communal growth while exploring how we as Black Americans relate to and fit within the so-called American dream where we have had to consistently reshape and reformulate our identities.

Charles Birdwhistle, former African American resident of Fort Collins in1899 said: “The Negro’s past can never be forgotten; his present is being carefully observed, and his future is yet to be made.” In so many ways, this statement is still true today, especially when it comes to Black artists’ art being collected and preserved.

Author’s Bio: Louise Cutler is a Fort Collins-based creationist, artist, sculptor, curator, vocalist, writer, and speaker. Her work is motivated by her desire to create beauty that cultivates truth, peace, and tranquility. Her painting Alone was selected to exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibit 2021, in London, England. She was a featured artist for the Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, for their Social Justice thru the Arts program. Ms. Cutler is currently the creator and founder of The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art show. The show features Black/African American artists and takes place in Fort Collins, Colorado. She also sits on the board for the Gregory Allicar Museum at Colorado State University.

Louise work can be found at www.Louisecutlerstudio.com and on https://louisecutlerstudio.wordpress.com/ Her social platforms are: https://www.instagram.com/louisecutlerstudio/ and https://www.facebook.com/LouiseCutlerStudio/

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As Santa Fe’s only contemporary fine art fair, Art Santa Fe is proud to be the concluding event for Santa Fe Art Week. This year’s Art Santa Fe takes place July 15-17, 2022, at the beautiful Santa Fe Convention Center, right in the center of town.

From the amazing list of exhibitors, Art Santa Fe’s curators present their Spotlight Program, providing collectors a focused look at several cutting-edge galleries and artists recognized for their exceptional skill and achievement in the visual arts.

Check out the Art Santa Fe 2022 slate of Spotlight Program recipients!

Edward Martin, Edward Martin Glass, Booth 505

Edward Martin is an award-winning artist who has spent over 45 years developing his craft. A full-time artist creating and selling at shows for over 30 years, Martin is part of the “Outsider Art” movement, completely self-taught, without outside influences on his work.

Working in his glass and metal fabricating studio at his home in Springfield, Illinois, Martin has worked to perfect the art of beveling, fusing, three-dimensional etching, and glass staining as well as traditional glass work. He now specializes in contemporary works in glass and metal.

Linda Guenste & Jonathan Hertzel, Guenste / Hertzel Art Studio, Booth 512

Ray Tigerman, Ray Tigerman Studios, Booth 316

Ray Tigerman seeks to create bold, colorful, layer-intensive, dimensional works of art on canvas and board that evoke a sense of nostalgic mysticism and mystery.  His subjects, predominately Native Americans, are brought to life on the edge of his palette knife, where they emerge from his imagination. They are, as he is, on a journey, a path of discovery.

William Havu, William Havu Gallery, Booth 403

The William Havu Gallery was established in Aspen in 1973. It’s been in its current location since 1998 and is engaged in an ongoing dialogue through its seven exhibitions a year with regionalism as it impacts and is affected by both national and international trends in realism and abstraction. With 40+ years in the business of mounting exhibits worthy of critical review, the William Havu Gallery continues to acquire artists of regional importance and national acclaim.

Tickets for Art Santa Fe 2022 are available here.

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Based in West Michigan, Multidisciplinary Afro Caribbean artist Erick Picardo focuses his work in contemporary art, custom murals, and workshops for new and seasoned artists.

His work makes a statement about “our mystic order of existence and how this relates to everyday life in our universe. Using a combination of oil and acrylic I portray figures seeming to moves in and out of everyday existence with a contemporary flair for color, line, and form”, says Picardo.

Using color, I entrance viewers, drawing them into a world of music and dance. More abstract pieces are mesmerizing in both color and simplicity. Meditating upon them brings the viewer a sense of peace. My paintings serve as a reminder of all that humanity is capable of being, inspiring viewers to strive toward a better self and better world.”

Picardo believes that art is about telling a story. Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and attributes of a group or society. These are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. This includes cultural traditions, or living expressions, inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants; performing arts, folklore, traditions, language, rituals, and knowledge. Picardo Colours Fine Art tells a culturally significant story through paintings, murals, and mixed media with bold and bright colors.

Picardo Colours Fine Art carries a message, cultural elements, and a history behind it. “I have been exploring how to connect to communities in modern society using traditional and nontraditional art forms.”

Originally hailing from the Caribbean, and now in West Michigan, Erick Picardo is a Percussionist, Muralist, Cultural Ambassador and Activist; using art to address the social issues that the world is facing and emphasizing the importance of social change. Some of his pieces provide a window into the historical context of the time.

Picardo will be showcasing his work under Picardo Colours at Booth #S410 at Artexpo New York 2022.

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Q. Introduce yourself — who you are and what you do?

A. My name is Lonell Nellessen. I own a wig salon for clients who are undergoing chemo or other treatments that cause hair loss. Prior to that, I was a hairstylist for 40 years, specializing in color and color correction. I am a wife, mother to 4 adult children, and grandmother to 10! I have been painting and creating art since I was 4 years old, winning accolades along the way and an award in 4^th grade for a mural I painted on a storefront window.

