We’re excited to share a Colossal-curated project debuting April 11 at The Other Art Fair Chicago. On opening night, usher in spring with a magical edible installation by Chicago-based artist Hyun Jung Jun of Dream Cake Test Kitchen.

In “Dreamscape,” sweet meringues float amid an ethereal garden, with delicate drawings airbrushed on site. Jun is known for sculptural pastries evocative of mountains, streams, and birds, which she refers to as “landscapes of joy.” Meant to be shared among friends, the desserts are inherently ephemeral, becoming an Epicruian reminder to savor moments of beauty and pleasure. Viewers are invited to eat the meringues throughout the evening, transforming “Dreamscape” from one diaphanous scene into another.

Often working with domestic materials like candles and baked goods, Jun began Dream Cake Test Kitchen in 2020 as way to gather with small groups of friends when the world shut down. Today, the artist has fully incorporated the pastry project into her practice, expanding how viewers engage with her work as she invokes all five senses—she’s known to rely on smell or sound to determine when a pastry is ready to be removed from the oven rather than a timer.

Equally interested in flavor profiles as she is the final sculptural forms, Jun gravitates toward savory elements like black sesame, green pea, roasted tomato, and Chinese five spice that she pairs with lush buttercream piping and edible flowers. While her ingredients can be unconventional, her works are elegant and inviting, inspiring communal experiences of joy: sharing a meal, after all, remains one of the great, enduring means of human connection.

Join Jun and Colossal on April 11 at The Other Art Fair, which runs through April 14 at Artifact Events in Ravenswood. Use the code COLOSSAL20 at checkout for 20% off tickets. Explore more from Dream Cake Test Kitchen on Instagram.

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 Join Colossal at ‘Dreamscape,’ an Ethereal Edible Installation at The Other Art Fair Chicago appeared first on Colossal.

Whether it’s an original work by Leonardo da Vinci, a copy, or a workshop painting, there’s no denying that paying more than $450 million for Salvator Mundi to store the oil on panel on a yacht is obscene and absurd. Everyone from Saudi Arabian royals to first-time collectors could benefit from sage advice on navigating the wildly inefficient and unpredictable global art market.

“Investing in art can be lucrative, but this holds true primarily for a select few at the pinnacle of the market, typically artists represented by the same five to ten galleries. The remaining artworks, constituting 99.9% of the available pieces, generally do not share the same investment potential,” said Magnus Resch, a world-leading art market economist, entrepreneur, and best-selling book author. “While purchasing what you genuinely adore is the recommended approach, my book delves into strategies for ensuring you don’t overspend on any art acquisitions”

How to Collect Art by Resch, with an introduction by businesswoman and art collector Pamela J. Joyner, follows Resch’s 2021 book, How To Become A Successful Artist, and Management of Art Galleries (2016), also published by Phaidon and offering a singular perspective on a marketplace that can be intimidating, especially to newcomers. Resch, a lecturer at Yale University who previously taught at Columbia, breaks down the fundamentals to help aspiring art owners build a collection.

At $34.95, the 232-page paperback offers more than a one-time value by empowering prospective buyers with the skills to seek out and buy artworks at the best price, and for aesthetic pleasure and profound fulfillment. Resch conveys complex concepts and variables with a thoughtful and accessible voice amplified by a deep well of research and knowledge while eschewing jargon and insider arrogance.

“I call it responsible buying, the notion that buying art is not just an exchange of monetary value but also a philanthropic act. Far from putting money into an asset, I donate it, knowing that in all likelihood I won’t be able to resell the piece, But by buying it, I am supporting the artist so that she can continue creating art, which in turn inspires her artistic community to continue with this essential form of human creativity,” Resch. “To me, it is a way of doing good, and it comes with an object that I love and a story to tell.”

