HOTTEST
Art#found objects
#glass
#narrative
#sculptureDecember 23, 2020
Grace Ebert“Bridesmaid Returns to the Shore of Her Full Moon” (2019), glass and mixed media, 23 x 22 x 9.5. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush. All images © Amber Cowan, shared with permission
The monochromatic assemblages of Amber Cowan (previously) are at once domestic narratives and homages to an abandoned industry. Delicate baubles frame a central figure or scene that the Philadelphia-based artist illustrates with scraps of pressed glass. Whether focused on a lone bridesmaid or a hen hoarding eggs, Cowan’s works explore the feminine experience through themes of “loneliness, the search for meaning, the search for love, and the following of symbolism in the mundane.”
Cowan shops at antique stores and markets for materials, although she more frequently scours scrapyards around the country for discarded bits of glass, which are known as cullets. As a whole, the now-defunct industry was booming from the mid-1800s before it dropped off during the 20th Century. “Nowadays, this material is out of fashion and relegated to the dustbin of American design,” the artist writes, noting that she often finds masses of historic hues at the scrapyards. “These barrels of color are often the last of their run, and my work will essentially give the formulas their final resting place and visually abundant celebration of life.”
Some of Cowan’s work is included in the recently published book, Objects: USA 2020. If you’re in New York, her piece “Dance of the Pacific Coast Highway at Sunset” is permanently on view at The Museum of Arts and Design, and she’s also part of an upcoming group exhibition at R & Co. Gallery. Until then, explore more of her textured sculptures on her site and Instagram.“Young Love Resting in Gray Meadow” (2019), glass and mixed media, 22 x 19 x 11 inches. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush
“Nautilus in Crown Tuscan” (2019), glass and mixed media, 8 x 4 x 12 inches. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush
“Hen Collecting All of Her Ova” (2020), glass and mixed media, 18 x 20 x 9 inches. Photo by Constance Mensh
Detail of “Bridesmaid Returns to the Shore of Her Full Moon” (2019), glass and mixed media, 23 x 22 x 9.5. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush
“Snail Passing Through the Garden of Inanna” (2019), glass and mixed media, 22 x 19.5 x 10.5. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush
“Dance of the Pacific Coast Highway at Sunset” (2019), glass and mixed media, 34 x 46 x 12.5 inches. Photo by Constance Mensh
“Hen Collecting All of Her Ova” (2020), glass and mixed media, 18 x 20 x 9 inches. Photo by Constance Mensh
“Bubble Bath in the Tunnel of Love” (2020), glass and mixed media, 25 x 25 x 15 inches. Photo by Constance Mensh#found objects
#glass
#narrative
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Art
Craft#Avital Avital
#botanic
#ceramics
#flowers
#nature
#porcelain
#sculptureNovember 15, 2022
Kate Mothes More
Color Therapy: Explore the Colossal Shop’s New Summer Collection
June 5, 2025
ArtBooksColossalCraft
Jackie Andres
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Blazing orange sunsets linger upon lush green trees once again, marking longer days and the vibrant arrival of summer. The Colossal Shop’s new collection, Color Therapy, sets the tone for the warmer months ahead by celebrating radiant hues reflective of the season.
This edition of new products has been carefully curated to uplift your spirits and space, bringing you feel-good and functional products designed and conceived by talented creatives. Whether you’re eyeing jammy egg candles and risograph matchboxes for patio dinner parties, or you’re after beach day games and a journal to take along on vacation, there’s something for everyone.
We’re also happy to introduce a new way to skip shipping fees altogether for our Chicago folks. If you’re nearby, simply choose the “pick up in store” option at checkout to receive your items at Joy Machine. We’re always more than happy to say hi and reduce packaging waste (plus, you can spend some time with the art on our walls!).
Dive into some our fresh picks below.
Fill Your Space with Bright Summer Energy
If detail-oriented domestic goods are your jam, you’ll love our new homey additions. Handcrafted ceramic pieces, locally made matchboxes, and artist-designed storage systems are just the tip of the iceberg! We’ve got an entire trove of small luxuries for you to explore.
Brushstrokes and Bulletpoint Lists
Handmade in their Des Moines, Iowa studio, each of Moglea’s notebooks are truly one-of-a-kind. Every A6 journal features hand painted front and back covers, high-quality wire binding, and an elastic closure. They’re truly perfect for for on-the-go adventures.
Handy Tools for Budding Artists
Alongside a restock of our building block pocket crayons is a new stamp kit! Layer forms, stack, overlap them to create landscapes and subjects, or apply them abstractly and rhythmically to conjure patterns. Inspire the young artist in your life to see the world through shape and color with these adorable art supplies.
Pressing Petals in Your Pocket
Whether you’re taking up flower pressing as a new summer hobby or you’ve been practicing the craft for years, Studio Wald’s pocket flower presses will make your life easier. Flatten and dry your favorite flowers as you roam during your evening walks and extensive backpacking journeys.
Chromatic Competition
Leisure time means game time. Pack your beach bag with a set of waterproof playing cards and a stowable game of Four-in-a-Row, while donning a striking bandana that doubles as a Snakes and Ladders game board. Functional and fashionable!
Share the Sky with Someone Far Away
Before you embark on your travels, don’t forget to pack these postcards from artist Macarena Ruiz-Tagle. Simply hold the Cyanometer, Sunset, or Air Pollution postcard up to the sky and peer through, mark the corresponding hue, and share a thought or two before dropping it in the mail.
Lunch or Lists?
Deli slices, eggs, toast, pasta, olives…. sounds a lot like your grocery list, doesn’t it? Make errands more fun with these sticky note samplers from artist Mel Andrel, who blurs the lines between productivity and play.
As always, visit the Colossal Shop for more.
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Art
Books
History#graffiti
#New York City
#performance
#Rammellzee
#street artJuly 23, 2024
Kate Mothes More