Q. What is your background?

A. I used my God-given creative talents to pursue a passion for coloring, styling and cutting hair for decades. I even won awards at competitions and was once offered a job at Vidal Sassoon in New York. I never gave up on painting, though, dabbling in it as time allowed and getting deeper into it about 7 years ago. Creating beauty for others is my deepest desire, and now I am happiest when I have a canvas on the easel and a brush in my hand!

Q. How do you work?

A. I work in my studio at home. Time slips away as I sing while sketching or painting. Sometimes I can touch a blank canvas and see what’s there waiting to be pulled out and painted. Other times, paintings come to me at night while I am dreaming. When those dreams come it’s almost as if I am forced into the studio to get them on the canvas as soon as I possibly can. I am ambidextrous and can paint right-handed or left-handed. Sometimes I even paint upside down! A truly different perspective! It is not unusual for me to paint for 8 to 11 hours without a break. Painting is effortless when that happens as it only feels like an hour or two has passed, and the rest of the world melts away. Sometimes the painting muse is even stronger then my need to eat and I can only follow my passion.

Q. What art do you most identify with?

A. I identify mostly with Realism and Nature paintings. There is no greater interplay of color and beauty than what is found in life.

Q. What artist(s) inspires you?

A. There are 4 artists I turn to for inspiration. The Renaissance artists Michaelangelo and da Vinci are first in line – Michaelangelo for the flow of the lines in his sculptures and the depth and movement in his paintings. All I can say about da Vinci is that his paintings have a soul to them that stirs me. You might be surprised to know the other 2 artists are impressionistic! Monet and Renoir! Monet because he did things his own way and had a free form style I appreciate; and Renoir for the soft style and shading of the people he painted.

Q. What is the best advice you’ve received?

A. My art teacher in High School said I was meant to share my God-given talent. I am trying to follow that advice to this day.

Q. When you are not working, where can we find you?

A. You can find me sketching out my next painting ideas, taking pictures in nature (tree bark, leaves and water are my favorites) – though I don’t know how to swim and get rather terrified around open water. My husband did convince me to wade in the Atlantic ocean, on a beach in Florida, and let’s just say I was terrified. I do love being out in nature – hiking around – finding the beauty of creation all around. Fall and winter are my favorite times, and I love to view sunsets, reflections, clouds and shadows.

Q. What does exhibiting at Spectrum Miami 2021 mean to you?

A. I continually try and bring beauty into the lives of others, and through Spectrum Miami I believe I can achieve that. This exhibition is my chance to share my gift and create a stirring of emotion in your soul. No true artist paints solely for themselves. Painting is a way to share a gift, and Spectrum Miami is an ideal way for me to do just that.

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The creation of a place cultivated by works of art cannot be replicated on a screen. Rather it must be felt, experienced, explored.

Public art is essential for placemaking because it manifests within the very places we inhabit – alleyways, walls, parking structures, parks, and the public way. Art and culture create the heartbeat of the streets. Communities and businesses alike benefit from enhanced social cohesion, improved health and economic outcomes, and the creative energy and aesthetic of a place enhanced by arts and culture.

To entice people back into a routine of work and play outside of the home, we must fill places with color, soul, and emotion. We must create unique opportunities to encounter life.

Here are three ways placemaking can create space that calls people back to shared spaces in our communities.

Create Social Cohesion and a Sense of Community Through Art

The creation of art should be consistent and dynamic. Businesses can play a role by investing in a continual practice of cultivating art and attracting diverse local talent. Local artists’ muse is often their surroundings — the positives and the negatives of the local community, what attracted them, why they’ve stayed, and the influence of everyday life. Their art is the link between the neighborhood’s past and its future. This kind of living experience connects people with the culture and vibe of the community in which they live.

The Blue Trees project does just this for the Denver Theatre District. The project, which covers over 16 city blocks, places civic engagement at the forefront of the community. The project includes 156 blue trees (colored with environmentally safe, non-toxic, natural blue pigment), which bring awareness not only to global deforestation, but also the importance of trees to human life and their environment.

Not only did the Blue Trees project showcase a unique piece of art, it also involved dozens of free, family-friendly events designed to connect the community and the cause.

Cultural Placemaking is a Powerful Tool for Renewal

Utilizing art and culture can reinforce the foundation of our communities. It shows the story of our lives, connects us to the past and is an example that, despite having gone through a pivotal experience like a global pandemic, we can endure and thrive.

Take Denver Water’s headquarters for instance. Through the use of art, the organization was able to share their mission, goals and the work they do. One piece, created by local artist Rik Sargent, entitled “Forests to Faucets” tells the story of how Denver’s water flows through the mountains and into the city’s faucets. To create the piece, Sargent involved different members of Denver Water’s organization to add to the clay model, literally crafting the story through the eyes of the employees.

The integration of this particular work, and other pieces into Denver Water’s new campus not only showed the importance of the work the organization does, but also the creation of a public presence for Denver Water’s rich history and a source of attraction and retention for employees.

