Layered Calligraphy

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You gotta hand it to Ahmed Moustafa for creating these representational works using only calligraphy. As some of his titles suggest, there are much deeper meanings here, than just whimsical drawing. You'll find in depth answers about his fascinating oeuvre and many images at his Website.



You'll see just how seriously he can take his work when you visit thecubeofcubes.

He's also represented by the Mathaf Gallery.
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Eastern Abstract Calligraphy

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This work by Nasser Azizi Joshan is a good example of contemporary, eastern abstract calligraphy today. With a rich heritage steeped in calligraphy, these new artists are heading in new directions in abstraction and meaning.


The top image is the better of the three works on his page at the Mah Art Gallery where you'll find many other artists to pique your interest. There's definitely a different perspective from the other side of the planet and it's invigorating to see these other styles and oeuvres.

This beautiful painted calligraphy piece by Ali Akbar Mikhak is refreshing and yet there's a familiar quality to it. It seems to echo the oeuvres of several European artists who delved into abstract calligraphy. This image also is from the Mah Art Gallery and you can see 40 examples of his work starting Here.

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Pictures With Dots

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The first time I encountered this piece by Jason DeMarte, my reaction was to call him "son of Baldessari". And in a way you could say that is true.
Although most of the works from his Utopic Portfolio have dots, it's really all about something else. Go here for the short explanation.


A visit to his Website is both interesting and entertaining, but I think the work is way more captivating than the concept. You can read a short interview Here, where he also explains his other portfolios.
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Another One-off

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Found this little gem by Friedrich Kunath while perusing the catalogue for the Sept, 26 Auction, "NOW: Art of the 21st Century" at Phillips de Pury.


This work, "Untitled" 2004, 70" X 47" oil on canvas is a beautiful construction of dots and text. And try as I might I could not find anything similar in his oeuvre. What a shame. Someone needs to pick up where he left off and pursue this particular style further.
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One-Off

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Dolan Geiman does include text in his pieces, so he certainly qualifies to be listed on this Blog. But this work in particular is a little unusual for his oeuvre and with my research for the previous Post fresh in my mind, I couldn't help but notice how this has a very Twomblyish feel to it.
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Regardless, you'll want to visit his Website and check out his charming, homespun work. From shadow box-collages and 3-D Constructions to Prints and Paintings, you'll find his new Americana to be very interesting.

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Postmodern Master

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There's a magical mysteriousness to the works of Cy Twombly; an enjoyment you can't quite explain. I remember discovering him for the first time and I just COULD not get my fill. Night after night of searching the Web only drew me in deeper and wanting more.



An artist friend and I went to NYCity to see his show at the Whitney a couple years ago and it ended up becoming somewhat of a religious experience. One whole floor was dedicated to his work. As you walked towards a painting to get a closer look, the painting would just stop you at the proper distance and your mind would just be empty; wholly focused on the work before you. At one point I whispered to Dale that if we tried to explain to others the artwork we were so enraptured with, they'd never believe we were so smitten with these "scribbles".

You can check out many more images to your heart's content on Google Image Search.
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Top image is from Austria Info, bottom image from Museum Moderner Kunst.

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Graffiti Paintings

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Trained as a lawyer, it's no surprise then, that Cole Sternberg's paintings are social/political in nature. His dynamic and interesting oeuvre combines watercolor, spray paint and heavy oils to both showcase and hide his thoughts.

You'll find 13 examples of mostly 2008 work on his Website (click Gallery).
Another 12 images of 2009 paintings at Celebrity Vault.
You'll find older, more realistic works here.
An interesting text interview.
Six more images Here.
And finally, a 5 minute YouTube interview about his latest works.
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Image from ArtSlant.

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Punk Pointillism

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The title's a bit rough, but Mark Dutcher does bring a certain casual/in-your-face demeanor to his oeuvre.

Be that as it may, you can visit his Website and come to your own conclusions. (click on Archives to see 37 images of his work)

This review (with images) from Artscenecal helps fill in some of the blanks
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Landscape w/Black Balloons ?

