Artist spotlight: Scott Radke

Scott Radke is a Cleveland Based artist who works from his subconscious imagery… Mixed media sculpture, animal human hybrid explorations. He is highly influenced by nature (Radke, 2014).

From his website:

“Radke’s artwork can be found from London to Los Angeles… from major art collections (Mark Parker, former Nike CEO) to work and design making cameo appearances in such films as Walt Disney’s Academy award winning Alice in Wonderland Directed by Tim Burton”.

To learn more about this artist, please visit his website: http://www.scottradke.com

 

Artist spotlight: Os Gemeos

Os Gemeos consists of two twin brothers Otavioa and Gustavo Pandolfo, from Brazil. Together they have become widely recognized as leaders in graffiti and urban art. They began their career in 1987 and were influenced by the hip hop culture. 

They credit Barry McGee for influencing their decision to become full time artists.

The twins say their work comes from dreams [they both claim to have the same ones], while incorporating the chaos of everyday life in Brazil. They now do paintings, murals, and installations full of bursting colors. 

When asked, Os Gemeos do not consider themselves street artists, they just like to paint.

See for yourself below. (All artwork copyright of the artists).

Dust bunnies

Artist spotlight: Amanda Louise Spayd

Ohio artist and designer Amanda Louise Spayd makes incredibly cute and odd little creatures. She is a collector of antique medical tools and toys. Her mixed media work combines natural elements mixed with old antique finds. The unique features of each piece tells its own story. Her work has been published internationally, and is highly sought after by collectors around the globe, and she has exhibited her work in galleries and conventions across the United States, France, and Japan. [All images are copyright of the artist].


You can read more about this artist by going to her website here. 

Artist spotlight: Deborah Simon

Looking at animals

Deborah Simon’s mixed media sculptures are a combination of faux taxidermy, toys and sculpture. She strives for close to accurate, but prefers to be slightly “off”. She is interested in evolution and how science museums label and code their specimens. Simon is interested in the total disconnect from the animal in its natural environment.

Simon graduated from the School of Visual Arts, MFA, New York, NY; and the San Francisco Art Institute, BFA Sculpture, San Francisco, CA.

You can learn more about this artist by visiting her website at http://www.deborahsimon.net/index.html
All images are copyright of the artist, Deborah Simon.

Take a look.

Tom Bartel Ceramics

Artist spotlight

http://tombartel.net/

 

Tom Bartel is currently an Associate Professor and Ceramics Chairperson at Ohio University in Athens, Oh. He received his BFA from Kent State University and his MFA from Indiana University-Bloomington.

Bartel’s ceramic pieces focus on the human form to address some of life’s hard questions about the human condition. He states he is “interested in both the fragmentation and simplification of human form, especially how this decision encourages, if not requires, the viewer to participate with the work”.

His unique surface designs and texture are as important as the forms themselves. His artist statement continues by stating “The concepts of mask, identity, disguise, and transformation are fundamental to my concerns. Throughout our life our appearance slowly and inevitably changes; in the process our skin records this story”.

The work is very quirky, unexpected, carnival-esque and marvelously interesting to investigate. Every piece tells a story. Here are a few examples. Please visit his website listed above to learn more about Bartel’s work.(All images are used by permission of the artist and are copyrighted to Tom Bartel)

Forte

Forte
Jan 6 - March 7, 2014
Anna Girgis, Maxine Spector, Scherer Ouporov,
Mathew Falvey & Cara McKinley

Steven Backhus now showing

Posters.  Publishing.  Permission? And The Literary Laundry Line

Oct 25 - Dec 7, 2013.

With in the context of a Library this exhibition exemplifies what it means to publish ones voice.  This Mixed media body of work draws from the aesthetic of street art graffiti and wheat paste posters, in addition to The Cordel, a Brazilian format of literary sharing as a means to be heard, to be a contribution, and to honor ones particular self –expression at all cost.  This installation reflects the voice and images of the artist and also creates a space for viewers and students to interact and publish their own thoughts, ideas, feelings, experiences, etc. as a community to share.

Free and open to the public. Call 799.8530

Hours of exhibition:

SATURDAY:  11:00am - 5:00pm
SUNDAY: 12:30pm - 11:00pm
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY: 8:30AM - 11:00PM
THURSDAY: 8:30AM - 9:00PM
FRIDAY: 8:30AM - 5:00PM