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Nick Gentry’s Technological Portraits Broach the Artificiality of Online Identities

By in Art World News

Nick Gentry’s Technological Portraits Broach the Artificiality of Online Identities

“Mask 1” (2023), used VHS cassette tapes, spray paint, and oil paint on wood, 20.5 x 29.5 inches. All images © Nick Gentry, courtesy of Robert Fontaine Gallery, shared with permission

In Skin Deep, Nick Gentry probes the “chasm between real and online personas.” Working on painted backdrops of outdated technology like floppy disks and VHS tapes, the artist invites questions that are uniquely contemporary, asking about performance and presentation on the internet, increasingly artificial standards of beauty, and the instability of memory over time.

Diverging from his earlier portraits that were more faithful to a subject’s likeness, Gentry’s new body of work is deeply influenced by the virtual. He often paints his figures in grayscale, leaving them devoid of defining characteristics, and uses the tape’s plastic reels to highlight their eyes. This melding of human and machine elicits the cold, detached feeling associated with a cyborg and emphasizes the synthetic, masked nature of online identities. Given the irrelevance of the once-groundbreaking technology, the portraits also speak to the inevitable shifts in importance and how information is stored, shared, and remembered.

Skin Deep is on view through September 30 at Robert Fontaine Gallery in Miami Beach. You can find more from Gentry on his site and Instagram.

 

A grayscale silhouette of a man with a blue shirt on VHS tapes

“Replicant 3” (2023), used VHS cassette tapes, spray paint, and oil paint on wood, 20.5 x 29.5 inches

Two portraits of twin-like cyborg figures

“Viewing Figures” (2022), used VHS cassette tapes and paint on wood, 25 x 37 inches

A portrait of a woman with red lipstick on white-painted VHS tapes

“Skin Deep” (2023), used VHS cassette tapes, spray paint, and oil paint on wood, 45 x 45 inches

A grayscale silhouette of a man on green painted VHS tapes

“Analogue Montage Number 1” (2023), used VHS cassette tapes, spray paint, and oil paint on wood, 32.25 x 37 inches

Two portraits, one on purple painted VHS tapes and the other on floppy disks. Both depict grayscale figures

Left: “The Fool” (2023), used VHS cassette tapes, spray paint, and oil paint on wood, 10 x 9 inches. Right: “Populous” (2023), used computer disks and oil paint on wood, 37 x 28 inches

Two similar looking portraits of women facing outward, their backs together

“Binary” (2021), used floppy disks and paint on wood, 19 x 32 inches

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 Nick Gentry’s Technological Portraits Broach the Artificiality of Online Identities appeared first on Colossal.

Robert Irwin Continues Family Legacy of Conservation Through Photos

By in Photography

Robert Irwin Continues Family Legacy of Conservation Through Photos

Robert Irwin holding a camera with a snake wrapped around it

For some people, being born into one of the world’s most famous animal conservation families would come with a great amount of pressure. But not for Robert Irwin. His family, led by the late Steve Irwin, are pioneers in the field and renowned for the work they do. Irwin, who was just 2 years old when his father passed away tragically, has not only taken up the legacy of his father, but has carved his own path as an award-winning wildlife photographer. Now 19 years old, he’s brought together some of his best work in a coffee table book titled Robert Irwin’s Australia.

From the time he was 13 years old, Irwin has been honing his craft. Using his artistic talents, Irwin has been able to shed light on important conservation issues and spotlight incredible wildlife that is in desperate need of help. This, combined with the work he and his family do at the Australia Zoo, make him a force to be reckoned with in the conservation world.

As Irwin leaves his teen years behind, we thought it was time to check in with the talented photographer. Read on for My Modern Met’s exclusive interview, where he reflects back on his growth over the past six years and looks ahead to what’s on the horizon.

Turtle Swimming Under Water by Robert IrwinTurtle Swimming Under Water by Robert Irwin

We first covered your work when you were 13 years old, and now here you are, leaving your teens. What do you think has been the biggest change in how you approach photography over the years?

First of all, thank you for being there close to the beginning of my photographic career. I am delighted to chat with My Modern Met once again all these years later!

I think the biggest change in my approach to photography has been how story-driven I have become. When I am out and about photographing, I give a lot of thought to the story I wish to tell in each image and the message I want to send. I try to put myself into situations and visit places where I can capture photos that shine a light on important conservation and environmental issues.

Aerial view of Australian bushfires by Robert IrwinAerial view of Australian bushfires by Robert Irwin

How do you think you’ve grown as a wildlife photographer in these last six years?

