Fable & Folklore

Everyone has the same experiences, yet everyone responds differently to them. Hunger and pain. Hot and cold weather. Joy and sorrow. Our reactions to these events may vary, but all of these things are unavoidable. Folklore gives us the wisdom to understand these moments from different points of view.

It showcases that all of our problems and successes happen in every culture and throughout different periods of history. We are unique as individuals, but we are all connected through these moral truths.

Farmers’ Almanac

“Fable and Folklore” is a beautifully curated exhibition by Danijela Krha Purssey and the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine team, featuring over 80 of the top artists in today’s international modern and narrative surrealism art movement. Each artist has done an incredible job creating a new artwork that lets us read a whole new fable and folklore story with a unique and creative perspective. It’s a great honor to work Danijela and the Beautiful Bizarre team along with all the incredible artists in the show! Their dedicated teamwork, their love and passion for art, and bringing everyone together has created an epic exhibition and magazine that lives and inspires forever. Thank you Danijela, the BBM team, and to all the “out of this world” talented artists in the show! We are grateful to be a part of this exhibition with you!”

Gary Pressman and Erica Miller Owner and Director of Copro Gallery

This is the second time that Beautiful Bizarre Magazine has worked with Copro Gallery in this capacity, and we are so grateful to the Gallery Directors Gary Pressman and Erica Miller together with their team for their professionalism and hard work on behalf of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and all the artists involved.

The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages is preserved into perpetuity by a nation’s fables, folklore, and proverbs.

William Feather

Our deepest gratitude also goes to the 80+ artists from around the world who contributed such incredible work to this exhibition. Thank you also to all of the artists, fans and collectors who attended the opening reception! You can see all of the photographs from the opening reception of Fable & Folklore here.

Thank you, THANK YOU, a million thank yous to everyone involved in bringing this exhibition to life, including our amazing Beautiful Bizarre Magazine team. This has been another huge success, and we are incredibly grateful!

‘Fable & Folklore’ Exhibiting Artists

Alex Garant, Allen Williams, Andi Soto, Angela Gram, Annie Montgomerie, Aron Wiesenfeld, Babs Webb, Brian Viveros, Calvin Ma, Camilla d’Errico, Chet Zar, Chris Guest, Crystal Morey, Dewi Plass, Dolce Paganne, Ed Binkley, Ellen Jewett, Erik Mark Sandberg, Erika Sanada, Forest Rogers, Gerlanda di Francia, Guil Zekri, Hannah Flowers, Ito Chieko, J. Henry, Jana Brike, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Jasmine Worth, Jason Mowry, Joe Vaux, Jeff Echevarria, Jessica Dalva, Jesús Aguado, Jon Carraher, Jon Ching, Jonathan Viner, Jorge Dos Diablos, Josh Keyes, Juli About, Kelsey Beckett, Kevin Peterson, Kim Slate, Kit Mizeres, Kremena Chipilova, Kristin Kwan, Ksenia Buridanova, Lauren Marx, Lavely Miller, Lizz Lopez, Lola Dupre, Lori Nelson, Luis Toledo del Rio, Luke Hillestad, Michelle Avery Konczyk, Miho Hirano, Naoto Hattori, Noah Norrid, Olga Esther, Omar Rayyan, Orphné Achéron, Peca, Phoenix Chan, Rachael Bridge, Richard A. Williams, Richard Ahnert, Roos van der Vliet, Roxanne Sauriol Hauenherm, Ryan Heshka, Simona Candini, Sooj Mitton, Stephanie Inagaki, Stephanie Kilgast, Steven Kenny, Tamura Yoshiyasu, Thomas Ascott, Tom Bagshaw, Travis Louie, Vanessa Lemen, Victor Castillo, Virginie Ropars, Xue Wang, Yousuke Kawashima.

Copro Gallery Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

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Welcome to the March 2024 Issue 44 of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Queen of pinup Olivia De Berardinis‘ legendary painting, “Irving Claws (Bettie Page)” on the cover!

The March print issue has sold out, but you can download the digital magazine here.

Enjoy my Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 44

Happy New Year, and welcome to the 44th issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with the Queen of pinup Olivia De Berardinis’ fabulous painting of Bettie Page on the cover.

It is with sadness that I start this message to you, but I feel it is important to acknowledge the life and passing of my soul-dog Monty, who died just before Christmas. The last month has taught me the true force of love, through the depths of grief. In my 48 years of life, I have never experienced this kind of pain. Monty was a beautiful Golden Retriever whom I had the pleasure of sharing my life and office with for the last 13 years. He was with me when Beautiful Bizarre Magazine was born, through all the challenges and successes, the tears and the joy.

His sweet, gentle, loving nature brought me so much happiness. From the first moment I saw him as a fluffy golden baby with big black soulful eyes, until his dying breath, I loved him so deeply that sometimes it hurt. I miss him every moment of every day – because he was there with me in all those moments, in all those memories, in all those places and spaces. He was the most beautiful, precious soul and now he is gone. If love could have saved him, he would have lived forever.

Unconditional Love

Grief does, however, make very clear the preciousness and depth of true love, and the privilege we receive from loving a being so deeply that their loss cracks us open. Reveals a part of ourselves we didn’t truly understand until that moment. As Josh Billings so beautifully put it: “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself”, and I am deeply grateful for the years I received Monty’s unconditional love. Vale Monty, my precious boy.

But life must continue, and my work gives me something important to focus on, and helps to bring the light back into my life – for which I am deeply grateful. So I move into 2024 with gratitude, with love, and purpose.

Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

When you read this the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize entries will be open! Once again, we are giving away over $56,000 USD in cash and prizes thanks to the generous support of our amazing sponsors. We also have a brand new Palladium sponsor, Musonium Gallery, who have generously supported the Grand Prize Award – creating even more value for this year’s winners.

So, whether you paint or draw either with traditional or digital media, sculpt or take photographs – believe in yourself and your practice, enter the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize via our website today. The Prize not only provides funding, but also global exposure to a diverse group of art lovers, curators, collectors, and media, along with recognition and career development.

Each year our esteemed artist jurors change, giving artists who enter the best possible opportunity to win. This year I am proud to announce the following artists will be judging their respective areas of expertise: Michael Parkes [RAYMAR Traditional Art Award], Kirsty Mitchell [Photography Award], Erika Sanada [Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award], and Karla Ortiz [Digital Art Award].

Curated Exhibitions

We also have two very exciting curated group exhibitions this year. Fable & Folklore, our second exhibition with Copro Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, USA in May, and our sixth exhibition with Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco USA in November, where the winners of this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will also exhibit.

As always, this issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is filled with the fascinating stories of the 50+ visual and wearable artists, I hope you enjoy the read!

Much Love xo

Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

All images throughout this Note From the Editor are by Issue 44 published artists.

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The 42nd issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Eric Fortune’s evocative painting on the cover has sold out, but you can still download the digital magazine here.

Enjoy my Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 42

It’s July as I write to you, which is always a super exciting time! We are currently having lots of amazing entries come in for this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. This year we have a new Award, the Emerging Artists Award which myself and Richard Purssey, my husband and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Co-Founder, have personally sponsored. We strongly believe that emerging artists deserve their own platform, greater recognition, and the means to take their careers to the next level. This Award gives them this opportunity.

I wanted to once again thank our amazing gold sponsors who have been supporting the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize for several years now: INPRNT, RAYMAR, iCanvas, and Yasha Young Projects. As philanthropists and arts related businesses, their ongoing support of artists from all different countries and cultures is not only deeply appreciated, but is an incredible legacy for themselves and their businesses. On behalf of all the artists whose lives and careers have been uplifted by their sponsorship of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize over the last 6 years, we thank you!

When you are reading this you will have had your opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award from the 140 short-listed Finalists [25 per Award category: Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture; 50 from the Traditional Art Award category; and 15 from the Emerging Art Award category]. I hope you took some time to vote for your favourite artworks. The Winners of the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize have been announced via our usual channels and we hope you’re as pleased as we are!

A Patron of the Arts

If you are a philanthropist, arts related business, or commercial brand, and you would like to leave a real and lasting legacy – one that will change the lives of countless creatives from all over the world – please do contact our Deputy Editor Natalia at natalia@beautifulbizarre.net, about how you can support next year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. We would be thrilled to hear from you!

