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Lore Frias: A Vivid Journey in Portraiture

I'm constantly on the lookout for new talent, and as I mentioned, I've developed a new understanding of portraiture. My search through social media led me to the work of Mexican artist Lore Frias. In a recent conversation, I explored her ever-evolving work, which boldly examines color and intimate portraiture.

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Alex Kiessling: Creativity, Change, and Curiosity

After a few days of back-and-forth, I finally sat down with Austrian artist Alex Kiessling. Known for his vibrant and dynamic approach to figurative painting, Alex has always intrigued me. Recently, I've been looking at figurative art with fresh eyes and developing a new appreciation for it. Eager to learn more about the thoughts and processes of figurative artists, especially those creating portraits, I reached out to Alex for his insights.

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The Germans are exceptionally skilled at abstraction. Why is this the case?

A couple of articles ago, I mentioned that I systematically categorize the artists I admire, and one of these categories is “Contemporary German Abstraction.” The reason for such specific category is the remarkable proficiency of German artists in the realm of abstraction. Maybe I'm overgeneralizing, but every time I find a work of abstract art I love, it often falls into this category. It might be something that resonates with me personally, but I don’t think I’m alone in this sentiment.

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Daniel Man: Insights and Artistic Process

Daniel Man is an artist I have long admired. He is not only incredibly talented but also genuinely nice. What can I say? He’s “The Man.” I was thrilled when he recently agreed to catch up, and this week, we connected via Zoom. Set against the backdrop of his studio in Augsburg, Germany, our conversation offered a glimpse into his current projects and his approach to his work.

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Tomislav Topic: Insights and Artistic Evolution

I met Tomislav Topic several years ago. I still remember the first time I saw one of his installations—it was so cool I knew I had to meet the person behind it. His work thoughtfully explores how we perceive colors and their profound impact on us.

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Reductive Art: Simplicity as Sophistication

A focus on simplicity and refined elegance. You might wonder why these pieces are so compelling, even though they seem simple. Let’s explore the world of reductionist art, where less really is more.

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Peter Demos: The Power of Contrast

This is the work of artist Peter Demos—a great example of contemporary abstraction. I first discovered his work a few years ago through my then-business partner, Michael Souter. Michael has a thing for pure abstraction, so it wasn’t a shock that he loved Peter’s work.

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Andrew Faris: Bold Hues and Abstract Narratives

Andrew's journey into art is rooted in his design background, which has significantly shaped his approach from the start. In our conversation, he shared how he's moved away from the way he began creating art—meticulously planning his compositions—to embracing a more spontaneous interplay of colors on the canvas. It's less about starting with a concrete idea and more about letting the paint flow and evolve naturally.

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Sigmund de Jong: The Art Studio as a Research Center

Last week, I did a virtual studio visit with artist Sigmund De Jong, with whom I connected a few months ago on Instagram. I really adore the simplicity of his work—a great example of less is more, though, in this case, it’s A LOT more. He showed me around his studio in the Netherlands with the help of his friend Raph, who acted as a cameraman. As we “walked” into the studio, Sigmund welcomed me by referring to it as his “research center” which, as a science nerd, has stayed with me ever since. It’s as if at that moment, all the studio visits I’ve done in my career became even clearer.

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“Hughmans,” Hugh Hayden

If you know me, you know I’m all in for shows that leave you pondering way more questions than when you walked in. That’s exactly what hit me at “Hughmans,” Hugh Hayden’s latest exhibition at the Lisson Gallery. Now, this gallery has two spots in New York right next to each other, but it’s art the smaller one where the magic happens—IMHO, more often than not, it's where the really captivating shows unfold.

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How to Find Up-and-Coming Artists—I’ll Tell You My Secret

“Where do you find cool artists?” That’s the question I hear all the time. Everyone who’s into art is always on the hunt for new talent. Unearthing these hidden gems takes some real intuition and a bit dedication, but it’s not impossible. Let’s dive into how I do it:

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The Appeal of Abstraction

In general terms, abstraction is defined as the “absence of concreteness.” Consequently, abstract art is not concerned with a concrete depiction of our visual world. Instead, it relies on shapes, colors, lines and tones to transmit its effect.

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Maggie Jay Horne - Converging Lines

In art, lines represent a conceptualization of the real world that can help us in our perception of objects, depth, distance, etc. Appearing as marks on a paper, lines help us perceive a three-dimensional, dynamic world represented on a two-dimensional surface.

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Exploring 'From Thebes to Cairo' at Yossi Milo Gallery

Thursday mornings in Chelsea are the best, especially when you’re gallery hopping with a friend. This week, my friend Aaron and I decided to hit up a bunch of spots, and our highlight was definitely Yossi Milo Gallery. They have ann amazing show called "From Thebes to Cairo" by Ibrahim Said, and wow, it’s something else.

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A Serendipitous Zoom Meeting: Leiti Hsu and the Art of Event Making

Leiti has a knack for connecting people that really amps up the emotional vibe of any gathering, turning what could be just another event into a genuinely transformative experience. After the official part of the meeting wrapped up, Leiti and I ended up talking for another hour, just swapping ideas and thoughts.

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