The Type Gallery is a series of beautifully designed and screen printed posters celebrating the art of typography by founder Mike Hanlan. Each poster features one of the of world’s twelve greatest typefaces and includes the designer, foundry, historical perspective, and a complete alphabet. Each is 24 x 36-inch print is screened in black and warm grey on archival 80lb cover stock.
At first glance I assumed Shane Griffin‘s Chromatic series were paintings, but nope. (I kind of love when art deceives me.) Care to venture a guess? They were created by exploring light transitions through glass. As Griffin says, “the failure of colors to converge through the lens creates beautiful emissions of the spectrum.”
Jenny Holzer‘s Inflammatory Essays installation was love at first sight. It consists of 24 short texts, each one hundred words long, arranged in twenty lines printed in Times Roman Bold Italic, each sheet measuring 17 x 17-inches. When first shown (1979-82), Holzer pasted them throughout the streets of Manhattan, choosing each location by subject matter and printing each in a different color for viewers to be able to tell the difference in messages. They were recently shown together as a group at Oracle in Berlin, Germany.
There’s something special about Julie Cockburn‘s art, the way the rainbow of embroidery floss works its way across the surface of each faded vintage photograph. Circles, geometric patterns, and imagined cages cover the found images, giving a previous person’s art new life in the form of Julie’s work.
Why should kids get to have all the fun? If you’re in the market for a luxurious objet, check out the Bubble Ball & Wand. Crafted in 3D printed porcelain and 3D printed plated 14K gold, Lance McGregor’s plaything can be quite the talking point. Once you’re done blowing bubbles.
James Gilleard‘s Japan by Car series captures his travels around the country in digital sketch form. I love the unexpected, subtle geometric elements present in each piece. And even though these are from Gilleard’s adventures in Japan, I really appreciate how they may as well be from just about anywhere. (“We are more alike my friends, than we are unalike.”)
Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. To thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.
Krist Kohut is a longstanding favorite artist of mine who has been featured on the pages of Design Crush more than once. Her mixed media art makes me smile time and time again, whether it’s a piece from her intricate Agate collection or the more freestyle Color Field body of work. I feel like I just get Kristi’s work and in turn she must get me – and that’s a great feeling no matter where it comes from!
Krist‘s multi-media art is inspired by nature and she uses any number of mediums to create it, including acrylic, watercolor, ink, pastels, and glass beads. In 2007, in addition to her art practice, she founded Kristi Kohut Home, a design studio dedicated to making high-end fabrics, pillows, poufs, and wallpaper featuring her signature work.
“My work is influenced by color and pattern in the world all around us. A permeating crack on the sidewalk, the vibrant layers of agate rock, the exotic clothing of a faraway place, are my muses. I love the color and effect created when unexpected colors and textures are combined. The glossiness of an acrylic paint next to the chalky texture of a pastel. Or an iridescent blend next to a thick, velvety smudge of oil pigment.
My process is an intuitive dance of play, working until I find just the right combination of color and texture. I know when it is done, when it elicits a feeling inside, a zing, a ping of joy or pleasure that often comes with that final touch or pop of color, suddenly transforming the piece. That feeling is a connection to something more, something that is not of the day-to-day routine of life. The antithesis of routine. A hint at what’s on the other side of this world.”
I own three pieces of Krist Kohut‘s art, as well as a pillow and a scarf. Since releasing her line of wallpaper it’s become a goal to deck out one of my bathrooms with some of her pattern there as well. Of course we’re not leaving you out of the fun – Kristi is kindly gifting one reader with their choice of either one huge 37 x 57-inch print OR two 22 x 30-inch prints! You’ve got 22 chances to enter and 48-hours to make it happen, you know the drill.
Posted In behind the scenes, create, mixed media, paper goods, prints, series, shameless plug, win it
When you’re intimately close to a subject why not make it a recurring theme? Eliza Douglas creates large-scale paintings depicting her own hands, sometimes her feet as well. They’re always realistic, but from wrist and ankle on all bets are off. Bends and curves that have no place in the human body show up often in extremities of absurd lengths. Human bodies are mysterious and magical and capable of extraordinary things, and I love Douglas’s exploration of their outermost regions.
San Diego-based artist and designer Andrew McGranahan creates both handcut and digital collages using old magazines that you’re likely familiar with like Life and National Geographic. These scenes are meant to feel familiar yet otherworldly all at the same time, creating a sense of discomfort that leaves you searching every piece for details divulging more information.
Aside from having a name that makes me smile every time I type it, My Friend Paco also has a shop full of creative and heartfelt home decor and fashion. Each piece is produced in Portugal with its own story to tell that’s full of youth, culture, and open-mindedness. If you appreciate unique, contemporary design check out their rugs, variety of cushions, and scarves for a dose of personality and humor!