The United States was the leading art market worldwide in 2023, generating 42% of global art market value, followed by China at 19%, and the United Kingdom at 17%, according to Statista. The global art market is more dynamic than ever, with over 763,000 artworks changing hands, according to Artprice. Still, new entrants face fears and questions in a marketplace that thrives on stirring controversy and celebrating record-breaking sales that alienate most would-be collectors.

“For my book, I examined 500,000 artists and their pricing strategies to uncover the key factors that determine what makes an artist a great investment. Our findings revealed that an artist’s success is closely tied to the network of galleries they are associated with. Collecting from this network significantly increases the likelihood of a positive return on your investment. Pricing in this category typically begins at over $100,000,” explained Resch.

I’m fascinated by the creative process and witnessing how artists create their work, and that connection underscores my desire to acquire certain works. Resch clearly agrees.

“As a collector, the artist becomes a crucial counterpart in your acquisition. In line with the concept of responsible buying, acquiring artwork means embracing the emotional essence that the artist presents, along with becoming a part of the artist’s surrounding network,” Resch said. “Therefore, getting to know the artist should be an integral aspect of your collecting journey. Additionally, most artists enjoy meeting their buyers.”

Resch offers sound advice on the core questions a prospective buyer should ask before considering a purchase.

“Do I like the work, the gallery and the artist? What institutions has the artist exhibited in? Does the asking price align with my budget? In my book, I introduce a framework to assist readers in estimating price points and assessing the fairness of the asking price,” Resch recommended. “Armed with this knowledge, navigating the art market becomes a more confident and informed experience. It enables you to spend money with a clear understanding of the artwork’s value, ensuring a purchase that resonates with both personal taste and financial sense.”

Calculating the price of an artwork is a multifaceted process that varies considerably, and may not be scrutinized by the buyer. Buying any artwork is an investment, even if the goal isn’t to sell at a higher price at a later date, and moreover, it’s an allocation of funds that works differently than a typical asset class with defined benchmarks, metrics, and risk considerations. Don’t be intimidated when spending your hard-earned money.

“In the art market, it’s common for customers to request and receive a 10% discount, especially if the customer opts for immediate payment,” Resch advised. “Discounts are not extended for only a select few highly sought-after artists. It’s important to note that customers typically bear the shipping costs.”

Recognizing the intricacies of any art sale, some people may benefit from working with an art adviser who can demystify the journey and make it a joyful experience.

“Engaging an art advisor can be beneficial for two primary reasons. First, for education: new collectors often value the research conducted by art advisors on their behalf. Second, for access: artists in high demand are often only available to collectors with established dealer relationships and credibility with galleries, which an advisor can provide,” Resch said. “I would argue that you don’t need an advisor if you plan to spend less than $100,000 per year. Exploring galleries, engaging with artists, and discovering new talents on Instagram are integral parts of the journey, and it’s fun.”

One of the drawbacks of balloons or beach balls is that they’re temporary; the helium eventually leaks out or the seams burst, squashing the fun. But Belgium-based Home Studyo came up with a way to add the playful touch of inflatable objects to your home without worrying about the air escaping. Cast in sturdy ceramic, the studio’s Blow Up collection adds a joyful, bouncy illusion to homewares often associated with fragility. Available in five colors, the vases, pitchers, and mirrors have names like “Emily” and “Pierre,” which add an inviting touch to personal spaces and social gatherings alike.

You can add a piece or two to your own collection on Home Studyo’s website, and find more on Instagram.

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 Add an Inflated Sense of Joy to Your Digs with Home Studyo’s ‘Blow Up’ Collection appeared first on Colossal.

Join us at metrobar for a variety of local coffees and an art market presented by Artbae! Taste local roasts, shop from DMV artists, vendors, and exhibitors, and see our LIVE Cherry Blossom “Art in Bloom” sculpture repainting. Plus, enjoy our spring cocktail menu, seasonal brews, tasty bites from El Jefe Woodfired Pizza, Chow Down DC, and @yorsweets plus beats from DJ Nah FR!