I hope that in these last six years, my reach and voice have grown and that I can inspire even more people through the images that I take. In my growth and progression as a photographer, I have tried to diversify, try new things, and take new opportunities. The most recent and rewarding of which was releasing my Australia, By Robert Irwin photography coffee table book. It really was a summation of my journey behind the lens and gave me time to reflect on just how far I have come over the years.

Kangaroo in a field by Robert IrwinKangaroo in a field by Robert Irwin

What drives you to continue to be a voice and advocate for animals?

Having the opportunity to travel the world through my passion for photography and my family’s conservation work, I have been blessed with perspective. I have had the opportunity to see endangered species on the brink, devastation after wildfires, rainforest deforestation disrupting the balance of nature, and the profound effect of climate change in the arctic circle. Seeing things like that makes one realize that inaction is not an option. Our natural world is in desperate need of warriors ready to fight for our future and inspire others to do the same. There is an important balance to strike—showcase the stark reality of the uphill environmental battle we face and also reinforce a sense of hope that there is still time to make positive change.

Leopard by Robert IrwinLeopard by Robert Irwin

Moving into your 20s, what do you hope to accomplish?

As I move into my 20s, I am so excited by this new chapter and all that I wish to achieve. I hope to further extend my reach and my platform, as I start to really address the big problems that face our world, no matter how controversial they might be. I think it is so important to give people hope for the future by sharing the beauty of the natural world. I am looking forward to taking on new projects—one of which is to expand into a set of photography books. After releasing Australia, I plan on producing an Africa and North America book.

Bird in flight by Robert IrwinBird in flight by Robert Irwin

Aside from your father, who else in the conservation world inspires you and why?

My parents will definitely always be my biggest inspiration. They really were conservation pioneers and made conservation mainstream…no easy feat! But, there are also so many others in the conservation field that I look up to and have had the honor of working with. There are so many people I could name, but there are a few that stand out in my mind.

Peter Gash and the Gash family are leaders in reef conservation at Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef, of course Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen as legendary oceanic conservation heroes with their fantastic Sea Legacy charity, and David Prior and his incredible family who operate the Prior Family Foundation definitely must have a mention. I could go on and on when it comes to conservationists that inspire me.

Black and white portrait of a lion by Robert IrwinBlack and white portrait of a lion by Robert Irwin

What’s the next big challenge that you would like to give yourself as a photographer?

I feel that when it comes to wildlife photography there is always a new challenge. There are the big challenges and milestones like launching a new gallery or a new book, and then there are the challenges that come in the form of a new species or location. I am always on the lookout for a new endangered or rare type of animal to capture on camera and constantly add new locations to my very long list of where to photograph. Gorillas and polar bears are high on the list for me right now.

Black and white photo of an elephant by Robert IrwinBlack and white photo of an elephant by Robert Irwin

What advice would you give to young photographers who are curious about shooting wildlife?

First of all, believe in yourself and have the courage to seize opportunity when it comes. Focus more on developing your own photographic style than the gear you use, and take a lot of photos. When I say a lot, I mean A LOT. Photograph everything, make it more than just a hobby, but a lifestyle. Have a camera with you always, and if you don’t have one, keep looking around you and think about what would make a great photo.

Never lose sight of the message you want to send with the pictures that you take. Own a film camera at some point in your photographic career. And spend one month only photographing with that camera, and one prime lens.

Lastly, and most importantly, take photos for you and nobody else. That doesn’t mean you can’t still share your images with the world, but when you are pressing the shutter, take the photo that makes you feel fulfilled and does justice to your style.

Milky Way by Robert IrwinMilky Way by Robert Irwin

Robert Irwin: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Robert Irwin.

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Robert Irwin Recreates an Iconic Photo of Dad Steve Irwin and Looks Just Like Him

A Very Patient Robert Irwin Tries to Help an Aggressive Bird Overcome Her Anger Management Issues

Wendy Red Star Introduces Kimowan Metchewais Through Indigenous Photography Exhibition

By in Native

Wendy Red Star Introduces Kimowan Metchewais Through Indigenous Photography Exhibition

Artists have favorite artists too. Artworks they encounter and connect with deeply same as those of us who can’t draw a circle.

Such was the case for Wendy Red Star (Absáalooke (Crow)) with the photography of Kimowan Metchewais (1963-2011; Cree, Cold Lake First Nations). Red Star, a celebrated contemporary artist, first came across Metchewais’ work when friend and Tlingit photographer Larry McNeil posted a remembrance of Metchewais on Facebook

“I was really intrigued because it sounded like this person was very special,” Red Star told Forbes.com. “I looked at his page and his Facebook is like a memorial. I started looking at his posts and his photos and found that I liked what he was doing.”

Kindred spirits.

Native photographers who grew up on reservations in the western part of the continent before going off to college and studying fine art.

Both using historical photographs of Indigenous people in their artmaking.