Would you like to leave a real and lasting legacy – one that will change the lives of countless creatives from all over the world?

The exhibition that corresponds with the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is being held at Haven Gallery in Northport, New York, in November this year. This exhibition, Serendipity, will exhibit the works of over 80 of the world’s best representational artists, including this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Winners. I have already started to see some of the completed work for this exhibition and trust me you won’t want to miss the Collectors Preview! If you are thinking of adding to your collection, please email gallery director Erica Berkowitz at info@havengallery.com, and she will add you to the preview list.

On the Horizon

Of course, we have many more exciting projects in the works including our 2nd exhibition at Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, in May next year, negotiating our 2025 and 2026 exhibitions, and the ongoing pleasure of welcoming new artists to the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory. If you are an artist who is looking for community, and doesn’t want to feel alone in your practice, then come join our special community of talented artists and photographers. You will be able to directly connect with me and our amazing community of creatives via a platform where we share ideas, advice, challenges, concerns, and of course our victories! To find out how you can join, please visit the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory.

Until we speak again, please enjoy the unique and inspiring stories of 40+ artists and artisan fashion designers in this issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. I hope you enjoy the read!

Much Love xo

Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

All images throughout this Note From the Editor are by Issue 42 published artists.

The post A Note From the Editor: Patron of the Arts appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

In my opinion there is nothing more rewarding than supporting young and emerging talent, and helping to boost their careers. That is what we do here at the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and with my Yasha Young Sculpture Award. By supporting the process I can give the select artist the freedom to experiment and truly support the creative process, which is a passion of mine. Buying art is important, but supporting the artists to enable them to create, in my opinion is just as vital and an age-old concept. I wish more collectors would support artists they love outside of commission purchases. There are many options to create a win win situation.YAHSA YOUNG, FOUNDER OF YASHA YOUNG PROJECTS

Thank you & Acknowledgements

Once again, we would like to thank all of the artists that entered and shared their work and their artistic passion with us. It was such a pleasure to immerse ourselves in the work of so many creatives, working across varied mediums and styles, and reading their stories.

Danijela Krha Purssey, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief has the pleasure, and the honour of curating each issue of the magazine, and our yearly exhibitions. The incredible Art Prize entries that we received will continue to give her a plethora of new ideas and choices to pursue in future. So thank you again for your interest in the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, we very much hope to see how your work has grown and developed in next year’s Prize.

I would also like to sincerely thank the 2023 Jury Panel, particularly the Sculpture category Judge Ellen Jewett, for giving her time and expertise to the panel. Additionally I warmly thank the other Category Judges:  Rebecca Leveille (Traditional Art juror), Ellen Sheidlin (Photography juror), and Laura H. Rubin (Digital Art juror), as well as the Directors of Haven Gallery, Erica Berkowitz & Joseph Weinreb.

Our deep gratitude goes to our amazing Gold Partners: Yasha Young Projects, INPRNT, RAYMAR, and iCanvas for their ongoing support of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, and the life changing opportunities it brings to artists from around the world. Thank you also to the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the Prize all-year round.

Our sincere thanks to this year’s Sculpture Award sponsors listed below. It is through their generosity that the Sculpture Award Winners will be able to enrich their practice.

Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award

The Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by Yasha Young Projects, arts philanthropist and Executive Curatorial Director for the FOR_M, a new institution currently being developed in New York city.
• $400USD worth of services from Stan Winston School, including an all-access 1 year subscription which includes unlimited access to their Course library by The Masters of FX, with new courses added every month. Plus exclusive access to the Behind-the-Scenes Documentary stream.
• $250 USD worth of supplies of your choice from Sculpey, making polymer oven-bake clays for over 50 years.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery, in New York, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• 3 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social platforms).
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2023 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, as part of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize editorial.
• Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
• Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• A coupon to enjoy Linktree PRO for free for 12 months.
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $300 USD worth of services from Stan Winston School, including a 3 month subscription including full access to the entire course library. Plus exclusive access to the Behind-the-Scenes Documentary stream.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery, in New York, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• A coupon to enjoy Linktree PRO for free for 12 months.
• Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
• Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

3rd prize winner will receive:

• $100 USD worth of services from Stan Winston School, including a 1 month subscription including full access to the entire course library. Plus exclusive access to the Behind-the-Scenes Documentary stream.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery, in New York, USA, alongside 80+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• A coupon to enjoy Linktree PRO for free for 12 months.
• Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
• Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Congratulations to the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Winners: Entei Ryu, Kristine & Colin Poole, and Forest Rogers!

3rd Prize Winner

Entei Ryu

Currently resides: Japan

“Metamorphosis”, Resin, mineral pigments, whitewash, acrylic paint, copper foil, 32 x 24 x 17 cm.

Entei Ryu is a concept artist based in Tokyo. Her artistic creations are full of fantasy and surreal elements, particularly in her sculptures, which are based on classical realism and skillfully blend Eastern and Western cultures, modern digital media, and traditional Japanese art techniques. Her works cover many different fields, including film, games, illustration, and fashion. Her artistic style is characterized by strong emotional expression and bursting vitality. Mysterious, mythical, spiritual, and life-related themes often appear in her works, evoking resonance and emotional connection in the hearts of the audience.

“Metamorphosis“: Inspired by ancient myths of the Korean Peninsula, I depict the beasts who once prayed to be transformed into humans by the gods but were left wandering. The tigers are portrayed as primal, wild forces of nature. The transformation of animals into humans is represented by the emergence of softer, more fluid energy, suggesting the development of a more nuanced, complex humanity. With a mythological and classical shell, I attempt to portray the fundamental struggle within the human psyche to recon.

2nd Prize Winner

Kristine & Colin Poole

Currently reside in: United States

“Dove Dreams of Flying”, Fired clay, acrylic, 18 x 24 x 15 in.

Kristine and Colin Poole’s classically inspired contemporary realist sculptures have been widely recognized and collected. Their collaborations bridge many genres, featuring prominently in international publications including Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, 500 Figures in Clay, Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics Ireland, Masters of Contemporary Fine Art and The ARC International Salon. While maintaining their individual bodies of work, the Pooles’ commission projects include public art monuments for the Michigan Carnegie Library and Arlington County, Virginia. Their corporate client commissions include The National Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, National Geographic, US Mint, USPS, PBS, Coca Cola, Sony, Lourdes Cathedral France and numerous other Fortune 500 companies. Recognizing the potential for the arts to enlighten and shift perspectives, the Pooles have long been dedicated proponents of encouraging creativity in others. They have judged many contests, are monthly contributors to the art blog, Muddy Colors, and donate their time to give demonstrations and lectures on art and business. They currently live and create in the Sangre de Cristo mountains surrounded by their menagerie of birds and beasts.

“Dove Dreams of Flying”: This sculpture was inspired by the birds in our aviary and how much our pet friends enrich our lives. The bird is a portrait of Zozo, our favorite Damascene pigeon and the young woman is named after Dove, our first bird. Here, perhaps Zozo shares a story about what it’s like to fly and Dove begins to daydream. Or it may be that the bird represents our inner self, when we launch off into a new direction in life, whispering in our ear, “You can do it! You’ll find your wings… I promise.”

1st Prize Winner

Forest Rogers

Currently resides: United States

“The Virgin Shrimp”, Japanese air-dry clay, Kozo tissue, acrylic gel, paints & inks. Epoxy clay, brass rod & stainless-steel wire armature, 25 x 10 x 10 in.

Forest Rogers, daughter of two painters, received an MFA in Costume Design from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Forest has an eclectic history. She has painted nine-foot angels in a cathedral dome, and sculpted creatures that may dwell in your childhood toy box. She has collaborated with paleontologists on dinosaur prototypes, and with aquariums on sea life and poison dart frogs. In recent years she has focused entirely on her own art, exploring mythology, fairy and folktale, and the surreal. Her work resides in many private collections and appears in numerous books and magazines, including volumes of Spectrum Fantastic Art, Infected By Art, and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

“The Virgin Shrimp”: The astonishing garments of Queen Elizabeth the First and her peers resemble paradoxical exoskeletons: denfence and encumbrance, dominance and confinement. Threat and seduction. Add a wander the realm of the Faerie Queene and a soupçon of Midsummer Night’s dreaming, and the result, for me, was the Virgin Shrimp and her adoring Crab. Would the Queen have been amused? I am not sure.

