Author: Iris
The Zawyeh Art Gallery, organizer and sole venue of the Ramallah Art Fair, wants people to know that the event’s name is something of a misnomer. Yes, pieces in the newly opened Fourth Edition are on sale – and at particularly affordable prices – but here, the market takes a back seat. This is first and foremost a showcase of the Palestinian story. This year’s Ramallah Art Fair (RAF), titled “Voices of Resilience,” features more than 100 works of art in various media created by 35 artists who were born, lived in Palestine or settled abroad. The works are on…
As the year 2024 is almost over, it’s a fitting time to reflect on artists who have produced some compelling artworks. One such artist is VP. Vasuhan, whose work bridges personal history, cultural identity, and collective memory. Born in 1977 in the village of Alaveddy in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Vasuhan grew up in an environment rich with traditional arts and customs. These early experiences formed the foundation for his artistic journey, blending rural traditions with contemporary practices. Inspired by his grandfather’s life as a farmer, Vasuhan’s childhood memories of working with plant-based colorings and engaging in folk arts like kolam…
Melbourne, Australia— reexamine, The Reko Rennie retrospective is on display at the Ian Potter Centre, a branch of the National Gallery of Victoria that houses its Australian collections. The pun-intended title boldly challenges the binary distinction between “traditional” Aboriginal art and contemporary art through works drawn from the artist’s two-decade career.Visually, reexamine Lean into the artist’s street art roots. In works such as Regalia (2013), Rainey uses the crown symbol not only to pay homage to Jean-Michel Basquiat, but also to address issues of Aboriginal sovereignty and legitimate rule in Australia. The artist’s first label, “OA” (short for “Original Aboriginal”),…
The Venice Biennale has traditionally been seen as a retrospective on the present, but this year, it could be said to be an exhibition about the past. More than half of the 331 participants died, a sure sign that the long-standing trend of canonizing the uncanonized may finally be reaching its peak. Many of these artists hail from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific, proving that the Western art world has officially begun to shed its Eurocentric bias. How permanent will all these rewrites be? For example, will the 2084 canon reflect changes at the Venice Biennale 50…
Would you like a plastic shopping cart small enough to be pushed around by a doll? Just go to Google and search – you’ll find a lot of shopping carts like this. But not so long ago, artist Janet Olivia Henry recently pointed out that it’s not easy to find such objects on demand. She still remembers the thrill of the chase she felt decades ago as she traveled through Manhattan looking for toys to use in her sculptures. In the 1970s, Henry began making her “Juju Boxes,” which were an assortment of toys—troll dolls, miniature plastic sinks and buckets,…
Today’s artists are exploring a landscape where digital technologies merge the physical and virtual worlds, providing new ways to create, communicate and collaborate. While technology can sometimes seem daunting, being designed by the few for the many now has unprecedented opportunities and institutions to leverage these tools. By cleverly integrating digital technologies, creators can deepen experiences, reach new audiences, and design a collective future that reflects and connects communities in profound ways. Knight’s new body of work celebrates the intersection of artistic creation and technological innovation, encouraging new modes of production, expression and communication. Since 2020, the program has fostered…
Naomi Beckwith, chief curator of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, has been appointed artistic director of the 16th Documenta. She will be the first black woman to hold the position. The news was announced by Andreas Hoffmann, Managing Director of the Friedrich Documenta and Museum, at a press conference on December 18. The upcoming documenta is scheduled to take place from June 12 to September 19, 2027.“Documenta is an institution that belongs to the whole world as much as it belongs to Kassel, an institution that is in permanent dialogue with history and at the same time a barometer…
The Master of Art History program at Texas Christian University (TCU) is accepting applications for fall 2025 admission, with a deadline of February 1, 2025. TCU, located in Fort Worth, is a private, secular university and a major higher education institution in Texas. The Art History graduate program is part of TCU’s School of the Arts, which offers programs in Art Education (BFA) and Studio Art (BFA/BA), as well as a fully funded M.A. in Studio Art.Learn more about admissions information and application instructions.About the Master of Art HistoryThe MA in Art History is a two-year, full-time course. It emphasizes…
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a moment to celebrate the artists who have helped us see the world—and ourselves—in new ways. Among them is Katerina Tsitsela, whose work dives deep into the human condition. Whether through painting or engraving, Tsitsela invites us to explore the unseen, transforming emotions into tangible forms that resonate with raw honesty. “My art is a way of investigating what lies beneath,” Tsitsela explains. “I work with what I call ‘internal landscapes,’ visualizing the emotions and mental states we all experience.” These landscapes aren’t traditional scenery but symbolic reflections of psychological struggles, resilience, and…
As the year 2024 winds down, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the artists who have provided us with a fresh understanding of creativity and connection. Among them, Haeley Kyong is an artist—not for grand gestures or elaborate works, but for the quiet power of her minimalist art. Born and raised in South Korea, Kyong’s approach strips away the unnecessary, focusing on the bare essentials—shapes, colors, and emotions. Her art bypasses intellectual analysis, speaking directly to the soul. Kyong’s journey weaves together cultural heritage and formal education. With training from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University…