“There were so many things he was doing (that) I was interested in my own work,” Red Star said. “He had a (series) of Indians and eyewear, and a lot of those photos were of Crow people, I think even my great great grandfather was in there. I thought that was kind of funny for him to focus solely on cataloging different historical pictures of Native people wearing eyewear. Certain things like that, I could tell he was coming at things at a different angle that was refreshing and looking at details within photos the same as I do.”

When Red Star was undertaking a Smithsonian artis’ts research fellowship at the National Museum of the American Indian in 2018 and 2019, she serendipitously came across part of Metchewais’ archive housed there on one of her final days. She dug through many of his pictures and some of his journals, exploring his work in depth for the first time.

“From there, it became kind of an obsession,” Red Star admits.

She subsequently met more people who knew Metchewais, saw his work popping up more and more, more people told her what an amazing person he was.

“We probably would have been big nerds together because we’re both looking at ledger drawings, or the way that he talks about North America being a crime scene; he investigates, I call what I’m doing ‘researching,’” Red Star said. “Also for me, I’ve always felt like an outsider, I’ve always been the only Native person in art programs that I’ve been in and knowing that there was another artist out there–that we would just get each other–would have been incredible for me. That does happen, I have other artists I do find that, and it’s an awesome feeling to have people where you don’t have several layers to get through before you’re speaking the same language.”

Red Star’s efforts to raise up the lesser-known First Nations artist comes via “Native America: In Translation,” an exhibition she curated assembling the wide-ranging work of nine Indigenous artists, including Metchewais, who pose challenging questions about identity and heritage, land rights, and histories of colonialism.

The presentation can be seen at the USF Contemporary Art Museum in Tampa August 25 through December 1, 2023.

Kimowan Metchewais

Metchewais grew up on the Cold Lake First Nations Reserve in Alberta and went on to Edmonton to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. At just 29-years-old, he was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, the treatment for which required him cutting his long hair, a source of great pride and identity as an Indigenous man. It left him with a permanent bald spot on the back of his head.

He would ultimately ascend to a faculty position in the art department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, one of the finest universities in the world, but a 2007 surgery resulted in his losing feeling on the left side of his body. He would succumb to cancer in 2011.

In the decade-plus since, Metchewais’ artwork has slowly been introduced to wider audiences. Red Star has helped that progress, as have the countless other artists–Indigenous and not–he influenced.

A monograph of his work, “Kimowan Metchewais: A Kind of Prayer,” was published in 2023. The book reveals his experimental artmaking, particularly his Polaroid pictures, sometimes mundane, sometimes revelatory, in conjunction with his writing.

Here is the opening to his artist statement as published in the book:

“I’ve watched my grandfather anoint the house with sweet grass smoke, protecting us from harm, cleansing our home. Prowled city streets at three in the morning searching for someone to rob. Been blessed with a name that only spirits can hear. Talked with my mother through a prion-glass window. Wore Armani, punched in at nine even though I was up until four tending a sweatlodge fire. Ate dog. Sold acid. Beat up by a commando. A college degree or two. Bad credit. Powwow romance.”

Red Star picks it up from there.

The USF version of “In Translation” features Metchewais’ Polaroids, including selections of a series he did on hand signals, a series Red Star was particularly drawn to.

“Looking at the hand gestures, they’re poetic, they’re simple, and they remind me very much of the Plains Indian sign language,” she explained. “These are my own projections, we don’t know exactly what Kimowan’s thoughts were. Some works he does have amazing artist statements for, but in some cases not.”

Live Relics

His most detailed artist statement for a singular work is shared in “A Kind of Prayer” and focuses on a photograph titled Cold Lake. Examples from the series are shown at “In Translation.”

Describing the image, Metchewais introduces his novel concept of “live relics.” Hidden meanings embedded in the work.

“They are relics because they are like trace elements from memory, history and culture,” Metchewais writes. “They are alive because they continue to transmit influence to this day.”

He goes on to detail 19 “live relics” within the single photograph. The first is how he dipped the paper in water colored by tobacco, tobacco being sacred to his nation and many others across North America.

“Tobacco is a handshake,” Metchewais writes. “It signals honesty and honorable intention. Cold Lake is a kind of prayer.”

Reading Metchewais in his own words describe the piece while looking at it in the book gives a feeling of the artist being there with you, speaking from just out of view.

He further details artistic liberties taken with visible figures, the actions they’re engaged in, the materials he uses, its size and on and on and on. An epic in a single image. Multiple layers of meaning revealing a staggering complexity of thought, imagination and intention.

All of which, naturally, appeals to Red Star, whose works similarly consist of layers of meaning; her own “live relics.”

