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    Dinosaurs Overrun a World Post Climate Disaster in Michael Kerbow’s Paintings

    “Late Capitalism.” All images © Michael Kerbow, shared with permission

    Dinosaurs Overrun a World Post Climate Disaster in Michael Kerbow’s Paintings

    January 17, 2025

    ArtClimateNature

    Jackie Andres

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    After ending another year of record-breaking climate statistics, we stand at the precipice of 2025, which has already revealed its own devastating challenges. As the window for meaningful change continues to narrow during the next several years, we’re left to wonder what the world might look like if we stay on this path. Through the lens of hyper-consumerism, San Francisco-based artist Michael Kerbow (previously) envisions the future in his wry and imaginative landscape paintings.

    Swarming decayed gas station roofs, perching atop abandoned vehicles in forests, and sauntering past crumbling highways and fast food joints, the dinosaurs in Kerbow’s paintings govern a world overrun by the effects of late-stage capitalism. Hints of climate devastation reveal themselves through small details in the background, such as volcano eruptions, dense, hazy skies, and pools of floodwater.

    “Bypass”

    Kerbow scatters familiar signage and advertisements from recognizable chains within his scenes to introduce humor and make his work more approachable. However, the artist emphasizes the gravity of the issue at hand:

    We like to believe everything we currently have will always be there for us, but I suspect it could just as easily fall apart and slip away.  I try to stay optimistic about the future, but the truth is I am troubled by where I see things appear to be headed, specifically with the health of our ecosystem. Each passing year seems to bring more alarming statistics, and this comfortable place we call home seems to grow more precarious.  It is sobering to consider my artwork as foreshadowing a future reality.

    As Kerbow continues to make new paintings, you can follow along on Instagram and see his website for more.

    “Adaptive Reuse”

    “Vestige (Golden Arches)”

    “Black Monday”

    “Highwater”

    “Glade”

    “Economic Decline”

    “Siren Song”

    “Shadowplay”

    “Oasis”

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    The Dog Did It! Stephen Morrison’s Trompe-l’œils Brim with Canine Character

    “Housework Won’t Kill You, But Why Take a Chance” (2024), oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. All images courtesy of Stephen Morrison and Hashimoto Contemporary, shared with permission

    The Dog Did It! Stephen Morrison’s Trompe-l’œils Brim with Canine Character

    January 16, 2025

    Art

    Kate Mothes

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    To say that Stephen Morrison’s work is inspired by dogs would be an understatement. Through sculptural assemblages and paintings of puppy faces tucked in foliage or morphing from household items, Morrison evokes the timeless love for our pets.

    “I think I’ve always been a bit of a hedonist and kind of set up to love the life of a dog, of doing whatever you want when you want to do it,” Morrison recently told Hyperallergic in an interview. “That’s why making work with dogs feels so natural because it’s deeply a part of my character.”

    “Every Direction at Once” (2025), oil on panel, 20 x 16 inches

    Morrison also draws inspiration from his beloved pit bull mix, Tilly, who was the ring bearer at his wedding and died three years ago. Her curious visage lives on in the artist’s idiosyncratic compositions, bringing expressive life to everything from birdhouses to table lamps.

    In the artist’s forthcoming solo exhibition at Hashimoto Contemporary, Morrison continues to channel canine personalities in Dog Show #4: House Broken.

    Trompe-l’œil paintings portray the supports on the backs of canvases, teeming with botanicals, stuffed animals, magazine clippings, and fruit. Likewise, a series of sculptures made from epoxy clay, resin, paper, and oil paint appear like assemblages of seemingly disparate items.

    In “Clump Spirit #5 (Study),” for example, a puppy’s face emerges from the front of a violin hanging from a hook, and “Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room)” displays a happy dog on a TV screen, stacked high with other objects that also feature distinctive eyes and snouts. Everything appears in a state of joyful yet barely contained disarray.

    “Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room)” (2024), television, silicone, textile, resin, and epoxy clay, 12 x 21 x 12 inches

    “This show reflects on the chaotic messiness of home life, inspired by the lively and dysfunctional environment I grew up in,” Morrison says. “Our house was filled with dancing, yelling, slapdash crafting, and a constant swirl of half-finished projects. Amid all the noise, there was an odd harmony—moments where the chaos seemed to hum along just right, as if disorder itself had a rhythm.”

    Dog Show #4: House Broken runs from January 18 to February 8 in New York City. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.