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Another artist who prefers not to inform us about his oeuvre is Andrea Galvani. His works are thought provoking and offer us no clues for solutions.




Interesting work, though and worth a look at his Website.
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The image is from colectiva.
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Impressionistic Pointillism

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Jeff Briggs' pointillist abstractions come across as impressionistic landscapes, or parts there of.
This image of "CHANGING WEATHER" 2008, (acrylic and oil on polyflax 30"x50") is from his Website where you'll find more intriguing works, but absolutely no information to inform you about his oeuvre.

He's represented by Carrie Haddad Gallery and they are also mum, except for this quote from their press release for their April/May Group Exhibit; Sacred Ground:

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"Briggs’ approach to the landscape is markedly different from most contemporary landscape painters and one that intrigued gallery owner Carrie Haddad. “At first, Jeff’s paintings seem like a series of colorfields”, explains Haddad, “but then, one begins to feel grounded on the land, bathed in the magical light and color of its terrain.” In these recent works, Briggs has been increasingly interested in the idea of painting representing sound. “Through color and rhythm,” says Briggs, “I paint what can be described as a resonant hum. From Newton’s arbitrary division of the spectrum into seven parts to match a diatonic scale, to everyday descriptions of colors being described as loud or soft, synaesthetic language surrounds us. My paintings explore the idea of a sound/image. Notions of landscape simultaneously coalesce and dissolve. The accreted marks turn into something like background radiation in the galaxy. I think of them sometimes as soundscapes.”

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Electrical Craftsmanship Art

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As cool as this looks, you have to be an electrician to really appreciate this work of art. Whether using a hand-held or mechanical bender, you still gotta know what you're doing and do it well. I know!


This image is from the Ollman Gallery and the work is by Steven and Billy Blaise Dufala.


This second image gets us a little closer and is from a post on the Blog, Wrong Distance - where I first spotted this piece.



And the final image is from sokref1's page on flickr, where you can see more closeups.
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This piece is pretty sane compared with some of their other work. They do some fascinating things.
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Obverse Dottillism

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Fred Chuang makes quite a statement in describing how he goes about making his obverse paintings. This work is just one of 41 very varied works in the Geometrics group. And that's just one of the 11 categories into which he's divided his paintings.



What makes these extra special is his unique technique. From realism to abstraction, you'll enjoy visiting his Website and seeing the breadth of his oeuvre.
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Pop Pointillism

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Jihay Kang's art is about consumerism and materialism, but she's made a couple of works that really can be defined as post modern pointillism with a Pop aesthetic.

She's represented by and this image is from Raandesk Gallery.

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Ledger Art

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It's amazing what simple things can inspire an artist.
Paul Glabicki acquired a Japanese accounting ledger book dating from the 1930's. He was completely enamored with the mark-making, patterns and record keeping and this prompted his series, “ACCOUNTING for…”, in which he transpires the original page and then continues on by adding his own thoughts, patterns and marks. Reading 3 variations of the same story gives a better picture of his intent. Here, here and here.

Reading his Statement and viewing his animation Stillshots, fills out the picture.

He's represented by and this image is from Kim Foster Gallery.

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Unusual Perspective

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The architect of the Serralves Museum deserves mega bonus points for the placement of the large window in this gallery. And these "balls" by Katharina Grosse are the perfect foil to make one feel like a child again.

This is yet another reminder of how thought provoking her work can be. She's one wild woman with an industrial strength spray gun and her works tend to mess with your preconceived notions of art.
Her Website has a ton of images for you to peruse; so put on some coffee . . . .

Spotted this image on Rachel Sitkin's We Make It Art, Blog in her Art I Saw In Portugal, Post. Her Blog is usually about art in Baltimore. Rachel is also an artist and curator in Baltimore and you'll want to visit her Website too.
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I would assume that this is her, in amongst the balls.
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Studio With Chair

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Ahhh the artist's studio. That sacred sanctuary where paintings are born. And there's always a chair; a particular chair where the artist can contemplate his creations.




Garric Simonsen is the artist and this image is from his Blog where you'll find other pics of work in progress. You''ll want to visit his Website to see the finished works.
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