“Him dipping paper into tobacco-colored water and then the paper itself having that tint acts as an aesthetic, but also a very spiritual, personal, Cree thing to do,” Red Star said. “Things like that, as a Crow, really resonate with me; somebody outside of the cultures won’t get that same sort of power of what that gesture is about.”

But a viewer needn’t be Indigenous to appreciate Metchewais work.

“There has to be a universal approach that everybody can appreciate, and I think that’s what’s so beautiful about visual artworks, they can be appreciated by different people, different cultures,” Red Star said. “Anybody will get something special from Cold Lake. They might find it beautiful. They might like the aesthetic quality, but there’s multiple layers and depending on who you are, you get access to some of those layers that somebody else coming in won’t.”

When viewing Cold Lake, think of your special place.

“Cold Lake was his place, a very powerful place on his reserve; he talks about going into the water and then popping up and kind of cleansing himself in a powerful way,” Red Star explains, reminding that, “we all come from somewhere,” we all have places special to us, our lives, our families our backgrounds.

For Metchewais, that was Cold Lake. For Red Star, it’s Pryor Gap and the Pryor Mountains in Montana.

“I’m always returning every time I go back to my reservation,” she said. “I always make a trip out to Prayer Rock, it’s called Baahpuuo, and that’s where the Little People live, and we always leave things (for them.”

What is yours? What does it mean to you? How do you feel when you’re there?

Feel along with Metchewais when viewing Cold Lake. He’s giving a piece of himself to you. Appreciate that. Honor it.

“When people walk in and try to put a Native American theme on (Native American artwork), I think that does an injustice to all of the artists and show, that’s just one thread of the exhibition,” Red Star said.

Native American photography

Joining Metchewais in the exhibition are Rebecca Belmore (Anishinaabe, Lac Seul First Nation), Nalikutaar Jacqueline Cleveland (Yup’ik), Martine Gutierrez (American), Koyoltzintli​ (Ecuadorian-American), Duane Linklater (Omaskêko Ininiwak from Moose Cree First Nation), Guadalupe Maravilla (American), Alan Michelson (Mohawk, Six Nations of the Grand River) and Marianne Nicolson (Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nations).

The USF Contemporary Art Museum has programmed a robust schedule of events to coincide with the show, including on online conversation October 4 between Red Star, Marianne Nicolson and Koyoltzintli moderated by USF Curator of Public Art and Social Practice Sarah Howard. The event is free, but advance registration required, and it will be available on Zoom as well.

In addition to “A Kind of Prayer,” those interested in Indigenous photography will enjoy another book published in 2023, “Project 562,” an effort by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) to photograph members of every Native tribe in the United States.

On the museum side, this October at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, “In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now,” features more than 160 works from an array of historical and contemporary Native artists.

NOTE: Visitors to the USF Contemporary Art Museum and Tampa from outside of Florida should be aware that the NAACP has issued a travel advisory for the state noting, and warning, that under its current governor, Ron DeSantis, Florida has “engaged in an all-out attack on Black Americans, accurate Black history, voting rights, members of the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, women’s reproductive rights, and free speech, while simultaneously embracing a culture of fear, bullying, and intimidation by public officials.”

Announcing the winners of the 2023 Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition

By in Photography

Announcing the winners of the 2023 Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition

As dawn broke on September 30, 2019, Jean-Christophe Lemay was high in the Chic-Choc mountains on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula. It was his last chance to see the Gaspé caribou herd before the area closed for mating season. As the sun rose, Lemay realized something astonishing: he was surrounded by 14 caribou — nearly half the Gaspé population at the time. “I spent six or seven hours shooting videos, photos and just enjoying the moment,” says Lemay. “I couldn’t leave, it was so surreal. I think, to this day, it was my favourite day in nature.”

The memory remains a high point for the 32-year-old wildlife photographer, who was born in Ottawa and raised in L’Orignal, Ont. Lemay has long been inspired by the stunning nature that surrounds Rimouski, Que., where he moved in 2010 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology and has remained ever since. But his first photographic love wasn’t wildlife; it was the ocean. Summer surfing trips to the east coast of the U.S. in his youth allowed Lemay to hone his craft, shooting photos of waves and surfers with his first camera, a small waterproof Pentax W80.

While at university, his appreciation of wildlife grew. Icy Rimouski winters froze any chance of shooting the waves of the St. Lawrence River, but his studies provided no shortage of animal subjects. “I think foxes have to be the animal I’ve photographed the most,” says Lemay. “They’re everywhere, they’re photogenic and people love them. But my favorite is the Canada lynx. They’re just so mysterious and captivating, such beautiful animals. At the same time, they’re very elusive, so it’s kind of a challenge.”