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is administered by Australian based, international contemporary art magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

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The 10th Anniversary Issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with magical realism legend Michael Parkes’ incredible painting on the cover, has sold out! Don’t miss this inspiring, milestone issue – grab your copy today of the digital issue here.

Enjoy my Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 41

Yep, 10 years! What an amazing and important milestone for the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine team. You can read my interview which discusses the magazine’s challenges and successes inside this issue.

I touch briefly in this interview about my ‘imposter syndrome’ feelings. To better understand where this feeling comes from, even after ten years, it’s important to understand a little about my career before Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Even though I studied art in high school, I felt lost when it came to deciding on a career. Because of this I decided not to go to University and spend years studying something I wasn’t passionate about, instead I went down the practical route to enable me to get a decent job and earn an OK income. I was a senior Personal Assistant [aka secretary] for my entire working career up until my late 30’s. Working in various industries, doing the same old boring admin work.

You know what it’s like – same thing, different day. None of this inspired me, I just went to work to earn an income and that was pretty much it. I did however always keep my toes in the water when it came to art. I still enjoyed looking at artwork, following artists’ journeys both online and via galleries. In early 2012, this led me to create the Beautiful Bizarre Facebook page, so I could share my love of art with the world in my personal time.

It was so wonderful to be able to engage with artists and art lovers in a direct way! From this group the idea of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine was born. One day the idea just popped into my head – why don’t I start an art magazine? This way I can not only publish the work of artists that I admire and share their work with a global readership, but I can also earn an income from what I truly love. So I did – I worked out how, and just went for it – and in 2013 the first issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine was born, and the rest, as they say, is history!

New Beginnings

Much of my and the business’ success has been thanks to serendipity, with opportunities presenting themselves at just the right time, and the rest – hard work, long hours, a huge amount of learning, constantly stepping outside of my comfort zone, and of course creating meaningful lasting relationships with artists, galleries, and my team.

… in 2013 the first issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine was born, and the rest, as they say, is history!

When I first started Beautiful Bizarre Magazine I had no idea about the publishing business, but I did have some understanding of business and team management. From my experience as a Personal Assistant, having both good and bad bosses, I knew very well what not to do when it came to managing and working with people. This has served me well. The rest I have made up as I have gone along! Creating my own idea of what publishing can be and what a magazine can encompass.

Deserving of success?

This brings me to ‘imposter syndrome’. “Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments. Many question whether they’re deserving of accolades.” [Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey]. I know this feeling is quite common in artists as well. Why do we feel this way? What is it about creative people particularly that makes us feel that our success is not deserving? That it is luck rather than our own talent/hard work that has brought us success?

Why after 10 years, and creating a successful business, do I personally still feel this way? Good question! Perhaps it has something to do with my nature, being an introvert. I prefer to just work hard in the background rather than stand up in front of people and discuss my achievements. Perhaps it is because I have no formal education in the arts, or in business? Perhaps I still feel like this is too good to be true? Honestly, I don’t know.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, through its people, brings a fresh perspective to magazine publishing, a personal and down to earth engagement with artists and the industry. One built from the ground up without pretence, just love, curiosity, wonder, and an open heart and mind.

However, perhaps this feeling also engenders humility? A real and honest appreciation and gratitude for those that have supported me and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine over the years – perhaps this is what makes Beautiful Bizarre Magazine unique? Beautiful Bizarre Magazine through its people brings a fresh perspective to magazine publishing, a personal and down to earth engagement with artists and the industry. One built from the ground up without pretence, just love, curiosity, wonder, and an open heart and mind. If this is the case, then I think these feelings of being an ‘imposter’ are not entirely a bad thing.

Can you relate to the ‘imposter syndrome’ feeling? If so, have you been able to overcome it? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Finally, from one art lover to another, please accept my deepest gratitude for your support of our independent magazine! It is through your purchasing the magazine that Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is still in print 10 years on, and I am so thankful.

Much Love xo

Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

All images throughout this Note From the Editor are by Issue 41 published artists.

The post A Note From the Editor: 10 Years of Beautiful Bizarre appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

• If you had to choose only three words that you feel best describes your work, what would they be, and why?
• What advice did you get as a young artist that still influences you today?
• What do you love most about the medium you have chosen to work in?
• How does art add value to society?

We feel that the artists’ responses provide such a valuable insight for our community of artists that we wanted to share one Quick Q & A response from each issue with you, going forward. The March 2023 Issue 40 print issue is sold out, but you can download the digital magazine via our webstore to read more. To ensure you never miss an issue again, you can also subscribe to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and have each issue sent straight to your door each quarter.

Excerpt from Issue 40 // March 2023 Quick Q & A editorial: Yousuke Kawashima, Kim Anderson [Honourable Mention, 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize], Taj Francis, Dan Zollinger, Mei Mei and Tanja McMillan respond to the below Quick Q & A:

How does art add value to society?

Yousuke Kawashima

“This is a very difficult problem. I am a painter who paints my very personal world. There is no excessive message there, just something that says, “I like this kind of world.” But I am not alone in this world. Just as I am fascinated by a movie or a novel written by someone else, I am sure that other people will be fascinated by this world that I have created. A story made by someone interferes with someone else’s world and spins a new story. The connection of the world spread in this way is called “culture”. Culture cannot be created by one person. The value of art is not necessarily visible, but it has a very important role as a “carrier of culture,” receiving it from the previous world, weaving this world, and connecting it to the new world.”

Kim Anderson

“Making art is essential for my own personal well-being. However, I believe this is also true on a more universal level. Art provides us with a language to try and make sense of our existence in this world in a way that nothing else does. Being a human is difficult and messy and we’re often at odds with our environment. Artists have the means to go deep, bringing things to the fore to help us deal with them. Art can be confronting and beautiful, comforting, and strange, it can offer different perspectives and help us understand ourselves better. Ultimately, when I imagine a world without any art at all, I see a desolate place without any heart and soul. That’s when I realise its value.”

Taj Francis

“Art is the thing that keeps us moving and living and motivated. It doesn’t just add value, I think it’s the soul of society. It might feel a little hyperbolic to say, but I genuinely believe that, at the end of the day, we always come back to art in some form to renew ourselves. Beyond money, and investments, and even being decorative, beautiful or functional, its value is something that is intangible. It’s a language. Art adds value, because it is a language that we can all connect with. A society without art is a society that has lost its voice, expression, and its means of communicating with our deeper selves.”

Dan Zollinger

“When I was a less mature person, I perhaps selfishly saw art more in terms of how I could benefit from it personally. Things such as financial reward, ego-based recognition, awards, etc. Initially, these things can sustain you, but for me I realised they weren’t fulfilling. I’m not saying these things carry no importance, but there is a greater purpose to making art than taking care of our own needs. In time, and with maturity, I began to recognise the more society-based mission of art. To bring enjoyment to others, to move and inspire them, connect with them spiritually, or just add something beautiful to their lives. Once you are painting for others as much as, or more than, for yourself, things become exponentially more gratifying!”

Mei Mei

“At an individual level we get to explore ourselves through art, but we also communicate and get a deep personal satisfaction when we accomplish the smallest creation. Art is part of human nature, it can bind people together in a community. I have worked for years developing community art projects and I have created MeiMei Social; my own community interest company. The project aims to work with communities of different backgrounds, focusing on people with limited access to art materials or a creative environment. We want them to experience creative workshops and activities that help them to develop new skills, prevent isolation and learn about art that is also non-mainstream, activities for these communities are free of charge.”

Tanja McMillan

“I genuinely believe art and music alike are the most important contributions to any society. Art is such a profoundly valuable form of expression and cultural identity, a tool to explore ideas and see things from other perspectives. Through the making and sharing of art, we are able to tell stories, educate, heal, unite, inspire and hopefully become more compassionate and kind humans. It is such a gift to give and receive. I am an absolute advocate for public art, too. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience art no matter your class, religion, colour or gender. I’ve always dreamed of one day making an art park filled with exceptionally beautiful art installations from across the world that everybody can get amongst. How fun would that be!”

