Norwegian artist Are Mokkelbost creates elaborate, hallucinatory dreamscapes in his cut paper collages. Stacking subtle gradients of color, Mokkelbost culls together reflective prisms that seem to rise up like smoke. The repetitive geometry creates psychedelic formations that morph into recognizable shapes. Take a look at some of Mokkelbost’s detailed work after the jump.
Working primarily with acrylic, Korean artist Jieun Park paints nocturnal cityscapes interrupted by sweeping, abstract brushstrokes. Park paints precise, angular lines, illustrating tightly-packed architecture only to obliterate it with white marks. These alternating patterns of nothingness and copious detail invite the viewers’ imaginations to fill in the gaps in these microcosms. Take a look at some of Park’s work after the jump!
London based artist Zadok Ben-David creates oversized hand cut aluminum sculptures by using skillful techniques, minimal information, and carefully placed lines. His works depicting insect and flower are painted black and often placed together to create whimsical installations. The series of flowers that he did between 2010 and 2012 are entitled Blackflowers and were inspired by nature and the traditions of botanical illustration. Although these works are simplistic and reminiscent of botanical illustrations the artist’s use of scale and design are noteworthy interpretations of nature’s flora and fauna. See more after the jump!
British artist Mike Carr began his career illustrating for record labels and clothing lines in Bristol in the early ’90s, later carrying his style over to the hybrid blend of figurative and abstract painting he practices today. Carr’s paintings are saturated with color, fluctuating back and forth between clearly defined figures and hollow outlines like a lens going in and out of focus. These paintings capture dynamic motion, illustrating the unstoppable ticking of time with fluid brushstrokes. Take a look at some of Carr’s work after the jump!
Artist Al Columbia’s (featured in Hi-Fructose Vol. 15) credits in the illustration and comic book worlds are extensive — he has been published in high profile publications like The New York Times and The Believer, illustrated for underground weeklies and comic anthologies and released numerous acclaimed books of his own (such as Doghead and The Biologic Show). Columbia recently sent Hi-Fructose some exclusive new paintings that continue the story of two of his signature characters, Pim and Francie. “…I guess, these paintings I’ve sent you, and others I have been working on just sort of happened randomly over the past few years while I worked on other projects,” Al told the editors. Read more after the jump!
This Saturday, June 22, Copro Gallery in Santa Monica will debut the two-person show “Raw Kingdom” featuring new work from Rob Sato (Hi-Fructose Vol. 16) and Kris Chau. Aside from being close friends, the two artists find overlap in their watercolor painting styles, layering imagery to create surreal, even metaphysical work. In Sato’s remarkably precise paintings, Earth-tone, geometric shapes coalesce into narratives of the cycle of life and regeneration. Chau’s more expressionistic style lends itself to depictions of otherworldly spirits. Take a look at some of the work in the show after the jump and check out “Raw Kingdom” June 22 through July 13.