Lemay’s ethereal wildlife portraits have since appeared in magazines such as Nature Sauvage, Canadian Geographic, and Beside, and have earned him a huge following on social media. In June, Lemay opened his first boutique and gallery, JC Lemay Photo, in Rimouski. As for the future, Lemay has a simple goal: “It’s a huge privilege to be doing this as a full-time career. I just want to keep doing this forever.”

Art Hounds: A play, a book event and paintings

By in Native

Art Hounds: A play, a book event and paintings

Luverne Seifert is a Twin Cities actor and acting teacher. He recommends going to see “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” from Dark & Stormy Productions.

In this edgy production, set at Marcia Blaine School for Girls in 1930s Scotland, the lessons are less about math and reading than they are about love and sex. “It’s a very provocative play,” Seifert said. “And at times I think your jaw will drop.”

Five people stand and pose

The cast of Dark & Stormy Productions’ “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (from left to right): Peter Christian Hansen, Cece Roth, Shayla Courteau, Jennifer Donovan and Sara Marsh.

Courtesy of Sara Marsh

The cast consists of University of Minnesota students making their professional stage debut, and the production runs through Sept. 17 at the Gremlin Theater in St. Paul.

Duluth filmmaker Khayman Goodsky, of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, loves a good book. That’s why Goodsky suggests going to the “Meet the Artist” series at Two Loons Gallery in Duluth any time, but especially on Aug. 26, when Thomas and Betsy Peacock are the artists in question.

The two co-own Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing, which specializes in Native written and illustrated books. “Everything they’ve put out has been researched and carefully developed, so, I mean you can’t go wrong with reading their books,” Goodsky said.

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You can meet Thomas and Betsy Peacock, Saturday, Aug. 26, at Two Loons Gallery, 2025 W. Superior St., Duluth.

Luis Fitch is a Mexican artist, designer and creative entrepreneur based in Minneapolis. His recommendation is “Immigrant Roads,” a solo exhibition of largescale paintings exploring the legacy of Mexican-born families who built the Santa Fe railroad in the early part of the 20th century.

A painting with a living room, cross and trees

“The Crosses We Bear,” 2022. Acrylic, latex and embroidery thread on canvas.

Courtesy of Kandace Creel Falcón

“What I’m excited about in this exhibition is the hope that the artist brings to restore some of the stolen dignity from Latinx workers,” Fitch said.

“Immigrant Roads” is on display through Sept. 22 at the CLUES Latino Art Gallery, 797 East Seventh St., St. Paul.

Singulart is an Online Art Gallery that Empowers Photographers

By in Photography

Singulart is an Online Art Gallery that Empowers Photographers
From left to right, images by: Aurore Millet, Ivona Zubakova, and Kaixuan Feng.

Singulart is an online art gallery featuring work from artists worldwide across a diverse range of mediums, including photography. With a team of art advisors available 24/7, customers can find the perfect artwork and have it delivered straight to their homes.

Full disclosure: This article was brought to you by Singulart

There are many ways to browse Singulart to find the right piece. Users can filter by medium, price, theme, style, technique, country of origin, display orientation, size, and color. In addition to types of art like paintings, drawings, and photographs, Singulart also sells more unusual mediums, like sculptures and textiles.

For example, when the photography medium is selected, the theme dropdown menu changes to show different genres, like fine art, landscape, portrait, urban, nature, conceptual, and more. Customers can also pick from various “photography movements,” including color, black and white, digital, analog, sepia, panoramic, and more. In a similar spirit, “photography techniques” includes analog, digital, and hybrid options.

Singulart Sponsored
Singulart is a curated online art gallery where customers can search for and find the perfect artwork.

Finding the Perfect Photo

Cutting Through the Noise

There are so many benefits of photo-sharing platforms such as Flickr and Instagram. They enable people to share their favorite photos with friends, family, and strangers.

However, platforms like these are nearly impossible to use for anyone trying to find the perfect photo to purchase. Since it is so easy to share images, there is just a staggering amount of photography to wade through.

Even though many photographers create stunning work, some art buyers are seeking the perfect piece for their space and hoping to buy from a renowned artist. Singulart explains a bit about each artist on its platform, including their achievements within the art world. A personal connection to a piece is critical, and Singulart helps make this possible, even online.

Singulart Sponsored

Singulart cuts through all the noise by delivering a curated art gallery featuring professional work. Due to the filters mentioned above, it is an extremely straightforward way to buy art online.

Using Singulart to Find Dynamic Nature Photographs

I love nature photography. Like many others, I enjoy doing it for myself. However, I also love seeing how other artists see the world around them and translate the feeling and spirit of nature into a two-dimensional space.

It is easy enough to start the search for the perfect nature photo on Singulart using Photography and Nature filters. Photos are shown in a scrolling gallery separated by individual artists.