The post Quick Q & A: How does art add value to society? appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Already entered? Now you can enter a few more works. More entries means more chances to win! Don’t forget you can also enter both the Emerging Artist Award and other Award categories if you fit the Emerging Artist Award entry criteria.

It’s super easy, just enter the best work from your portfolio whether it is sold or not – there is no need to create a new work. Just complete the relevant entry form in one of the five Award categories: Traditional Art, Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture, or the Emerging Artist category.

Entries for the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize now close on Monday 31 July 2023 at midnight [Los Angeles, USA time] / 5pm 1 August [Sydney, Australia time]. No more extensions after this date – we promise!

Still unsure if entering the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is the right choice for you? You may want to read this handy little article we put together on The Bigger Picture: Why Entering Art Competitions Is A Smart Career Move. The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize has been changing the lives and careers of artists for the last 6 years, don’t miss your chance to take your career to the next level.

With an easy submission process you can guarantee that your work will be seen by our Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey. Why is this important? Because it isn’t just about winning (although that would be amazing) – the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is also our fountain of inspiration. Every year we discover many new artists through our Art Prize, who then go on to be featured on our website, our print magazine, and are also invited to our curated exhibitions. It is the best way to get on our radar! Plus this is also the perfect opportunity to get your work in front of the Directors of Haven Gallery, NY USA.

Giving the practices of representational artists validation and visibility, particularly in the commercial gallery and museum sector where it is still hard to get representation, is what the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize aims to achieve.

Danijela Krha Purssey ~ Editor-in-Chief, beautiful bizarre magazine

2023 Award Categories

• INPRNT Photography Award – receives $3,000 USD cash & prizes
• Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award – receives $3,000 USD cash & prizes
• iCanvas Digital Art Award – receives $3,000 USD cash & prizes
• RAYMAR Traditional Art Award – receives $4,500 USD cash & prizes
• Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founder’s Emerging Artist Award – receives $1,000 USD cash & prizes

See below some of the wonderful entries we have received so far across all Award categories.

RAYMAR Traditional Art Award entries

Check out the full list of Prizes for this Award here.

INPRNT Photography Award entries

Check out the full list of Prizes for this Award here.

iCanvas Digital Art Award entries

Check out the full list of Prizes for this Award here.

Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award

Check out the full list of Prizes for this Award here.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founders’ Emerging Artist Award

Check out the full list of Prizes for this Award here.

The post Entry Deadline Extended! 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

• What is your favourite part of the creative process and why?
• What are your thoughts on the use of AI technology in art?
• What do you want the viewer to feel when they view your work?
• How do you feel about the recent changes to Instagram, I.E. reels, deprioritizing photos?

We feel that the artists’ responses provide such a valuable insight for our community of artists that we wanted to share one Quick Q & A response from each issue with you, going forward. The December 2022 Issue 39 print issue is sold out, but you can download the digital magazine via our webstore to read more. To ensure you never miss an issue again, you can also subscribe to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and have each issue sent straight to your door each quarter.

Excerpt from Issue 39 // December 2022 Quick Q & A editorial: Kristen Egan, Jenni Pasanen, Elizabeth Blair Stephenson, Clare Toms, Bénédicte Voglio and Jennifer Parks respond to the below Quick Q & A:

How do you feel about the recent changes to Instagram, I.E. reels, deprioritizing photos?

Elizabeth Blair Stephenson

“I am not surprised by recent changes to Instagram, wherein photos appear to be deprioritised. The focus on reels and ads is lame, but not surprising. I am usually bombarded with product ads rather than art while scrolling through Instagram. I get messages from people who follow me and do not see my posts. Art from fellow artists rarely appears on my feed. Instead, there are multitudes of “shop now” options. Perhaps the masses prefer impulsively consuming products over thoughtfully appreciating artworks, and that is reflected in the algorithms. When a photo-sharing, social network platform morphs into a bundle of product advertising campaigns, it is a reflection of us. The collective “we” determines what we see.”

Clare Toms

“It’s very different from when I first joined the app, but social media platforms have evolved rapidly and brought a profound impact on artists and the art world ecosystem. Change is inevitable and updating features will continue happening, but it’s an increasingly controversial mix of people genuinely engaging versus pushing their own agendas, personal data being tracked and/or sold, inequality of access, and the prevalence of mental health impacts. Instagram (like most companies) seems to hunt profit, compete with other platforms, and are losing their uniqueness in the process. The worst part is seeing less of the artists and galleries who I want to support. In 1973, artist Richard Serra said, “If something is free, you’re the product”…and here we are today.”

Kristen Egan

“Instagram has been one of the driving forces of my career, but as many artists can relate, it’s a bit of a love/hate relationship. I’m not a huge fan of the TikTok-ification – I still barely know how to use video filters – but sometimes it’s fun to share process clips or do a short video piece. Personally, I haven’t actually seen evidence of photos being deprioritised; my photo posts generally get much higher views and engagement than my reels. My IG reach has fluctuated so much over the last few years that it hasn’t been worth trying to make sense of it. I think when you have something interesting to share, you should go for it. And if not, don’t stress about trying to feed the algorithm.”

Jennifer Parks

“At first I absolutely HATED it! I took a pretty long social media break throughout the pandemic and when I decided to get back onto IG, I barely recognised it. I definitely miss the photos. I even signed and shared that petition really hoping they would change it back. But maybe this is just where the future of social media is heading. It seems like everyone is doing the reels now. In all honesty, I really don’t care that much. It’s just an app. Though, an app that I truly appreciate as an artist. I don’t think I would be where I’m at without it. I don’t think I’d be doing this interview!”

Bénédicte Voglio

“Instagram is a magical tool. Without it, I would never have found your wonderful account! It allows me to discover a lot of modern and old artists. I love making reels. Putting images and music together delivers and even more powerful result. But it’s a lot of extra work. I am a trained photographer accustomed to working with still images, so it was complicated for me to make “living” images. But it’s something that I have now integrated into my communication process. There are many amazing applications on our smartphones that allow us to make beautiful videos, but you have to study them well! Today, you have to follow and listen to the great God Instagram when you create and consume art.”

Jenni Pasanen

“Hmm, for this question I don’t have an answer as I haven’t used Instagram that much lately due lack of time and lost content. Lately, I have had just enough time to load images in the app and reply to DMs. It is a really handy platform to view works, it works as an easy access gallery, as most people using social media do already have Instagram. Sadly, lately, Instagram has lost its appeal as it is so filled with influencer commercials, affiliate click bait, or someone trying to sell drop shipping items. Most of the content is just that or a video someone posted two weeks ago to TikTok. Even though you follow only art accounts you cannot escape the marketing.”

The post Quick Q & A: How do you feel about the recent changes to Instagram, I.E. reels, deprioritizing photos? appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

• What type of art do you create and what motivates you to make it?
• What is your biggest pain point as an artist?
• Tell us about an important life moment that influenced the direction of your work, and how.
• How has social media changed your art practice?

We feel that the artists’ responses provide such a valuable insight for our community of artists that we wanted to share one Quick Q & A response from each issue with you, going forward. The September 2022 Issue 38 print issue is sold out, but you can download the digital magazine via our webstore to read more. To ensure you never miss an issue again, you can also subscribe to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and have each issue sent straight to your door each quarter.

Excerpt from Issue 38 // September 2022 Quick Q & A editorial: Artists Yayu, Kseniia Boko, Robert Duxbury, Ema Shin, Luis Toledo del Rio, and Tina Yu [2021 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Sculpture Award 3rd Prize Winner] respond to the below Quick Q & A:

What is your biggest pain point as an artist?

Yayu

“Most definitely the business side – the inevitable part in which I need to earn money to survive. Having zero business experience and needing to learn how to become a small business owner on my own, from responding to emails and working with suppliers to requesting samples for preparing, packaging and shipping all merchandise, it can be extremely time-consuming. A single release can cut my productivity in half for up to 10 weeks. There is so much more art I wish to create, learn, and experiment with. And trying to be an artist and a business owner simultaneously feels like two separate careers, when I only have the heart and time to invest in one.”

Tina Yu

“Sometimes, it’s hard to part with my creations (I also call them my “art babies”) when I’ve spent so much of my blood, sweat, and tears bringing them to “life”. But most of my collectors have found a special connection with my work, which means a lot to me. Art is highly subjective, and if my work can bring someone else happiness or touch another soul, it makes them even more meaningful to me, even though it’s hard to let them go sometimes.