    “Build a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul” (2024), oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches

    “Clump Spirit #4 (Study)” (2025), epoxy clay, paper, resin, and oil paint, 26 x 10 x 5 1/2 inches

    “The Council of Plastic Limbs” (2025), oil on panel, 24 x 36 inches

    “Clump Spirit #3 (Bedroom)” (2025), epoxy clay and oil paint, 15 x 8 x 7 inches

    “Thank You for Your Business” (2025), oil on panel, 48 x 36 inches

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    At Ceramic Brussels, an Eclectic Array of Works Offers a State of the Medium

    Eirik Falckner, Kiosken. All images courtesy of Ceramic Brussels, shared with permission

    At Ceramic Brussels, an Eclectic Array of Works Offers a State of the Medium

    January 16, 2025

    ArtCraft

    Grace Ebert

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    From Nobuhito Nishigawara’s gilded drips to Andrés Anza’s spiny forms that could seemingly scuttle away at any moment, an eclectic array of works go on view this month for Ceramic Brussels.

    In its second year, the annual gathering is the only international art fair devoted entirely to the medium. The 2025 edition will feature works by more than 200 artists around the globe, with a particular focus on contemporary Norwegian makers.

    Andres Anza, Galleria Anna Marra

    Spanning myriad aesthetics and processes, the fair presents a wide variety of approaches to and a sort of state of the medium. Some artists, like Eirik Falckner, push the boundaries of ceramic art even further by collaborating with bees to layer thick chunks of honeycomb atop a raw armature.

    Find some works slated to be exhibited at the fair, which runs from January 23 to 26, below.

    Nobuhito Nishigawara, Almine Rech

    Marianne Huotari, Holster Burrows

    Daphne de Gheldere, Spax Projects

    Andres Anza, Galleria Anna Marra

    Nellie Jonsson, QB Gallery

    Nellie Jonsson, QB Gallery

    Samuel Yal, Galerie Ariane C-Y

    Laszlo Borsody, ACB Gallery

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    In Saqqara, Archaeologists Uncover the Sumptuous 4,100-Year-Old Tomb of a Royal Physician

    All images courtesy of Mission Archéologique Franco-Suisse de Saqqâra, shared with permission

    In Saqqara, Archaeologists Uncover the Sumptuous 4,100-Year-Old Tomb of a Royal Physician

    January 15, 2025

    ArtHistoryScience

    Kate Mothes

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    For ancient Egyptians, the afterlife—also called Duat, among other names—was a mystical realm overseen by the god Osiris, who personified rebirth and life after death. But entry to Duat was anything but guaranteed; when a person died, their spirit traveled across vast, challenging terrain and deposited them at the Hall of Final Judgment, where their heart was weighed against a feather from Ma’at, the goddess of justice and truth.

    In preparation for the afterlife, royals, dignitaries, and the wealthy elite constructed great tombs. The most elaborate among them were painted with ornamental murals that shared one’s accomplishments, packed with artwork and riches to demonstrate each individual’s status and accompany them to Duat.

    Expansive ancient necropolises complemented large cities, where society’s upper crust commissioned tombs, temples, and pyramids. For the capital of Memphis, the final resting place was typically Saqqara, which contains some of Egypt’s oldest monuments, some of which date back to the First Dynasty around 5,000 years ago.

    Scholars continue to unfurl millennia-old mysteries as archaeological excavations carry on in Saqqara. And sometimes, as researchers from the Mission Archéologique Franco-Suisse de Saqqâra (MAFS) recently found out, marvelous and unexpected discoveries still emerge from the sand.

    During the 2024 season, as the team excavated near a mastaba—a large-scale, rectangular, flat-roofed tomb—they discovered a number of smaller burials, including a “kiln” tomb. Also known as “oven” tombs, these burials are “made of raw bricks that are characterized by their vaulted ceiling,” says a statement from MAFS. “They are built several meters below the ground, and the only way to access them is through the burial shaft, always placed to the north of the entrance.”

    Typically, kiln tombs are “fairly simple mud brick monuments, sometimes with limestone walls, and even less often decorations,” MAFS says. Today, they are also often empty as a result of looting throughout the centuries. But instead of a basic, unadorned room, the team found vibrant wall paintings commemorating a doctor who died around 4,000 years ago.

    Archaeologists uncovered a stone tablet bearing the doctor’s name, Tetinebefou, near the entrance. A stele is a stone slab featuring text, imagery, or both, and in ancient Egypt, a false door stele represented a portal for the deceased’s spirit pass through into the afterlife. As researchers explored farther, the physician’s name was represented in other locations, confirming it to be his tomb.

    As reported in Live Science, Tetinebefou was known as a “dean of the palace physicians,” with inscriptions referring to him also as “conjurer of the goddess Serqet,” who was associated with protection from scorpion stings. He was also prescribed the titles of “director of medicinal plants” and “chief dentist,” both of which are unusual designations in ancient Egypt. It’s unclear which pharaoh he may have served, but MAFS’s lead Egyptologist Philippe Collombert suggests Tetinebefou may have worked under Pepi II, who reigned between approximately 2246 and 2152 B.C.E.