Singulart Sponsored

There are a lot of artists to scroll through — nearly 300. While a highly curated platform means there may be fewer pieces than a website where everyone can sell their work, buyers can feel more confident in every item available and more easily find what they want.

Back to the search for dynamic nature photos. I very quickly found an exciting artist, Ivona Zubakova. Visiting the Slovakian artist’s page on Singulart shows her portfolio of available work and her credentials. She is nationally known within Slovakia, is an established artist, and has had solo exhibitions. From her page, people can also follow her to stay updated with anything she adds to Singulart.

While Zubakova is talented across multiple disciplines and does some wonderful portraiture work, I want a nature image. This is a great option.

“Iceland,” Ivona Zubakova, Slovakia, 2023 — Digital on Paper, 33x24in

Once a person finds a piece they are interested in, there are a few options for trying to acquire it. The photo, printed on 33x24in paper, is listed for $2,060. While that is not unreasonable, it may be outside the budget of a prospective purchaser. In that case, instead of clicking “Acquire this Artwork,” they can select the “Make an Offer” option to negotiate with the artist.

The final price is all-inclusive, including 7-10 day professional delivery. Singulart also offers free 14-day returns, framing options, and original work ships with a certificate of authenticity.

Surreal and Serene Nature

While Zubakova’s “Iceland” print is an excellent fit for many different walls in a home, I want something a bit more surreal as a conversation piece. I still want a photo that is related to nature, but I want something a bit more unusual and very different from anything I would personally create. Being able to experience familiar emotions in a very different way is one of the best parts of viewing the art that others create.

Chinese multidisciplinary artist Kaixuan Feng has a diverse portfolio of photographs, paintings, and textiles. Her image, “Don de Soi ( No XXVII )” is an excellent example of precisely the type of photograph I love to look at but would be wholly unable to capture myself. It represents a way of seeing the world that is elusive and beautiful.

“Don de Soi ( No XXVII ),” Kaixuan Feng, China, 2018 — Digital on paper under plexiglass, 24x35in

“Don de Soi,” which translates to self-sacrifice, is a series of photographs by Feng that each place a woman within a natural scene.

“Historic and deserted places, she finds there. Through her photographs in which she stages herself, she magnifies these ruins settings and brings them back to life. Kaixuan Feng offers doubly stolen moments. Each photograph becomes a scene of reincarnation. Thanks to digital technology, the artist encrusts details which are so many narrative elements. The photographs are composed like dives into lost time. Telling history and history, this well-established distinction between the path of the individual and the collective, such is the ambition of Kaixuan Feng,” explains a translated description on the photo’s page.

It is a framed print and the second of a five-edition run. Feng is a rising star in the art world and has been internationally shown. She was recently featured in Singulart’s guide, “Top 10 Photographers to Watch.”

Finding the Perfect Color

Another common scenario for people searching for the perfect art to hang on their walls is trying to find something that fits the mood or color of a room. While white or gray walls may be conducive to just about any sort of photo, colored walls, such as perhaps a slate blue, may not work well with just any color.

Singulart Sponsored
There are many ways to filter results on Singulart, including by the size of the artwork, its orientation, and the colors it includes.

Taking that example further, I love cool/warm contrasts. With a blue backdrop, I want a photograph that heavily emphasizes orange. Better yet, I want to purchase something created using analog camera technology.

Selecting “analog” as the photography technique and picking red, dark orange, and light orange colors — you can choose as many colors as you want — it is time to find the perfect photo.

I am glad I picked red and orange, because Aurore Millet’s image, “Sublime 2, 2010,” is the absolute perfect photo to hang on a slate blue wall.

“Sublime 2, 2010,” Aurore Millet, Germany, 2010 – Alu-Dibond under plexiglass, 41x41in

The Value of an Online Art Gallery

What makes Singulart special in the online art space is the platform’s impressive focus on photography. Many art galleries emphasize more traditional artistic mediums such as painting and drawing. It is really great to see a gallery that celebrates the beauty of photography and showcases the work that talented photographers and multi-disciplinary artists create.

Further, Singulart enables people to find prints from photographers that they might never see otherwise. While it is great to be able to meet an artist in person at an exhibition or local gallery, that limits people to a relatively small group of artists. There are few places to see art in person for people like me who live in a very rural area.

Of course, seeing a print on a website is different from seeing it in person, which is why Singulart’s return policy is so important. Sometimes even beautiful work is not the right fit for someone once they receive the piece.

Singulart works very hard to cultivate an inclusive space. Just about half of its artists and designers are women, for example. Some disciplines, including photography, have often been male-dominated, so it is brilliant to not only see photographers that may otherwise go unnoticed outside their home nations but also to see more women artists showcased.