Walk into 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Chicago, and you might encounter a medicine cabinet filled with felted products by Lucy Sparrow, a photo from Carrie Mae Weems’s Kitchen Table series, and Angela Ellsworth’s unsettling bonnets made of pearls and pins, all within the lobby alone. The works were part of OFF-SPRING: New Generation, a traveling exhibition curated by Alice Stites that considers how rituals influence identity. They were also unusual sights for a venue that welcomes guests toting unwieldy luggage and grabbing a drink at the bar.

Stites is chief curator for 21c Museum Hotels, a boutique hospitality chain across the Midwest and South that has carved a singular niche as both a space for world-renowned artworks and everyday tourism. I spoke with Stites in February 20204 via Zoom about curating for a multi-venue museum of this kind, why she values being articulate over being accessible, and the incredible trust and respect she has for the public.

Read the conversation.

Installation view of ‘Refuge: Needing, Seeking, Creating Shelter’

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 A Colossal Conversation: Alice Stites On Taking Risks, Respecting the Public, and Curating for 21c Museum Hotels appeared first on Colossal.

Walk into 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Chicago, and you might encounter a medicine cabinet filled with felted products by Lucy Sparrow, a photo from Carrie Mae Weems’s Kitchen Table series, and Angela Ellsworth’s unsettling bonnets made of pearls and pins, all within the lobby alone. The works were part of OFF-SPRING: New Generation, a traveling exhibition curated by Alice Gray Stites that considers how rituals influence identity. They were also unusual sights for a venue that welcomes guests toting unwieldy luggage and grabbing a drink at the bar.

Stites is chief curator for 21c Museum Hotels, a boutique hospitality chain across the Midwest and South that has carved a singular niche as both a space for world-renowned artworks and everyday tourism. I spoke with Stites in February 20204 via Zoom about curating for a multi-venue museum of this kind, why she values being articulate over being accessible, and the incredible trust and respect she has for the public.

Read the conversation.

Installation view of ‘Refuge: Needing, Seeking, Creating Shelter’

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 A Colossal Conversation: Alice Gray Stites On Taking Risks, Respecting the Public, and Curating for 21c Museum Hotels appeared first on Colossal.

From paraffin to beeswax to various plants, candles have been made from all kinds of materials throughout the millennia—there’s even a fish called a “candlefish,” and we’re sure you can guess why. Thankfully, contemporary makers have a veritable wealth of ways to pour these waxy light sources in myriad shapes, colors, and sizes. When finding ways to add good design and touches of joy to our homes, a great candle is always a bright idea.

Find an eclectic selection now available in our newly re-launched Colossal Shop. If you’re a Colossal Member, remember to grab the code in your account for 10 percent off.

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 Look on the Bright Side with an Array of Playful Candles in the Colossal Shop appeared first on Colossal.

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Decaying organic matter settled on the floor of a lake—or in the case of arctic regions, emerged from the ancient depths of melting glaciers—can produce gases like methane that get pushed upward and trapped between layers of ice when the water freezes.

Hamburg-based photographer Jan Erik Waider, who is drawn to the remarkable expanses of the North, recently documented an array of remarkable frozen patterns in the lake at the edge of the Skaftafellsjökull glacier. His black-and-white photos emphasize the layers and volume of bubbles locked in the ice, transforming a natural process into elegant abstractions.

Waider, who has worked with clients like Apple, Patagonia, The British Museum, and more, is drawn to the atmospheric drama of the world’s northern reaches. He skirts the Arctic Circle in places like Greenland, Norway, and Iceland, seeking what he describes as the “cold, raw beauty” of the region’s expansive landscapes.

Explore the artist’s portfolio on his website and Behance, and follow him on Instagram for updates.

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 In Iceland, Jan Erik Waider Captures Voluminous Bubbles Locked in a Frozen Glacial Lake appeared first on Colossal.