It took time, effort, and a lot of dedication to become the artist I am today. Still, I always consider myself lucky, but I
wish I didn’t have to undersell some of my work at the beginning of my art career.”

Robert Duxbury

“That would be living in this capitalist hellscape! Every artist has a choice – work a day job and make art part time, or pursue your passion full time. The latter means treating your art practice as a business, and if you have morals and integrity it means trying your best to set boundaries between the business side of things and the creative side of things. The more you struggle, the more these lines become blurred. When things are good it’s good, when things aren’t so good you become painfully aware that nothing is sacred and everything is a commodity.”

Ema Shin

“As a young artist living in Japan, I worked as a waiter to earn a living. It was very hard to explain what I do, to people who don’t understand art or artist’s activities. They would ask me why you make art, what do you do with the pieces you make, and how much do you sell them for? In my experience, there are many things an artist cannot explain in words – primarily why they make things. I cannot really explain why I have made human organs for fifteen years. So, to protect ourselves and stay positive, I think it is important to practice self care and be careful about what environment and people we surround ourselves with.”

Luis Toledo del Rio

“My biggest pain point as an artist would be that sometimes the type of art that I create is not accepted in today’s contemporary art. Sadly, the majority of people do not appreciate the classical arts the way they were appreciated years ago. Usually, it takes many hours, days, and even months for me to be able to say that I am done with a painting. Most of the time, when that moment comes, I feel that it is not yet complete because I always want to express more through it. Something I wish I didn’t have to deal with as an artist is the moment I have to say goodbye to my paintings.”

Kseniia Boko

“Unfortunately, I have to solve a lot of organisational issues and there is not as much time as I would like left for actual painting. These responsibilities include my store, packing/shipping orders or paintings, communicating with people, filming and editing videos and social media. Interestingly, I like all these things, but each item takes a lot of time and sometimes it’s just not possible to paint. So, I understand that at some point I will have to take an assistant to help me with this. If I had to choose any one thing from this list, it would be packing and shipping orders, plus worrying if there are delays in delivery. Unfortunately, I can’t control everything.”

The post Quick Q & A: What is your biggest pain point as an artist? appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

The 40th Issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with fantasy art Legend Kinuko Y. Craft’s magical work on the cover is on sale now! The print magazine has sold out, but you can still download the digital issue here.

Enjoy my Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 40

2023 is our 10th year in business – time sure does fly when you’re having fun! I still have to pinch myself sometimes, when I consider how very fortunate I am to be working every day immersed in my passion. To be surrounded by an amazing, dedicated team, and so many inspiring creatives on a day to day basis is both a blessing and a joy, and for which I am deeply grateful.

2023 is our 10th year in business – time sure does fly when you’re having fun! I still have to pinch myself sometimes, when I consider how very fortunate I am to be working every day immersed in my passion.

The Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory

Our mission is to champion emerging and mid-career artists, by leveraging our global influence and reach across our various outlets including the magazine itself, website, email marketing, our 1M+ social media community, annual curated exhibitions, and of course the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize.

Giving artists the visibility and validation their practice deserves. The purpose that Beautiful Bizarre Magazine serves is to support and enable artists, with this in mind we have launched an exciting new service for artists – the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory. The goal of the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory is to become the premier platform for discovering and connecting with the most exceptional, innovative, and skilled artists.

The Artist Directory offers a global network that brings together artists, collectors, galleries, curators and media.

Through this comprehensive and curated list of artists we will present the best artwork from around the world. New artists who join the Artist Directory will be included in the new editorial which will print in each issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, launching in the June 2023 issue.

Through the new Artist Directory, artists will also have their profile and gallery on our website, be featured in a special regular email to our mailing list, and have their work shared across our social media channels. The Artist Directory offers a global network that brings together artists, collectors, galleries, curators and media. For more information regarding how you can join the list of cutting-edge artists from around the world on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory, please email my personal assistant at editors_pa@beautifulbizarre.net.

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is also open for entries! This year we are giving away over $50,000 USD in cash and prizes thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. My sincere thanks to our Silver, Bronze, supporting sponsors, media and academic sponsors for their generous donations, plus of course to our ongoing major Award sponsors INPRNT, iCanvas, RAYMAR and Yasha Young Projects for their continued support year after year!

Would winning $10,000 change your life? Enable you to take your practice to the next level? I’m sure it would definitely help!

The Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 USD cash – would winning $10,000 change your life? Enable you to take your practice to the next level? I’m sure it would definitely help! But prize money isn’t the only reason to enter.

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is a cost-effective way to invest in yourself and your practice. It provides global exposure to a diverse group of individuals, curators, collectors and media, provides recognition and career development, the opportunity to network with gallerists, curators and collectors, and of course will help build your collector base

Over the last couple of years we have received feedback from emerging artists saying how important it was for them to have their own dedicated award – to give them an even playing field – and we listened! Hence this year we have a new category – the Emerging Artist Award. So if you are an emerging artist that works in a representational style, in any 2 or 3 dimensional traditional medium, digital medium or photographic medium, you are eligible to enter the Emerging Artist Award.

Over the last couple of years we have received feedback from emerging artists saying how important it was for them to have their own dedicated award – to give them an even playing field – and we listened! Hence this year we have a new category – the Emerging Artist Award.

I am once again on this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Jury Panel, as are representatives from our Award sponsors, and the Directors of Haven Gallery. However, each year the esteemed artist jurors change – giving artists who enter each year the best possible opportunity to win!

This year I am proud to announce the following artists will be judging their respective areas of expertise: Rebecca Leveille [RAYMAR Traditional Art Award], Ellen Sheidlin [INPRNT Photography Award], Ellen Jewett [Sculpture Award], and Laura Rubin [iCanvas Digital Art Award].

Secret Longings & Serendipity exhibitions

We also have two very exciting curated group exhibitions this year. Secret Longings, our first exhibition with Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, USA from March to April. In November Serendipity will open at Haven Gallery, in Northport, NY, USA, where the winners of this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will also exhibit. As always, our exhibitions include the best representational artists in their fields, so please reach out to the galleries directly to get on their Collectors Preview lists.

Until next time, please take care of yourself and your loved ones, and please enjoy the unique and inspiring stories of 40+ visual and wearable art creatives in the current issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Much Love xo

Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

All images throughout this Note From the Editor are by Issue 40 published artists.

The post A Note From the Editor: Time flies when you’re having fun! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Secret longings

Secret Longings explores our hidden desires and deep longings, whether these are emotional or physical; focused on a partner or friend; lifestyle or career – these longings come from the heart. They are our hearts, or souls if you rather, whispering to us. 

Secret Longings is our 1^st Beautiful Bizarre Magazine curated event at Corey Helford Gallery, featuring 78 of the best International artists in the New Contemporary Art scene.  The exhibition is a phenomenal success with collectors enthralled as they visit this dreamy wonderland. Danijela Krha Purssey, the co-founder and editor in chief, has created a sophisticated and glamorous world with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. It is a utopian landscape where magical, sumptuous artwork springs from the pages.  Imbued with her incredible intuitive sense, she has a talent for curating the best of the New Contemporary Art genre.  I’ve been enamored with the magazine since its inception in 2013, and so this collaboration with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine on Secret Longings is a dream come true for Corey Helford Gallery. 

Sherri J. Trahan, Gallery Director

This is the first time that Beautiful Bizarre Magazine has worked with Corey Helford Gallery in this capacity, and we are so grateful to Gallery Director, Sherri J. Trahan and team for their professionalism and hard work on behalf of Beautiful bizarre Magazine and all the artists involved.

It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them.

GEORGE ELIOT

Our deepest gratitude also goes to the 70+ artists from around the world who contributed such incredible work to this exhibition. Thank you also to all of the artists, fans and collectors who attended the opening reception – it was wonderful to share the evening with you all! You can see all of the photographs from the opening reception of Secret Longings here.

Thank you, THANK YOU, a million thank yous to everyone involved in bringing this exhibition to life, including my amazing Beautiful Bizarre Magazine team. This has been another huge success and we are incredibly grateful!