    Inside the tomb, relief carvings of urns, furniture, hieroglyphs, and garments are complemented by colorful patterns and richly textured ceiling. At some point in the past, the doctor’s tomb had indeed been looted, and only tiny fragments of objects remained. The decorations, however, mark an exceptional discovery.

    A documentary slated for 2026, directed by Frédéric Wilner, will take a deeper dive into the details of this excavation. In the meantime, explore more on the MAFS website.

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    Vibrant, Immersive Installations by Poh Sin Studio Emphasize Vulnerability as a Strength

    “Projection: Kite” (2019) at night. Photo by David Yeow. All images courtesy of Poh Sin Studio, shared with permission

    Vibrant, Immersive Installations by Poh Sin Studio Emphasize Vulnerability as a Strength

    January 15, 2025

    ArtDesign

    Kate Mothes

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    From vibrant rope to metal frames to acrylic panels, the chromatic installations of Poh Sin Studio invite viewers into glowing thoroughfares and sprawling pavilions. Founded by Pamela Poh Sin Tan, the studio emphasizes public art as a means of fostering relationships between people, their communities, and their surroundings.

    Tan’s immersive works blur the boundaries between disciplines, evoking a sense of curiosity and discovery. “I’m particularly drawn to engaging the public through art and creating experiences that inspire dialogue and connection,” she tells Colossal. “I believe public art is a powerful catalyst for urban renewal and psychological well-being, providing moments of reflection, joy, and connection.”

    Detail of “Crimson Cloud”

    For example, the artist shares that her most recent installation, “Structural Resonance,” explores the interplay between art and architecture, embodying layers of spatial and experiential narratives.” She is interested in how physical spaces interact with their environment and affect us visually and emotionally.

    Embracing fragility as a form of strength is central to Tan’s practice, manifesting in the way soft materials, like rope, complement those associated with resilience and permanence, like metal. “I find inspiration in overlooked details, such as plant veins, diatoms, mechanical and electrical systems, or even the skeletal framework of objects like a piano,” she says. “These hidden elements hold quiet beauty and complexity that I love to bring to light.”

    Art and architecture are inherently intertwined in Tan’s view. Design and engineering provides structure, context, and utility, while the artistic aspect adds compelling narrative and emotion. “Together, they reveal hidden dimensions, evoke movement, and connect deeply with viewers,” she says.

    Explore more on Poh Sin Studio’s website and Instagram.

    “Structural Resonance” (2024)

    “Projection: Kite.” Photo by David Yeow

    Detail of “Projection: Kite” (2019). Photo by David Yeow

    “Sunnyside Up” (2023) at MRT Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    “Sunnyside Up” (2023)

    “Crimson Cloud” (2022), at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Detail of “Crimson Cloud”

    “Eden”

    “Structural Resonance”

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    Paper or Porcelain? Saori Matsushita Folds Delicate Ceramic into Playful Objects

    All images courtesy of Saori Matsushita, shared with permission

    Paper or Porcelain? Saori Matsushita Folds Delicate Ceramic into Playful Objects

    January 14, 2025

    ArtCraft

    Grace Ebert

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    It might be tempting to throw one of Saori Matsushita’s paper airplanes across the room, but we promise you the landing would be less than graceful.

    From her Seattle studio, Matsushita transforms delicate sheets of porcelain into vases, mugs, and sculptures that appear as if they were folded from paper. Punctured with binder holes and the fringed edge of a torn-out sheet, the functional objects bear the iconic blue lines of a school notebook. Other works are similarly deceptive, like the cloth sack or collared-shirt vessels that capture the folds, bends, and bulges of fabric in ceramic.

    To create these pieces, Matsushita utilizes nerikomi, a Japanese pottery technique that involves layering colored bodies of clay together and then cutting them to reveal a patterned section. Stripes of blue and pink appear through stacking slabs rather than the glazing process, and the artist builds most works by hand (head to her YouTube to see more).

    When Matsushita began incorporating this labor-intensive method into her practice in 2023, it helped develop what’s now become her signature style. She shares:

    Previously, I focused on Neriage, a technique where colored clays are combined and wheel-thrown. However, I transitioned to Nerikomi and began treating porcelain sheets like origami or leather to create more unique, personal expressions of my vision. I feel this shift has allowed me to establish a style that truly reflects my individuality as an artist.

    One of Matsushita’s pieces will be featured in Saltstone Ceramics’ annual Mug Madness tournament this March. Follow the latest in her practice, along with announcements about new works available in her shop, on Instagram.

