Art News

After a traumatic childhood moment in which she nearly drowned, Pacita Abad (1946-2004) developed a profound fear of water. The massively prolific Filipina-American artist decided to overcome her trepidation in the 1980s and signed up for diving lessons at the British Sub-Aquatic Club in Thailand. There, she learned to safely plunge into the depths of the sea, completing more than 80 dives across the Phillippines in her lifetime. On view at Tina Kim Gallery in New York is a vivid series of trapunto paintings—a quilting technique that involves adding stuffing for puffed layers—inspired by Abad’s love for swimming. More Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Through Mixed-Media Quilts, Pacita Abad Dives Into the Lush Marine Ecosystems of the Philippines appeared first on Colossal.

 In “Fitting,” filmmaker Caitlin McMullan shares a sensitive moment at a medical office. Sitting on an exam table, she chats with Alison Morton, who carefully molds a cast around McMullan’s thigh and knee to create a prosthetic. The short film follows the pair, focusing the lens on the lower appendages as Morton measures, molds, and smooths a model that will help shape a new limb. As McMullan tries the leg on and shares how it forms to her body, she offers a unique view into the meticulous science behind the process of fitting the medical aid, along with the special intimacy between a prosthetist and a patient. More Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article A Filmmaker Documents the Unique Relationship Between Prosthetist and Patient in ‘Fitting’ appeared first on Colossal.

Cologne-based designers Martin Schneider and Dominik Schmitz of the Open Press Project are back with a new design that scales up miniature printmaking. Currently funding on Kickstarter, The Postcard Printing Press is the largest miniature model the duo have created so far, although it still fits on the palm of a hand and can be neatly tucked into a backpack for easy transport. As its name suggests, the 3D-printed, tabletop device is designed for paper about 4 x 9 inches wide and is capable of all types of intaglio printing, from etching and engraving to linocuts and woodcuts. More Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Print Your Own Postcards and Miniature Woodcuts with This Tabletop Printing Press appeared first on Colossal.

Over the centuries, humanity’s relationship with wilderness has becoming increasingly fraught, as we continue to diminish natural green spaces in favor of roads, buildings, and manicured lawns. For Vashon Island-based artist Ariana Heinzman, our connection—or disconnection—to nature plays a central role in her vibrant ceramics practice. For her current solo exhibition, Habitat for a Fake Plant at J. Rinehart Gallery, Heinzman (previously) conceived of a collection of quirky stoneware houseplants that sit on stools, irregularly shaped large-scale paintings, and decapitated-looking cuttings installed on the wall. More Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Ceramic Houseplants by Ariana Heinzman Revel in the Absurdity of Domestication appeared first on Colossal.

A bronze, elf-like figure sits at the edge of the River Enz in Germany, waiting to greet passersby with delightful arcs of color. The mysterious form, installed as part of Ornamenta 2024, was conceived by Veronika Sedlmair and Brynjar Sigurðarson over three years. The Iceland and Germany-based creative duo, a.k.a. Studio Brynjar & Veronika, has been working together for more than a decade, designing and executing pieces inspired by the theatrical and narrative aspects of nature. More Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article A Hooded Bronze Figure Sends Rainbows Wafting Across the River Enz appeared first on Colossal.