Exhibiting artists at Secret Longings

Caia Koopman, Korin Faught, Natalia Fabia, Brandi Milne, Colin Christian, Sas Christian, Hush, Kazuki Takamatsu, Hikari Shimoda, Camilla d’Errico, John Brophy, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Ciou, Naoto Hattori, Yoko D’Holbachie, Kisung Koh, Miho Hirano, Troy Brooks, Ewa Pronczuk-Kuziak, Ian Francis, Alessandra Maria, Jana Brike, Tarntara Sudadung, Erika Sanada, Katie Gamb, Jon Ching, Nadezda, Helice Wen, Jesús Aguado, Ryan Heshka, ONEQ, Dewi Plass, Crystal Morey, Jennifer Allnutt, Josh Keyes, Richard Ahnert, Nicole Evans, Jason Mowry, Thomas Ascott, Allison Reimold, Yulia Pustoshkina, Agnieszka Nienartowicz, Andi Soto, Ania Tomicka, Ben Ashton, Calvin Laituri, Calvin Ma, Carolynda Macdonald, Chris Guest, Courtney Brims, Daniel Bilmes, Elisa Anfuso, Elizabeth Winnel-Wittfooth, Ellen Jewett, Erik Thor Sandberg, Ito Chieko, Kevin Peterson, Kremena Chipilova, Kseniia Boko, Lavely Miller, Lindsey Carr, Lix North, Lo Chan Peng, Lucia Heffernan, Marc Burckhardt, Peter Ferguson, Phoenix Chan, Rod Luff, Rose Freymuth-Frazier, Sarah Joncas, Shana Levenson, Stephanie Rew, Super A, Susannah Montague, Tania Rivilis, Tina Spratt, Brad Kunkle.

Enjoy some of the wonderful artworks from the exhibition below!

Erik Thor Sandberg
“Secret”, oil on panel, 8″ round

Rod Luff
“Dappled Undergrowth”, pencil, pastel, coloured pencil and oil paint, 20″ x 16″

Jason Mowry
“Plucked from the Congregation”, watercolour, gouache, pencil, and ink on paper, 13.25″ x 16.75″

Kisung Koh
“Immortal Pledge” oil on 640gsm paper, 21.5″ x 21.5″

Helice Wen
“Black Rabbit”, acrylic and graphic marker on paper, 30.5″ x 22.5″

Elisa Anfuso
“Del Fiorire e Del Peccare”, oil on canvas, 23.5″ x 15.5″

Lindsey Carr
“Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice”, oil in canvas bonded to wood panel, 20″ x 16″

Ewa Pronczuk-Kuziak
“Can We Burn Something, Babe?”, oil on linen canvas, 23.75″ x 25.5″

Troy Brooks
“The Wounded Healer”, oil on Belgian Linen, 24″ x 20″

Jana Brike
“Forevermore”, oil on linen, 15.75″ x 19.75″

Ian Francis
“A Classical Love Triangle Falls Apart on the Steps of a Park”, mixed media on canvas, alkyd oil paint, acrylics, various pens, pencils and charcoal, 36” x 36”

Calvin Laituri
“Felling of the Wolf Tree”, archival ink and engraving on claybord surface with 1/8″ hardboard backing, 10″ x 8″

Stephanie Rew
“Luckenbooth”, oil and 24ct gold leaf on panel, 23.5″ x 15.5″

Yulia Pustoshkina
“No Evil, No More”, oil on canvas, 30″ x 24″

Rose Freymuth-Frazier
“Sweet Surrender”, oil on linen, 24″ x 12″

Shana Levenson
“Blossoming”, oil on aluminum panel, 14″ x 21″

Yoko D’Holbachie
“Angel *Planet”, acrylic on coated wood board, 10″ x 7″

Nadezda
“Moon Wine”, oil on panel, 16″ x 16″

Susannah Montague
“Seraphim”, ceramic, Glaze, Underglaze, 22k Gold Lustre, Porcelain Paint, Transfer Ware, 15″ x 5.25″ x 15″

Jennifer Allnutt
“Oblivion”, oil on custom wood panel, 20″ x 10.75″

The post Secret Longings appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Secret Longings explores our hidden desires and deep longings, whether these are emotional or physical; focused on a partner or friend; lifestyle or career – these longings come from the heart. They are our hearts, or souls if you rather, whispering to us.

Secret Longings Exhibition

The opening reception at Corey Helford Gallery will be open to the public, all are welcome! Richard Purssey, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Co-Founder and myself are flying from Australia to Los Angeles to attend the opening reception, as are many of the artists. We hope to see you there.

Of course, Corey Helford Gallery will have all the work up online after the opening so you can peruse the exhibition at your leisure. Please do email Gallery Director Sherri J. Trahan so you can be added to the Collectors Preview, if you are considering purchasing any of the work.

Corey Helford Gallery

International Group Exhibition curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 11, 2023 | 7 – 11 pm

Exhibition Dates: March 11, 2023 – April 15, 2023

COREY HELFORD GALLERY

Corey Helford Gallery | 571 S Anderson Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA | +1 310 287 2340

To receive the Collectors Preview please email Sherri J. Trahan at sherri@coreyhelfordgallery.com

Exhibiting artists

Agnieszka Nienartowicz, Alessandra Maria, Allison Reimold, Andi Soto, Ania Tomicka, Ben Ashton, Brad Knuckle, Brandi Milne, Caia Koopman, Calvin Laituri, Calvin Ma, Camilla D’Errico, Carolynda Macdonald, Chris Guest, Ciou, Colin Christian, Courney Brims, Crystal Morey, Daniel Bilmes, Dewi Plass, Elisa Anfuso, Elizabeth Winnel-Wittfooth, Ellen Jewett, Erik Thor Sandberg, Erika Sanada, Ewa Pronczuk-Kuziak, Helice Wen, Hera of Herakut, Hikari Shimoda, Hush, Ian Francis, Ito Chieko, Jana Brike, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Jason Mowry, Jennifer Allnutt, Jesús Aguado, John Brophy, Jon Ching, Josh Keyes, Katie Gamb, Kazuki Takamatsu, Kevin Peterson, Kisung Koh, Korin Faught, Kremena Chipilova [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 2nd Prize Winner], Kristin Kwan [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Grand Prize Winner], Kseniia Boko, Lavely Miller, Lindsey Carr, Lix North, Lo Chan Peng, Lucia Heffernan, Marc Burchardt, Miho Hirano, Nadezda, Naoto Hattori, Natalia Fabia, Nicole Evans, ONEQ, Peter Ferguson, Phoenix Chan, Richard Ahnert, Rodrigo Luff, Rose Freymuth-Frazier, Ryan Heshka, Sarah Joncas, Sas Christian, Shana Levenson, Super A, Stephanie Rew, Susannah Montague, Tania Rivilis, Tarntara Sudadung, Thomas Ascott, Tina Spratt, Troy Brooks, Yoko d’Holbachie, Yulia Pustoshkina.

We are now delighted to reveal below just a small selection of the 80 works, which will be on view at Corey Helford Gallery from 11 March. Enjoy!

Corey Helford Gallery Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The post Beautiful Bizarre curated exhibition “Secret Longings” @ Corey Helford Gallery appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine  Co-Founders Danijela Krha Purssey & Richard Purssey, Directors of Haven Gallery, Erica Berkowitz and Joseph Weinreb, representatives from our major sponsors, and four esteemed contemporary artists Rebecca Leveille, Ellen Sheidlin, Ellen Jewett, and Laura H Rubin. Each Jury member excels in their field of expertise and is making waves around the world with their exceptional work. Get your work in-front of this respected Jury Panel, enter today.

2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Jury Panel

Traditional Art Category

REBECCA LEVEILLE // Artist
Website | Instagram

Rebecca Leveille is a contemporary artist working in a figurative mode.  Freely mining both art historical sources and contemporary painting. Her practice involves a translation of pictorial practices and inner mythologies through her distinctive ability to compose lyrically gestured figures largely from imagination.  

In her biographically driven explorations she delves into narrative, sensuality, the female gaze, media imagery, and Art World social phenomena.  

A constant subtext of Leveille’s art is her relationship to materials. Often working at large scale and immersive installations ,the assertion of materials never overwhelms the creation of pictures yet it forms an ever-present and voluptuous tactility with meanings of its own. 