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    Lauren Halsey’s ’emajendat’ Is an Energetic Celebration of South Central Los Angeles

    Installation view of ’emajendat’ at Serpentine South. Installation photos by Hugo Glendinning, © Lauren Halsey, courtesy of Serpentine, shared with permission

    Lauren Halsey’s ’emajendat’ Is an Energetic Celebration of South Central Los Angeles

    January 14, 2025

    ArtSocial Issues

    Kate Mothes

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    Inspired by the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles, where Lauren Halsey’s family has lived for generations, vibrant sculptures and site-specific installations vividly reflect the artist’s community.

    At Serpentine South, a large-scale, maximalist exhibition titled emajendat highlights Halsey’s self-described obsession with material culture, her interest in remixing messages and symbols, and the need to confront issues that affect people of color, the queer community, and the working class.

    Installation view

    Halsey gathers photographs, posters, flyers, commercial signs, and found objects that relate to her communities’ activism, highlighting “a sense of civic urgency and free-flowing imagination,” says David Kordansky Gallery, which co-represents the artist with Gagosian. “Inspired by Afrofuturism and funk, as well as the signs and symbols that populate her local environments, Halsey creates a visionary form of culture that is at once radical and collaborative.”

    Past, present, and future merge in the artists exploration of how idols, architecture, history, and communication fuel how we perceive identities and society. She draws on the imagery of ancient Egypt, the African diaspora, Black and queer icons, and the visionary design associated with funk to construct a kind of ever-evolving archive.

    In a monumental rooftop installation titled “the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I),” Halsey nods to palatial, ancient Egyptian architecture, placing the faces of notable Black figures on the columns’ capitals, such as activist Susan Burton and ethnomusicologist Dr. Rachel Eubanks.

    Halsey’s eclectic “funkmound” sculptures also encompass numerous found items, harboring miniature dioramas and objects that appear as though they are emerging from heaps of cotton candy. Throughout emajendat, seemingly endless collages, sculptures, reflections, prismatic color, patterns, messages, and textures welcome the viewer into an enthusiastically immersive experience.

    Installation view of ‘The Roof Garden Commission: Lauren Halsey,’ “the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I)” (2022). Photo by Hyla Skopitz, © Lauren Halsey, courtesy of the artist; David Kordansky Gallery and The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    The social element of Halsey’s work is amplified by a community center she founded in 2019 called Summaeverythang, located adjacent to her studio in South Central. The nonprofit initiative is “dedicated to the empowerment and transcendence of Black and Brown folks socio-politically, economically, intellectually, and artistically.”

    emajendat continues through February 23 in Kensington Gardens, London. Plan your visit on the gallery’s website.

    Foreground: “keepers of the krown (susan burton)” (2024), glass fiber, reinforced concrete, and mixed media, 261 3/4 x 48 1/8 x 48 1/8 inches. Background: “keepers of the krown (dr. rachel eubanks)” (2024), glass fiber, reinforced concrete, and mixed media 261 3/4 x 48 1/8 x 48 1/8 inches. Photo by Andrea Avezzù, © Lauren Halsey, courtesy of the artist, David Kordansky Gallery, and Gagosian

    Installation view

    Installation detail

    Installation view

    Installation detail

    Installation collage detail

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    Nosheen Iqbal Translates Pakistani Craft Traditions into Vivid Sculptural Embroideries

    All images courtesy of Nosheen Iqbal, shared with permission

    Nosheen Iqbal Translates Pakistani Craft Traditions into Vivid Sculptural Embroideries

    January 13, 2025

    ArtCraft

    Grace Ebert

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    Equipped with vibrant cotton thread and wooden panels, Nosheen Iqbal stitches sculptural embroideries that draw on her Pakistani and Islamic heritage. Architectural arabesques and Punjabi craft traditions influence her mixed-media motifs, including phulkari, or floral folk embroideries, and woodblock printed reliefs known as bagh.

    Iqbal utilizes half-circles and semi-precious beads to add depth and visual intrigue to the works. Creating shadows and catching the light, these meticulously planned details allow a shift in perspective depending on the viewer’s position. The sweeping lines of color create “saturated pathways that reveal their intensity and depth,” she adds, “allowing my work to offer a shifting experience of light, color, and connection.”

    By emphasizing dimension and the interactions between materials, Iqbal hopes to push the medium in new directions while honoring broader making traditions. She says:

    Craftsmanship holds a profound significance in Pakistani culture, where artistry is revered as a lifelong discipline that shapes identity and community. This respect for meticulous craftsmanship is integral to my own practice. By selecting thoughtful materials—wood, semi-precious beads, and thread—I aim to honor this tradition. Each piece is a reflection of this cultural value, merging refined textures with precision to invite a tactile, immersive experience for the viewer.

    Born in London, Iqbal lives and works in Dallas and recently left a long career in design and art direction to become an artist full-time. You can find available pieces on her website and follow her work on Instagram.

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