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A Tale of Two Art Fairs: Frieze vs. Superfine

Art fairs have a special place in the heart of the art community, serving as bustling marketplaces where collectors and enthusiasts can discover emerging talent and engage with established names. However, not all art fairs are created equal, as I was reminded on a day that took me from the hallowed halls of Frieze to the vibrant aisles of Superfine.

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A Lithium Mine and an Art Haven in Catamarca

So, my friend Gabriel, who's practically been my partner in crime since we were kids, has bought his second lithium mine. Yes, you heard that right—a whole mine! And not just anywhere, but in the rugged, stunning terrain of Catamarca, Argentina. It's called the 3C (Tres Cruces) and, from what Gabriel tells me, it's quite the place.

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Decoding Liz Nielsen’s Unique Photographic Technique

A couple of years ago, I got to meet Liz Nielsen at her Brooklyn studio thanks to our mutual friend, art dealer Michelle Tillou. I was immediately drawn to Liz's work, although at first, I couldn't quite figure out how she was pulling it off. It turns out, she's a camera-less photographer, which blew my mind.

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MAD54: Pioneering a New Era of Accessible Art

I had an engaging conversation with Aida Valdez, the founder of MAD54. Aida and I found common ground in our shared vision of breaking down the barriers that make art seem inaccessible. MAD54 is an online platform that aims at shattering conventional boundaries and introducing new perspectives on art and its interaction with society. This contemporary art initiative is making strides for its innovative and dynamic approach to contemporary art.

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Buying Art Online: Top Tips and Red Flags

Buying art online can be a whole lot of fun but let's be honest, it can also be pretty overwhelming. The digital world is a treasure trove of art, featuring pieces from artists at every stage of their careers. While it’s super convenient to scroll through galleries from your couch, there are a few potential hiccups that can make the process more anxiety-inducing than it should be.

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Keiko Kamata’s Work

Keiko Kamata is redefining the landscape of printmaking with her innovative approach to silkscreening. Unlike many of her contemporaries who might produce uniform series, Keiko treats each print as a unique exploration, capturing distinct moments filled with originality. Her approach is marked by spontaneity and an intuitive mastery of the medium.

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The Importance of Context

It is impossible to understand our world (and ourselves in it) without looking at it in context. Context provides us with the information we require to operate successfully in our everyday lives. It is so intertwined within our lives that it dictates every decision we make; in other words, we cannot escape it.

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Striated Visions: Nico's Layered Abstract Landscapes

Nico creates large-scale paintings of abstract landscapes in black and white—and often an additional light hue; though his technique and his masterful use of gradient to produce depth render the color palette rather inconsequential. His work is built from the background forward through repeated layering of pigments, which include oils and acrylics.

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Brian Alfred, Beauty is a Rare Thing

Strolling through Chelsea, I ended up at the Miles McEnery Gallery—it's one of those places with multiple interconnected spaces that I somehow always get turned around in, though that’s on me. Anyway, I was drawn inside by a show visible right from the sidewalk. It was Brian Alfred’s latest exhibition. The highlight? Catching Brian Alfred himself on the gallery floor, meticulously retouching one of his displayed paintings. A few onlookers were peppering him with questions, some pretty off the mark. I had a few questions of my own—the good questions—but he was dialed in, totally absorbed in his work.

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The Impact of Art on Empty Walls

“The emptiness of this wall is driving me nuts,” my client said as we both stare at a massive blank wall in her home. She was right, the room felt incomplete, even unsettling. I’m sure many of you have experienced this feeling before. Ever wonder why? The reason lies deep within the way we perceive our surroundings.

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Cultural Layers: Exploring Kotatsu Iwata’s Artistic Evolution

Twenty years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Kotatsu Iwata, a Japanese artist with an extraordinary talent for capturing the essence of visual culture through his art. At the time, I was excited to learn everything I could about his work, and be exposed to his phenomenal visual language. Among his works, two large-scale Starbucks-inspired paintings stood out, their striking imagery still imprinted in my memory. Two decades later, my enthusiasm for Iwata’s work hasn’t waned.

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Serra’s Immersive Legacies

One of the clearest memories I have of my child as a toddler was watching her navigate the grand expanse of the three Richard Serra sculptures on permanent display at DIA Beacon.

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A Digital Field of Poppies

Since 2019, Rovner has chronicled these flowers, weaving a narrative that balances the beauty of nature with the shadows of ongoing conflict, infusing her work with tones that reflect themes of loss and resilience—even offering a poignant reflection on the complexities of existence and coexistence.

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Laura Schneider—Subjective Truths

A few years ago, a serendipitous message led me to Laura’s art. I’ve been a champion of it ever since, and not surprisingly, as her work is emotionally rich. She is a multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on memories and their limitations and the subjective truths that emerge from them.

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Ellen de Meijer: Capturing Society's Dichotomy Through Art

Ellen de Meijer's poignant brushwork brings to life the complex narratives of modern-day archetypes… of society's unspoken challenges and deceptions. Born in 1955, this Dutch contemporary artist delves deep into the psyche of societal constructs, exploring themes such as power dynamics, the erosion of genuine emotion, and the dichotomy between one's public facade and inner truth.

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