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    Flowers and Butterflies Stitch Messages of Hope into Crumpled Metal and Corroded Barrels

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    Detail of “MEADOWS.” Photo by Ineta Armanavičiūtė. All images courtesy of Severija Inčirauskaitė, shared with permission

    Flowers and Butterflies Stitch Messages of Hope into Crumpled Metal and Corroded Barrels

    January 24, 2025

    ArtSocial Issues

    Kate Mothes

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    On the sides of rusted barrels or crushed steel spheres, Lithuanian artist Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė (previously) applies delicate reminders of resilience. Using cotton thread, the artist cross-stitches vibrant flowers and butterflies onto facets of corroded metal, merging materials that appear to have little in common.

    Where metal is rough, strong, and utilitarian, embroidery is tender, soft, and decorative. Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė taps into these diametric characteristics in her continuing examination of war. A large metal ball titled “OFFSIDE,” for example, represents the world’s cumulative conflicts. “It is like a huge disaster with a small embroidered butterfly that is like a small, fragile sign of hope,” she says.

    “Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)” (2023), metal and cotton thread. Photo by Modestas Ežerskis and Ineta Armanavičiūtė

    The small nation of Belarus separates Lithuania from Ukraine, where the impacts of the ongoing Russian assault reverberate across the region. “The war is very close to us,” the artist tells Colossal, “so we can’t relax and just think about life.” Incorporating insects and blooms, steeped in symbolic references to compassion, generosity, and care, Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė suggests that despite humans’ destructive actions, hope perseveres.

    Find more on the artist’s Instagram.

    “Offside” (2024), metal, and cotton threads. Photo by Enrika Samulionytė

    Detail of “Offside.” Photo by Enrika Samulionytė

    “OFFSIDE” (2024)

    “MEADOWS” (2023), metal barrels and cotton, 360 x 40 x 20 centimeters. Photo by Ineta Armanavičiūtė

    Detail of “MEADOWS.” Photo by Ineta Armanavičiūtė

    “Timeless Fragility” (2022), oil barrel lid and cross stitch, 60 centimeters diameter. Photo by Ineta Armanavičiūtė

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    • 125 Shares93 Views

      in Art

      Nosheen Iqbal Translates Pakistani Craft Traditions into Vivid Sculptural Embroideries

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      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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    • 125 Shares169 Views

      in Art

      Nature Alights on Cheerful Faces in Abi Castillo’s Ceramic Sculptures

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      All images courtesy of Abi Castillo, shared with permission

      Nature Alights on Cheerful Faces in Abi Castillo’s Ceramic Sculptures

      December 3, 2024

      ArtCraft

      Kate Mothes

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      Whether sprouting flowers for spectacles or summoning bluebirds, Abi Castillo’s playful characters mirror our inner selves, one another, and the world around us.

      “When I was little, they called me ‘Big Eyes,’ a name I received with pride, since it is an inheritance from my paternal grandmother, whom I barely knew but who stood out for her big eyes and powerful gaze,” Castillo (previously) says in a statement. “Carrying this legacy makes me aware of the importance of knowing where I come from and where I belong.”

      Through standalone sculptures and functional objects, Castillo emphasizes the act of seeing. Eyes are everywhere, looking back at the viewer as a reminder to reflect on what the artist describes as “this ephemeral, hectic, and hostile life.” She adds, “Each of my characters also holds a reflection of myself, of my connection with nature and of that little girl that I still carry inside…”

      Castillo is looking forward to moving to a larger studio soon, and she is currently busy making new sculptures, experimenting with different techniques to explore new shapes and formats, like jewelry. Find more on her website, and stay up-to-date on Instagram.

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    • 113 Shares169 Views

      in Art

      Yumi Okita’s Butterflies and Botanicals Metamorphose from Colorful Thread

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      Yumi Okita’s Butterflies and Botanicals Metamorphose from Colorful Thread

      December 2, 2024

      ArtCraftNature

      Kate Mothes

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      From vibrant thread and wire, Yumi Okita conjures thrillingly lifelike moths, butterflies, and flowers. The Raleigh-based artist (previously) meticulously embroiders insects’ colorful wings with an eye for realism, so until you’re up close, they appear as though they could flutter away at any moment. And in her more recent series of otherworldly botanicals, petals, leaves, and roots curl to look as though they were just plucked from their habitats.

      Okita often adds original sculptures to her Etsy shop, and you can also follow updates on Instagram.

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    • 138 Shares169 Views

      in Art

      Under Lock and Key, Ant Hamlyn’s Synthetic Flowers Scramble for Space

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      “Toy Garden 1” (2024), hand-sewn and machined polyurethane coated fabrics, stuffing, sealed acrylic vitrine, and stainless steel, 20 x 20 x 20 centimeters. All images courtesy of Ant Hamlyn, shared with permission

      Under Lock and Key, Ant Hamlyn’s Synthetic Flowers Scramble for Space

      October 16, 2024

      Art

      Kate Mothes

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      Encased in transparent cubes and smushed behind panes of acrylic, Ant Hamlyn’s (previously) brilliant blooms and verdant stems are perpetually preserved. Polyurethane-coated fabrics, which he hand-sews and then stuffs, shape a cartoonish view of our predilection to try to harness and preserve things of beauty.