Singulart Sponsored
Those looking for extremely talented photographers should check out Singulart’s guide, “Top 10 Photographers to Watch.”

While application reviews are currently on hold due to an overwhelming number of artist applications, photographers are encouraged to apply to join Singulart.

There is so much incredible photography out there, and Singulart is a great place to view and purchase prints from talented artists.

Full disclosure: This article was brought to you by Singulart

Image credits: High-resolution images courtesy of Singulart, artists credited in the captions.

What’s Really Happened in the Art Market This Year? See Which Segments Are Going Strong—and Which Are in Serious Trouble

By in Art World News

What’s Really Happened in the Art Market This Year? See Which Segments Are Going Strong—and Which Are in Serious Trouble

This article is part of the Artnet Intelligence Report Mid-Year Review 2023. Marking five years of our biannual Intelligence Reports, this inaugural half-year edition paints a data-driven picture of today’s art world, from the latest market results to the artists and artworks leading the conversation. Read the full report here.

How Much Fine Art Sold at Auction in the First Months of 2023?

The art market has always been a lagging indicator of the broader economy.1 But after a prolonged period of exuberance, reality may finally be catching up with it.

  • Fine-art sales at auction totaled just under $5 billion between January 1 and May 20, 2023. That represents a 14 percent decrease from the equivalent period in 2022.
  •  Experts cite higher interest rates, continued inflation, and ongoing turbulence in financial markets as reasons for the dip—but economic jitters aren’t the only factor at play.2
  • After 2020, the auction market experienced a spate of unusually exceptional seasons as pent-up material hit the market from the likes of Harry and Linda Macklowe, Thomas and Doris Ammann, and the late Microsoft founder Paul Allen.3
  • That post-lockdown exuberance has leveled off. The number of works coming to auction hit a three-year low in the year’s first five months, and the contraction is most extreme on the high end.

What Price Bracket Contracted Most by the Middle of the Year? 

The vast majority of the market’s tumble can be attributed to a contraction at the very high end. While plenty of works sold in the seven-figure range, the air became increasingly thin above $10 million.

  • Sales of art valued at more than $10 million shrunk 51 percent in the first five months of 2023 compared with the equivalent period in 2022.
  • Experts say buyers became more price sensitive at the same time that the extraordinary material offered in the wake of the pandemic lockdown began to dry up.4
  • Art in the $100,000-to-$1 million range performed best. Sales in this segment were up 18 percent year over year.
  • Sales of works priced between $1 million and $10 million were up 14 percent. This slice of the market received increased attention in light of the dearth of seven- and eight-figure works.
  • The most affordable segment— works priced at $10,000 and under— shrunk 12 percent year over year. Many auction houses no longer consider it cost effective to transact at this low level, according to Caroline Sayan, CEO of the advisory firm Cadell North America.

What Category Was the Most Lucrative Midway Through the Year?

Sales contracted in every category in the first five months of 2023—but some were hit harder than others.

  • The biggest decline was in the Impressionist and Modern sector, whose sales plummeted by almost 30 percent year over year. The postwar and contemporary category had a slightly smaller dip of 23 percent.
  • The ample supply of top-tier ImpMod material in the first half of 2022 proved a hard act to follow. Driven by valuable estates like that of Anne Bass, sales of work by Claude Monet hit a high of $450.8 million in the first six months of last year.5 The Impressionist artist’s work generated just $24 million in the first five months of 2023.6
  • Ultra-contemporary art, once the fastest-growing category, took a tumble as the froth surrounding the market for young artists began to dissolve. It shrunk by 26 percent year over year.
  • The most stable category is Old Masters, whose revenue declined a comparatively modest 6 percent. It remains one of the smallest markets by dollar value, second only to ultra-contemporary (which covers around two dozen years of artistic production, while Old Masters embraces nearly six centuries).

Which Auction House Came Out on Top in the Year’s First Months?

The Big Three auction houses all felt the squeeze in the first five months of the year.

  • Christie’s narrowly beat out Sotheby’s in the race for auction house supremacy, generating $8.9 million more in fine-art sales by mid2023. “They are more competitive than I’ve ever seen them,” said art advisor Caroline Sayan.
  • Both houses saw revenue decline in the first five months of the year compared with the equivalent period in 2022. Christie’s was down 23 percent while Sotheby’s was down 20 percent.
  • Hardest hit was Phillips, which reported $255 million in art sales, a 29 percent dip year over year, after reaching a record high in 2022.
  • Note that these figures do not include private sales and indicate total revenue rather than profit— which means they don’t reveal any erosion of the auction houses’ margins caused by deals they may have struck with consignors.

Which Country’s Art Market Is Leading?