Leveille’s art has garnered critical praise from art world voices. Her work has been featured in Hyperallergic, Juxtapoz, Art-Fuze, NY Magazines The CUT and others and her 2018 Show ( at Untitled Space in NYC) The End of Love was an Artnet Editors Pick. Leveille has been exhibited around the country including several previous group shows with the Untitled Space, The LBIF Annual Drawing Exhibition 2017 Juried by the Whitney Museum’s Jane Panetta and The Spring Break Art Show 2018,19. 

Photography Category

ELLEN SHEIDLIN // Photographer
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Ellen Sheidlin is a multimedia artist. Ellen creates digital photo and video images, works in the genres of sculpture and painting, and actively experiments with NFT technologies. For more than 10 years Ellen has used social networks as the main platform for her work, combining Internet aesthetics with images from personal mythology to create a personal author’s world. Ellen herself describes the method she has developed as survirtualism – a mixture of the digital and the physical, the dreamlike and the real, the material and the intangible.

The artist often uses her own image to create works, showing how versatile our personalities can be and how many different facets, sensations and worlds lie within each person. Ellen has exhibited all over the world, including in Tokyo, Florence, London, Paris and New York. 

The artist’s work has resulted in her main Instagram page with more than 4.3 million followers, as well as a page dedicated to Ellen’s paintings with more than 200,000 followers. Ellen also works extensively with brands, creating pieces for brands such as Nike, Esteé Lauder, Moncler, Bacardi, BMW, Instagram, Swatch, Schwarzkopf, L’Oreal, Coca-Cola, Pepsico and more. 

Sculpture Category

ELLEN JEWETT // Artist
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Ellen Jewett is a born sculptor who cultivated her unique practice from the ground up at a young age.Her work is internationally known for its life-like biological subjects, lush psychologically complex details, and seeming defiance of gravity.

Ellen’s sculptures take us on a deep dive to glimpse the mind of the distant other. Each detail of Ellen’s work, down to the finest filigree, is free-modeled by hand. Within each piece precision is balanced by chaos. The overarching aesthetic knocks on the door of realism, yet the hand of the artist is never intentionally erased; brush strokes and fingerprints abound. Even the narratives themselves harbor a degree of anarchy as they are rarely formally structured. Rather, Ellen seeks to achieve flow states while working to create a fluid progression of unconscious imagery. That imagery, as manifest in tiny ephemeral shapes and beings, forms relationships and dialogues organically.

In the spirit of surrealism, this psychological approach to artistic expression creates a rich network of personal archetypes and motifs that appear to occupy their own otherworldly space. Within this ethereal menagerie, anthrozoology meets psychoanalysis as themes of natural beauty, curiosity, colonialism, domestication, death, growth, visibility and wildness are explored.

Over the past 10 years Ellen’s sculptures have been featured in magazines, television, fine art anthologies, text books, and have made appearances on book covers and popular digital platforms. From American Craft, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Colossal to Salon Première Vision (Paris) and The Nippon Television Network (Japan), and many more. Her individual sculptures are featured in public and private collections around the world.

Digital Art Category

LAURA H. RUBIN  // Artist
Website | TikTok | Instagram

Switzerland-based artist Laura H. Rubin is best known for her realistic drawings of strong female characters in minimalist portrait designs.

Laura discovered her love for digital art while studying film and visual effects at the SAE Institute in Zurich. After graduating, she pursued graphic design at the German Klett Academy and worked for several years as a designer in an advertising agency in Bern before deciding to start her own business with her art.

In partnership with publishers based in Paris, England, and Switzerland Laura has released a number of art and educational books. She has also collaborated with some of the most prominent names in the film, gaming, and publishing industries, such as Disney, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Simon & Schuster.

In 2020 and 2021 her work Apophis was the key visual for the STROKE one of the biggest art fairs in Germany. Her work has been exhibited in cities such as San Francisco, Munich, Zurich, Paris, Basel, and Milan.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

DANIJELA KRHA PURSSEY // Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Danijela Krha Purssey is an entrepreneur, and the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Australian based, international contemporary art magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

She is deeply passionate and committed to her vision to help shift the paradigm in the global contemporary arts industry regarding what is defined and accepted as contemporary art.

Danijela has created a carefully curated, unique contemporary arts experience via all the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine touch points that inspires and champions emerging and mid-career creatives both locally and around the world.

Danijela founded Beautiful Bizarre Magazine in 2013 with her husband, Richard Purssey. In the 10 years since the launch of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine she has published 40 magzines, over 2,800 web articles, curated 15 exhibitions in 4 countries, launched the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, and shared the work of countless creatives from all corners of the globe both the magazine readership and the magazines 1 Million + social media followers. Beautiful Bizarre Magazine has become not only an influential player in the contemporary art scene, but more importantly a voice, a tribe and platform for creatives whose work doesn’t always fit neatly into the traditional fine art “box”.

In late 2016 Danijela was awarded the prestigious AMP Foundation ‘Tomorrow Makers’ Award, and grant funding to expand Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

RICHARD PURSSEY // Technical Director & Co-Founder

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Richard Purssey is an ICT Director who is also a lifelong collector and appreciator of modern art. During the life of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Richard has interviewed some of the finest contemporary realist artists from around the world, and been intimately involved in the creation of Beautiful Bizarre as a leading voice in the world of figurative art in all mediums. He has also been closely involved with the fine arts during his time as CIO of one of Australia’s most prestigious public galleries, the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Haven Gallery

ERICA BERKOWITZ & JOSEPH WEINREB // Owners & Directors

Haven Gallery
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Haven Gallery’s focus is on exhibiting emotionally, intellectually and imaginatively driven, representational artwork that connects the audience and artist with universal axioms and passions. We work with both emerging and established artists who transcend their medium and subjects by exploring the world around them as well as the one within themselves.

Erica Berkowitz has her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Stony Brook University and her Master’s Degree in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She has worked locally on Long Island at the Nassau County Museum of Art and the Islip Art Museum and in Manhattan at established galleries in Chelsea, 5th ave, Midtown and Soho. She has been working in the art world for over fifteen years and is also a self published author. Along with her husband, she has been collecting art for over a decade.

Joseph Weinreb has his Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from NYIT. His career has encompassed graphic and web design work for a multitude of clients. He is an established oil painter and his passions lies in creating and working with other artists.

Arts Champion

EMILIE DIETRICH// President & Creative Director

RAYMAR
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Emilie is the President and Creative Director of RAYMAR, makers of fine art painting panels used by professional artists worldwide. RAYMAR is a second generation family art supply business that has been dedicated to the craft of fine art materials since 1998.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame’s business school, Emilie worked as a foreign exchange and commodity broker with the Chicago Board of Trade. Financially successful yet creatively stifled, she left finance in search of a more artistic life and attended Parsons School of Design in NYC. In 2008, Emilie was called to carry on her father’s legacy. She then took up the reins of RAYMAR and grew the company it into what it is today.

As an artist herself, Emilie discovered the importance of good art materials to advance one’s work. Now it is her mission and passion to craft art panels with the world’s finest materials to serve as the foundation for one’s artwork. It is her hope that with the right materials, artists will be empowered to bring their creative visions to life, and ultimately add more beauty and meaning to the world.

Arts Champion

YASHA YOUNG // Founder

Yasha Young Projects
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Yasha Young is a Senior Executive and Curator with 25 years of global project production experience (Humboldt Forum Berlin, MOMA Italy, UN NYC, Foreign Ministry Germany, Sotheby’s, Saatchi, Phillips, ART Cologne, Rothschild Collection, SONY Music, Levis, Nike, Patreon, Universal Music, Art Basel, Lollapalooza, SuperBloom, Goethe Institut, Berlin Biennale, NYC Fashion Week).

She is the Founder, Concept Creator, and Founding Executive Director (2013 -2019) of URBAN NATION Berlin – worldwide first Museum for Urban Contemporary art and a unique interdisciplinary project on a global scale.

Her passion is working in innovation and as City Concept Developer and Creative City Planning Advisor, and Collection and Art Portfolio Manager for private clients and institutions. Yasha also works as an international Public Speaker (TED talk, SXSW, etc.). 

Since January 2020, Yasha is a partner and Concept Developer and Executive Curatorial Director for the FOR_M New York City, a new institution currently in development. The FOR_M produces cutting-edge art exhibitions and projects with social engagement and cultural change at the core of its mission. 