Another example of art benefitting the community’s well-being is the Happy City project, which was in the Denver Theatre District. For six weeks, several artists collaborated on installations that encouraged Denver residents to acknowledge and dismantle barriers to mental health and encourage the stronger collective. Programming in streets and alleyways, on billboards and video screens, promoted mental health awareness and citywide wellness through interesting urban design.

Creative Placemaking Through Art Supports The Triple Bottom Line

A recent study by the Urban Land Institute found that the impact of creative placemaking supports the triple bottom line: financial, social and environmental profit.

In fact, Americans for the Arts found the vast majority of Americans — over 90% — believe arts and culture improve quality of life. Over 80% believe arts and culture is essential to the economy and local businesses.

Leveraging arts and culture in conjunction with quality design just makes good business sense. In fact, developers and their partners have reported higher market values, lower turnover rates, faster approval cycles, greater community buy-in, and better brand and market recognition because of the use of public art.

Building with arts and culture in mind, or incorporating them into your existing space, can attract and delight visitors, residents, and employees. Creating a place improves livability and quality of life for the community. It allows us to begin to experience the world again and move forward.

Bio:

As CEO and co-founder of NINE dot ARTS, Martha Weidmann oversees all business operations and works directly with our clients and partners. Martha graduated from Colorado State University with a dual major – Communications and Fine Arts. She started her career with Walker Fine Art gallery in Denver, then moved on to the most prestigious art consulting firm (at the time) in the region, McGrath and Braun, from which NINE dot ARTS was born. Martha loves the business of art and finds tremendous satisfaction in helping new and emerging artists discover that you can actually get paid for your talent. She spends her day balancing between touring an amazing new NINE dot ARTS art experience in the morning and reviewing equally inspiring spreadsheets in the afternoon. Martha supports the art community by currently serving on the Board of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.

About NINE dot ARTS

NINE dot ARTS is a nationally recognized, award-winning art consulting and curating firm with 825 installations across 35 states and 5 countries. From hotels, multifamily and office properties to large-scale, mixed use developments and dynamic public art installations, NINE dot ARTS transforms ordinary places into one-of-a-kind experiences. For additional information on NINE dot ARTS, visit ninedotarts.com.

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Markowicz Fine Art Gallery is excited to announce its “Encompass” exhibition in their Dallas Galley location. Partnering with Bel-Air Fine Art, a prestigious fine art gallery with locations in France, Abu Dhabi, Gstaad, Miami, and Italy, their partnership allows the two galleries to help collectors access a wide range of art from all over the world. 

The exhibition is open to the public at their Dallas location and features exquisite new works from Italian artist Annaluigia Boretto, ‘Annalù’, and French artist Lyès-Oliview Sidhoum, ‘Lyes”. 

‘Annalù is an Italian artist creating dreamy sculptures that enchant onlookers with her unique incorporation of hyper-realistic splashes of water and bold brilliant colors. She uses elements of nature that appear to be suspended in time, which she achieves by focusing on texture and illusion. She is best known for her glassy, splashing sculptures. 

Lyès is a graffiti artist who has been creating art since the young age of 11 in the streets of Lyon, France. He developed his work through his experiences with travel and meeting other creatives in the graffiti world. His work evokes an “energy that constitutes reality, which today remains a part of the mystery and almost becomes spirituality in a sense.” Lyès uses high-tech technology of fine art archival printing that stops 99/9% of UV rays, through encapsulation to create his pieces. 

The exhibit runs through July 31, 2021. 

Markowicz Fine Art Gallery 

1700 Oak Lawn Ave. Ste. 200

Dallas, TX 75207

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Saturday’s RAVE event ended with an after-party focusing on the crypto craze of NFTs. Co-Hosts, Eric Smith, CEO of Redwood Art Group, and Hannah Smith, Social Media Manager of Redwood Art Group spoke with Craig Kausen of Chuck Jones Gallery, Jon Stock of Corridor, and Gary Symons, Editor in Chief of The Licensing Letter. These industry professionals gave viewers a quick lesson on what NFTs are, dove deep into how they work, and more importantly, gave insight on whether or not artists and art enthusiasts should be involved in the new trend.

You may be asking yourself, “what is an NFT?”

To sum it up, NFTs are non-fungible tokens, which are a unit of data stored on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, that certifies a digital asset to be unique and therefore not interchangeable. They can be used to represent items such as photos, videos, audio, and digital art. 

Similar to receiving a certificate of authenticity when you purchase a piece of art, an NFT is unique to whoever owns that “piece” or digital file. 

NFTs are a way for artists, especially digital artists, to sell their work to new collectors and make a profit. In fact, Chuck Jones Gallery is offering an NFT on their booth page for RAVE Artexpo New York. 

However, this new form of cryptocurrency is gaining more and more controversy as professionals are learning more about the impact NFTs have on the environment.

Jon Stock and Gary Symons spoke on the environmental effect NFTs cause during the RAVE after-party and the shocking and eye-opening statistics scientists have discovered. 

If you’re interested in learning more about NFTs, check out the RAVE After Party event – “WTF are NFT’s?” on the Redwood Art Group YouTube page! 

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