      Often focusing on bright botanicals and fungi, Hamlyn’s playful sculptures crush fabric flowers into cases secured with wing nuts or locked with soft padlocks. Captive blossoms, leaves, and terracotta pots appear just barely contained but with no means of escape.

      “Vase 4” (2024), hand-sewn and machined polyurethane coated fabrics, stuffing, laser cut acrylic, cnc-routed plywood, gloss paint, and fixings, 55 x 40 x 10 centimeters

      Two ongoing series, Vases and Toy Garden, examine the relationship between hard and soft, synthetic and organic, and fragility and play. Mashed up against their enclosures, the blooms appear incredibly uncomfortable while also exuding brightness and cheer.

      Explore more of the artist’s work on his website and Instagram.

      Selection from the series Toy Garden

      “Vase 2” (2024), hand-sewn and machined polyurethane coated fabrics, stuffing, laser cut acrylic, cnc-routed plywood, gloss paint, and fixings, 55 x 40 x 10 centimeters

      “Vase 6” (2024), hand-sewn and machined polyurethane coated fabrics, stuffing, laser cut acrylic, cnc-routed plywood, gloss paint, and fixings, 55 x 40 x 10 centimeters

      “Vase 3” (2024), hand-sewn and machined polyurethane coated fabrics, stuffing, laser cut acrylic, cnc routed plywood, gloss paint, and fixings, 55 x 40 x 10 centimeters

      “Toy Garden 5” (2024), hand-sewn and machined polyurethane coated fabrics, stuffing, sealed acrylic vitrine, and stainless steel, 20 x 20 x 20 centimeters

      Detail of “Vase 6”

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    • 150 Shares129 Views

      in Art

      In London, a 15-Foot Flower by Shepard Fairey Advocates for Environmental Justice

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      All photos by Jonathan Furlong, courtesy of the artist ObeyGiant, shared with permission

      In London, a 15-Foot Flower by Shepard Fairey Advocates for Environmental Justice

      October 11, 2024

      ArtClimateSocial Issues

      Grace Ebert

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      At 36 Boundary Street in London, a bold new mural rises 15 feet above the street. Anchored by scales atop a small seedling, the public artwork by Shepard Fairey addresses environmental justice and our responsibility to care for the planet.

      “I believe that our individual and collective actions will dramatically impact current and future generations, be it for the better or for the worse. It is our responsibility as the citizens of Earth to protect it,” the artist said.

      A series of workshops with young Londoners inspired the bright, graphic motif. The group was interested in expanding access to green space and reducing air pollution, and given the recent convening of the United Nations General Assembly focusing on international cooperation, connection between countries and cultures was top of mind.

      The project was produced by Charlotte Pyatt, Simon Butler, and Migrate Art, which has raised more than £2.1 million in the last decade through creative projects in refugee camps in France and Northern Iraq, with the Indigenous Xingu people in the Amazon, and in collaboration with U.K.-based charities feeding London’s unhoused population.

      Find more from the artist on his website.

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    • 175 Shares109 Views

      in Art

      Spider Lilies and Cherry Blossoms by Sakae Unfurl in Wire and Resin Hair Pieces

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      All images courtesy of Sakae, shared with permission

      Spider Lilies and Cherry Blossoms by Sakae Unfurl in Wire and Resin Hair Pieces

      October 9, 2024

      ArtCraft

      Kate Mothes

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      Originating during the ancient Jōmon period in Japan, the kanzashi is a rod or stick worn in the hair. This accessory evolved over time to encompass other ornaments like barrettes and fabric flowers. Today, they’re worn by geishas and brides.

      Tokyo-based artist Sakae (previously) continues this centuries-old tradition through an ongoing series of contemporary hairpins. Using liquid resin and wire, she meticulously styles cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and spider lilies into ornate, wearable pieces.

      Explore these delicate works in-depth on her website.

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    • 113 Shares169 Views

      in Art

      Vibrant Life Emanantes from Meggan Joy’s Magical Collaged Silhouettes

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      “Try One’s Luck.” All images courtesy of J. Rinehart Gallery, shared with permission

      Vibrant Life Emanantes from Meggan Joy’s Magical Collaged Silhouettes

      September 9, 2024

      Art Nature Photography

      Grace Ebert

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      Thousands of individual flowers and plants grown in Meggan Joy’s Seattle garden form the contours of her ethereal figures. The artist (previously) collages perfectly trimmed photographs of each specimen into silhouettes lush with color and texture.

      In her most recent body of work titled Fever Dream, Joy draws on fear, loss, and the immense potential for pain. “Wide and Wild,” for example, depicts a woman cradling a Eurasian Eagle Owl near her heart. “She’s a piece for when you find your person (whether that be a lover, friend, kids, whatever), and once you have them, you know that if they disappear in any way, you also will be gone,” the artist shares in a statement.

      “Wide and Wild”

      Others relate to bad decisions yielding positive experiences and how etermal bonds require patience and understanding. Each work, Joy shares, “whisper(s) the components of the stories that tested us and, instead of condemning our faults, reveal that those moments left us the most exciting scars.

      Fever Dream is on view through September 25 at J. Rinehart Gallery. Follow Joy’s work on Instagram.

      “Thick As Thieves”

      “Thick As Thieves”

      “Try One’s Luck”

      “Icarus”

      “Tyche”

      Detail of “Wide and Wild”

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