symone is undeniably one of the most successful drag queens to come out of the iconic, boundary-pushing, conversation-opening, mind-widening rupaul’s drag race. her path and looks are reminiscent of rupaul charles himself - who’s quite the protegée of the crown holder. her political stance on the show has been subtle but powerful, as the drag artist continues her legacy by simply being everywhere.
Read MoreSaint Hoax is undeniably one of the most elusive contemporary artists to have burst onto the art scene. Undefined by age or gender, the work stands for itself, one thought-inducing statement at a time. Yet it is the artist’s unusual career path that has proven to be the bigger statement, rising to fame as both a digital provocateur with the uncanny ability to consistently go viral with each passing post and a masterful painter whose work has been exhibited in galleries around the world. Saint Hoax, the black sheep in an otherwise puritanical art world, is nothing less than a trailblazer for the next generation of artists to come.
Read MoreThere’s something inherently radical about portraying the queer community in Arab countries, arguably one of the most underrepresented communities in the world. The beauty of Art Queer Habibi however, is that said representation does not come by means of victimhood nor leftist political propaganda. Instead, the pseudonymous artist chooses to affectionately and unapologetically depict the daily lives of those who live in a place where most would rather they never existed.
Read MoreCreative director Yuni Yoshida is a master at making commercial work feel like art. Armed with a knack for visual coincidences and an uncompromised childlike imagination, Yoshida’s stunning imagery draws you in from first glance with its crafty detail and charming quirkiness, keeping you coming back for more.
Read MoreAmerican artist Zoe Hawk paints the fascinating world of adolescent girls on the edge of womanhood, and what seems sweet and innocent at first sight often has a darker edge to it.
Read MoreAlthough self-portrait artists are rising by the dozen, izumi miyazaki’s quirky aesthetic, unexpected use of props, and downright masochistic dramatizations clearly distinguish her from the pack. Whether decapitated, dismembered or mutilated, one thing’s for sure, miyazaki’s work will leave you gutted.
Read MoreAes+f is, if anything, the biggest anomaly to have hit the art world in decades. Working as a quartet for over 30 years, which is in itself quite an accomplishment, the group’s award-winning work blurs the lines between the modern and the traditional, the east and the west, the opulent and the deprived, but most importantly, never ceases to be relevant to new generations of art lovers.
Read MoreDutch artist Ruud Van Empel creates photographic images that come across as both idealistic and realistic, and yet they really are collages painstalkingly constructed out of thousands and thousands of snapshots. Life has been busy or late for the 54-year-old. In late 2011, his latest book Ruud Van Empel, photo works 1995-2010 was published, while currently the San Diego museum of photographic arts hosts a major retrospective of his work. Plastik talked with Van Empel about his world and work, his views and visions.
Read MoreIf someone from the far future had to pick a painting that best depicts our time, it would be that of Alex Gross. be it a teenager playing Candy Crush on her iPhone, a couple of Chinese housewives drowning in LV or an iPad-clad nation taking a selfie, the American pop surrealist has crystallized a visual recollection of a vast world made smaller with a click of a button. Touching upon themes like consumerism, industrialization and self-consumption, his paintings can be dubbed ironic, alarming yet surreally real.
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Spanish-born Ignasi Monreal is one of the hottest and most sought-after fashion illustrators and graphic designers in the world today. His work appeared in, among other publications, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue Spain, V Magazine Spain, CANDY and Dolce & Gabbana’s online magazine Swide.
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Signe Pierce first burst onto the scene with the release of her 2014 short film American Reflexxx; a performance art piece featuring Pierce herself, wearing a mask and barely anything else, wandering the streets of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, waiting for something to happen. Little did she know that all hell would break loose as walkers by started attacking her both verbally and physically because of her hyper sexualized demeanor.
Read MoreJohn Yuyi’s work juxtaposes intimacy and sensuality with digital iconography – a daring combination that strikes a chord with an entire generation trying to find human connectivity within a hyper-connected digital world. Anyone who follows Yuyi on social media however, knows that her art is not only manifested through her photography, but through herself. Rarely will you find an artist as candid and open about her feelings, inner-turmoil, and every day struggles, making her not only one of the most relevant digital artists of our generation, but also a poignant digital performance artist.
Read MoreBorn in Paris, Malika Favre has been living in London for over a decade. Having worked for the illustrious Airside design studio until 2011, she is today one of Britain’s most sought-after graphic artists and illustrators. Her distinct, minimal style has been described as “Pop Art meets OpArt” and clearly betrays a love for the classy 50s, Paris and graphic novels. Malika’s clients include The New Yorker, Vogue, BAFTA, Gucci and Penguin Books. Malika talkED to Plastik about the art of illustrating, her career and inspirations, London vs. Paris, and much more.
Read MoreAs she was born on an island it is perhaps not so strange that sea and water are dominant elements in the work of Thani Mara. Life seems sweet to the young Spanish artist who loves all things Seventies.
Read MoreSPANISH ARTIST FILIP CUSTIC IS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE IMAGES AND VISUAL CAMPAIGNS THE WORLD HAS SEEN IN RECENT YEARS. TRAVELLING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN PAST AND FUTURE, SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY, CUSTIC IS THE 26-YEAR-OLD BEHIND THE WONDERFUL IMAGERY ON ROSALÍA’S LATEST ALBUM EL MAL QUERER.
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