The U.S. strengthened its position as the center of the global art market.

  • Fine-art auction sales in the United States reached $2.6 billion in the first five months of 2023, down 25 percent from the equivalent period in 2022 but in line with or above the totals from 2021, 2020, and 2019.
  • China’s total sales spiked more than 110 percent during the same period. The increase is due more to a schedule change than a wholesale transformation of the country’s market. Several Chinese auction houses, including Poly International and Yongle Auctions, postponed their 2022 autumn sales to early 2023 in order to comply with government lockdowns, boosting the country’s spring results.7
  • The U.K. market continues to feel the impact of Brexit, with sales declining 27 percent.
  • France’s dip in fine-art sales, which follows several years of market expansion, is in part a reflection of a change in the Artnet Price Database, which stopped covering 43 French auction houses this spring because of complications with their catalogues.8The U.S. strengthened its position as the center of the global art market.

How Much Art Sold Online in the First Five Months of the Year?

Now that in-person auctions have fully returned, online fine-art sales are hitting a plateau—but they remain far above pre-pandemic levels.

  • A total of $155.8 million worth of fine art was sold in online-only sales at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Phillips, Bonhams, and Artnet Auctions in the first five months of the year. That’s down 5 percent from the equivalent period in 2022 and down 64 percent from 2021, when many high-profile sales had not yet returned to being held in-person.
  • • The 2023 total remains more than 300 percent higher than 2019, when online sales generated just $35.5 million in the year’s first five months.9 That’s a sign that the market’s approach to virtual sales has changed for good.
  • • As live events retake their central place in the auction ecosystem, the average price of a work of art sold online has declined. It is now $17,794, lower than it has been since 2019. This suggests that collectors remain comfortable transacting regularly online, but at an increasingly lower price point.

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Photographer Ruddy Roye fishes along Lake Erie with his camera

By in Photography

Photographer Ruddy Roye fishes along Lake Erie with his camera

Jamaican-born photographer Ruddy Roye has only caught one fish in his life, but he understands the patience needed to catch one.

A few years ago, Roye moved to Northeast Ohio from Brooklyn, and he recently discovered the allure of Cleveland fishing along the Lake Erie shore at the East 55th Street Marina.

He’s fishing not for walleye, but for images with his camera.

Fisherman with hat sits at marina fishing in Lake Erie.

Ruddy Roye

“Actually, whenever I talk to [the fishermen], I say to them that, ‘Me getting an image equates to you getting one fish,’” Roye said. “I’m waiting for that one fish to come into my frame.”

From talking with people who are fishing, Roye said he realized that many see the popular fishing spot as a sanctuary from the city’s gun violence.

Silhouette of fisherman at Lake Erie marina during sunset.

Ruddy Roye

“The more I delved into each particular fisherman’s story, the more I got it’s a place of peace away from Kinsman and East Cleveland,” Roye said.

For more than 20 years, Roye was based out of New York City as a freelance photojournalist working for publications like Time, The New York Times, The New Yorker, ESPN, Ebony and Essence magazines.

Mother helps young daughter with hair while son plays Spiderman on the stoop of apartment with cat in the background.

Ruddy Roye

He moved his family to Cleveland Heights after a successful residency with the Cleveland Print Room and the Cleveland Public Library in 2019.

“I remember coming to Cleveland every other weekend, driving around. Then I realized that there were things here that I could photograph,” he said. “Of all the states that I have worked in, lived in, Cleveland afforded me a space that made me feel like I was a photographer again.”

Now Roye’s focus is the men and women who fish for walleye and perch at the marina.

Fisherman loses fish as his line snaps at Lake Erie marina.

Ruddy Roye

“It takes time to make somebody feel comfortable with you being in their relaxation space. In their space of, ‘I want to get into my Zen right now. I don’t really need a camera shoved into my face,’” he said.

Roye said he’s a people person which helps him talk to those he photographs before he picks up his camera.

Photographer takes photo of fisherman as he casts his line into Lake Erie.

Dave DeOreo

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Ideastream Public Media

Ruddy Roye photographs Cleveland fisherman as he casts his line into Lake Erie at East 55th Street Marina.

“I always try to connect on a human level,” he said. “I’m trying to tell a story that also exists in me. It’s very rare that I go outside of me to tell a story. I usually connect with something that I’ve already gone through, I’ve seen, and I try to make that connection.”

His art is a self-help tool of sorts.

“I’ve always felt like photography was the thing that I used to grow to be a better person, to be a better man, to be a better seer, to be a better philosopher, to be a better father,” he said. “Photography is something I hold dearly, and I do appreciate the way it has allowed me to be a better person.”

Roye plans to continue with this series and expand upon it for a future exhibition.

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