"If you were to describe me without anyone being able to see me, they would think I am a monster (Guardian video + article), that I am not fuckable. But if they see me, that could perhaps change." While French artist ORLAN's work spans decades and mediums (FR, may be NSFW), she is perhaps best known for her 1990s performance series "The Reincarnation of Saint-ORLAN" wherein ORLAN filmed herself receiving seven different plastic surgeries (NSFW) while entirely conscious. [more inside]
posted by nonmerci on Jul 6, 2009 - 26 comments

It's hard not to hear "glitter painting" and think it is as disposable an artform as the Velvet Elvis, but San Francisco artist Jamie Vasta has taken everyone's favorite craft supply to a strange and beautiful new height. Represented by Patricia Sweetow in San Francisco, Vasta recreates reference photos at large scale using only glitter and glue. [more inside]
posted by liketitanic on Jun 30, 2009 - 18 comments

Art Museum for sale. Rocked by a budget crisis, Brandeis University will close its Rose Art Museum and sell off a 6,000-object collection that includes work by such contemporary masters as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Nam June Paik. The LA Times makes the Madoff connection.
posted by R. Mutt on Jan 26, 2009 - 29 comments

Iranian artists open a window to the world.; is an article discussing (in order) the art of Golnaz Fathi; a classically trained Caligrapher.
From her website 1; 2; 3; 4; and a video.
Tanavoli Parviz - sculpter.
Nadia Ghai-Far - abstract painter( click peintures and fusains).
Farhad Moshiri - multi - disiplinary.
and Shirana Shabazi - photographer.
posted by adamvasco on Dec 6, 2008 - 1 comment

The World in Contemporary Islamic Art (via bbc) 18 May – 2 Sept; at the British Museum in London. Among the exhibitors are The Iraqi calligrapher Hassan Massoudy Iranian photographers: Shadi Ghadirian and Malekeh Nayini and artists Farhad Moshiri and Khosrow Hassanzadeh The Egyptian artist Sabah Naim The Palestinian artist Laila Shawa and the Saudi Arabian X-ray artist Fahad Mater-al-Ziad (pdf) If, like me you can’t get to see the real thing maybe these will help. Enjoy.
posted by adamvasco on May 17, 2006 - 11 comments

Sarah Sze is an incredible artist (link is to a large image). Things fall apart (jeep cherokee), slow growth sets in and paint peels off the walls. Objects stretch out toward each other. Detail persists on a large and small scale. Here's a resume. Here are a few more images and a review. Here's another short article.
posted by nobody on Mar 30, 2005 - 25 comments

This is not pornography. Spaces filled with removed figures.
posted by the fire you left me on Jul 13, 2004 - 19 comments

Regeneration: Contemporary Chinese Art From China and the US.
posted by hama7 on Jul 9, 2004 - 3 comments

Contemporary art, in general, seems to be rather risky. After seeing an example of modern architecture in the incubatory stages, I wonder why our buildings and spaces are so aesthetically traditional. [more inside]
posted by hijinx on Jul 15, 2001 - 29 comments