Toyin Odutola

Toyin Odutola's drawings are so beautiful.  Originally from Nigeria, she is currently at California College of the Arts (and Crafts) completing her MFA, but has already been picked up by a prominent galley in New York.
Her story is pretty amazing.  I read a Critic's Pick article in ARTnews explaining how she approached Hank Willis Thomas, an Alumni of CCA and asked him after his lecture to visit her studio. And he turned to her and flat out said "No."  Later feeling guilty for rejecting her he went to her studio when she wasn't there. Impressed by what he saw he sent images of her work to his gallerist, Jack Shainman.  She just had her fist solo show in NewYork at the Jack Shainman Gallery.  And her work now is selling for $3,200- $12,000!
That seems like a dream to me.  But it does speak of her courage- to be able to ask for time from an artist you admire is definitely ballsy- so I think she earned it.  It goes to show it never hurts to ask.
Check out her blog as well.

SOLIPSIST

Such a creative experimental video... I love the lively wild colors that crawl through it.

Flower Anthem

beautiful.

el oro-verde de tus ojos

para el que no entiende la letra dice asi

Diego:Nada comparable a tus manos, ni nada igual al oro-verde de tus ojos. Mi cuerpo se llena de ti por dias y dias. Eres el espejo de la noche. La luz violeta del relámpago. La humedad de la Tierra. El hueco de tus axilas es mi refugio. Toda mi alegria es sentir brotar la vida de tu fuente-flor que la mía guarda para llenar todos los caminos de mis nervios que son los tuyos, Tus ojos, espadas verdes dentro de mi carne,ondas entre nuestras manos. Solo tú en el espacio lleno de sonidos. En la sombra y en la luz; Tú te llamarás Auxocromo, el que capta el color. Yo Cromóforo, la que da el color. Tú eres todas las combinaciones de números. La vida. Mi deseo es entender la linea, la forma, el movimiento. Tú llenas y yo recibo. Tu palabra recorre todo el espacio y llega a mis células que son mis astros y va a las tuyas que son mi luz.

Frida

a crazy kind of love

Aron Weisenfeld

At first I didn't care for Aron Weisenfeld's paintings but at second glace I really love their vulnerability and simple statements of beauty that are at times haunting.

Troy Stains

Troy Stains has that specific color palette, intimate quirky details, banality of the everyday life that create a full character that I can see in Wes Anderson's work. These photos make me laugh and want to know more.

Wes Anderson's Hyundai commercial

Wes Anderson's Hyundai commercial. detail.detail.detail.  Well done in 30 seconds.

Moonlight Kingdom Trailer

I love the detail in all Wes Anderson's films. 

Kiki Smith

Just recently started looking at Kiki Smiths work again.  I remember being in Undergrad and just loving her large realistic figures all speaking about the female body.  But now I just can't get over her drawings and smaller sculptures there is something beautiful and raw about them.  I like that they aren't hyper realistic because they look like they come from her- her vision- her perspective which seems more emotional and real to me.

Gregor Gaida

There is an intense struggle and fight usually portrayed in the work of Gregor Gaida.  His work's movement is amazing in that it goes far beyond it's static form. 

“I am a rather rational minded person. Things I cannot classify, soon occupy my thoughts. The complexity and contrariness of political and social affairs cause a certain restlessness and a kind of friction. Out of this energy my works evolve.” (Gregor Gaida, 2009)

Barry X Ball

Barry X Ball I tripped on to recently for his remakes of Masterpieces.  Though they are quite beautiful he has written statements defending why he has made these pieces and how he has made them better.  I guess though I can admire their beauty.  I find them to be a bit pretentious considering he is using the technology of today to recreate them, but he does claim he realizes this and embraces the challenge.  Either way, I appreciate the dialogue that happens around these works.

mystic

Idealy...

I can't tell you how enchanted I am by these signs by Laure Prouvost.  Check out her many other projects here.

Scarlett Hooft Graafland

Scarlett Hooft Graafland's  photographs titled "Salt works" in Bolivia are quite striking.  I love the surreal beauty they portray.  I've always wanted to go to Bolivia to experience their salt flats.

snoring humming bird

...seriously... This video seems like it is out of a Disney animation. too cute.

Inside Out x JR x La Fuerza Silenciosa

Wrinkles of the City Project, Downtown Los Angeles 2012

So excited in less then two weeks I'll be on my way to one of my favorite places in the world- Honduras.  To be with many of my favorite people all the while working on our public art project La Fuerza Silenciosa in collaboration with JR's Inside Out!!! I couldn't be more ready.