Projects include the Women for Women event in Saudi Arabia 2022 and Imagine the Future Art tour in Iceland 2022.

She studied Museology at Harvard and teaches as Associate Professor in Art and Music Business at the Pop Academy Mannheim, Germany.

Philanthropy includes: Patron for Children’s Hospice Berlin Heart and Keep A Breast Cancer Charity Foundation and from 2020 sponsor of the Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award as part of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize.

Arts Champion

ASHLEY HEAFY // Independent Design + Creative Strategy

INPRNT
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Ashley Heafy is an independent designer and creative strategist representing INPRNT, a fine art marketplace producing gallery quality prints for artists around the world.

Ashley graduated with a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an emphasis in Visual Communication. Over the years, she has helped build brands and creative content for a variety of clients in the arts, entertainment, hospitality, real estate, and media spaces. As an independent creative operating her own business for over 7 years, Ashley has a passion for helping elevate the talents and business acumen of fellow artists to make earning a living as an artist a successful reality.

Arts Champion

SALLY WOLFF // Licensing Manager
iCanvas
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Sally Wolff is an established professional with over 15 years of experience in the Fine Art industry and currently serves as the Licensing Manager at iCanvas. iCanvas partners with independent artists, many of whom appeared in Beautiful Bizarre, to offer high-quality reproductions of their creations on iCanvas.com and exposes their work to emerging collectors worldwide.

Wolff received her Art History degree from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and went on to serve as the Curatorial Assistant of the Early European Art department at the Milwaukee Art Museum. After executing several historical exhibitions and adding significant pieces to their permanent collection, Wolff proceeded to the prestigious Martin Lawrence Galleries (MLG). Here she spent more than a decade managing the Chicagoland location, showcasing the largest private collection of Museum Masters from the 20^th and 21^st Century, and curating exhibitions featuring many masters, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein.

As an art enthusiast and collector, her passion permeates all aspects of her life. Wolff joined iCanvas to share her experience and knowledge of the Fine Art industry in order to empower new independent and high-profile artists in their success through partnerships with iCanvas.

The post 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Jury Panel Announced appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is now accepting entries! Ready to level up your creative career? This is your moment to shine! Showcase your work on a global scale, connect with a community of artists, and win big with $50,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. Don’t miss out, enter now!

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, now in its 6th year, is an annual non-acquisitive international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts. It includes all static mediums including Traditional Art media, Digital Art media, and Photographic media; and all styles from realism and hyperrealism, to pop surrealism and lowbrow. The Prize seeks to inspire creatives from around the world to pursue a life and career in the arts, and to help careers grow through funding and increased exposure of their work to galleries, collectors and media globally.

Giving the practices of representational artists validation and visibility, particularly in the commercial gallery and museum sector where it is still hard to get representation, is what the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize aims to achieve.

Danijela Krha Purssey, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Co-Founder, and Editor-in-Chief

Wonder why it’s important to enter the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, and how it will benefit your career?

For a full a list of prizes, including cash, products, advertising and services that will help your practice grow, please visit the Prizes page.

2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Award Categories

In 2023 we have added a new Award to provide emerging artists the visibility and acknowledgement that their practices deserve. You can now enter in one of five Award categories: Traditional Art Award, Digital Art Award, Photography Award, Sculpture Award and Emerging Artist Award. Artists working across mediums are welcome to enter more than one award category.

Entry fee is US$40 to cover administrative costs. If you have any questions about the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, please don’t hesitate to contact us at artprize@beautifulbizarre.net.

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is administered by Australian based, international contemporary art magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Entries Open: 1 February 2023

Entries Close: Midnight 17 July 2023 [Los Angeles, USA time]

Artwork by 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Prize Grand Prize Winner, Kristin Kwan

The post 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize – Entries Open! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

The December 2022 Issue 39 of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Latvian artist Jana Brike’s evocative painting “Dusk In The Garden on the cover” is on sale now! Don’t miss this inspiring issue, grab your copy today via our website or one of our stockists worldwide.

I feel this issue’s cover speaks to the beauty, strength and resilience of the feminine – which is particularly important during these times of escalating oppression and violence against women and female identifying people around the world. The last several years have seen women in many countries losing their bodily autonomy, most recently in the United States with the overturning of Roe vs Wade. People with uteruses in many states across America no longer have the right to control their own health decisions since the criminalisation of abortion, even in the cases of rape and incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. It is heartbreaking to understand that many young girls and women will now lose their lives because of this decision, and many others will be forced into poverty, or into ongoing relationships with abusive men because they don’t have a choice.

The Beautiful Bizarre Magazine team is largely made up of women and queer folk, and we believe that reproductive health care is a human right, and that forced birth is unconscionable, cruel and dangerous!

Mahsa Amini

Sadly we are also seeing a huge escalation in violence against women all over the world. The United Nations Women reports that “most violence against women is perpetrated by current or former husbands or intimate partners. Globally, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 percent of women aged 15 and older)”. Intimate partner violence is, of course, not the only violence women face globally. Young girls and women of all ages, including the elderly, have been the horrific casualties of the Russian war in Ukraine, with many raped, tortured and killed by their captors. The women of Afghanistan and Iran have had most of their human rights stripped away by their respective religious extremist governments. Right now we are mourning with our sisters in Iran, following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini by the “morality police”, for not wearing her hijab correctly. The people of Iran are rising up against their oppressors, but sadly many more women and men have been imprisoned and killed during these protests. We mourn with our sisters, and pray to the goddess that the people’s voices will be heard, and the oppressive regime is overthrown.

As a 47 year old woman, I am devastated to see our hard won rights being stripped away. It seems the fight is not over, so we continue, even at the risk of their own lives – we can never not be vigilant, we can never stop fighting for our basic human rights – the right to bodily autonomy, to live and love as we choose, the right to education, equal rights in the workplace and in government, and the freedom to pursue the life we choose for ourselves. We stand, and we fight with all of our sisters around the world!

Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

I feel deeply honoured and grateful that I have a platform that allows me to give female identifying creatives from all over the world the recognition that they and their practices deserve – which of course, includes, participation in our curated exhibitions. On this note, the prestigious annual Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition in the United States, ‘Halcyon Days’ was on view at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco on 5 November – 3 December last year. This was the first international exhibition that I was been able to attend in person since COVID began in 2019 – it was wonderful to finally be able to once again connect with our amazing creative friends!

This exhibition included the winners of last year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. Many of whom were able to attend the opening reception and were presented with their glass art trophies.

2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Grand Prize Winner: Kristin Kwan

2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Winner: Ron Hicks

2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, INPRNT Photography Award Winner: Jenny Boot

2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Winner: Chie Shimizu

2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, iCanvas Digital Art Award Winner: Jennifer Bruce

We are currently reaching out to like-minded businesses and philanthropists regarding the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, and will bring you even more amazing prizes this year! Plus we have a brand new Award – but more news on that soon. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring the 2023 Prize, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Deputy Editor, Natalia at natalia@beautifulbizarre.net – we would love to hear from you. Entries open on 1 February, so mark your calendar!

As we begin a new year, I would once again like to thank you for your support of our independent magazine. I am deeply grateful!

Much Love xo

Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

All images in this blog are in the Issue 39 print magazine.

The post A Note From the Editor: beauty, strength and resilience of the feminine appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

• What does success as an artist look like for you personally?
• How do you silence your inner critic?
• What are the things you wish you knew when you started out?
• Do you think art can help people connect to vital issues about our world?

We feel that the artists’ responses provide such a valuable insight for our community of artists that we wanted to share one Quick Q & A response from each issue with you, going forward. The June 2022 Issue 37 print issue is sold out, but you can download the digital magazine via our webstore to read more. To ensure you never miss an issue again, you can also subscribe to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and have each issue sent straight to your door each quarter.

Excerpt from Issue 37 // June 2022 Quick Q & A editorial: Artists Robin Whiteman, Ryan Pola, Nicolas Roa, Maya Fuji, Lix North, and Erica Rose Levine respond to the below Quick Q & A:

How do you silence your inner critic?

Robin Whiteman

“I try not to worry about it. It’s just another inner voice and the best way to keep it from running amuck is to have fun. As long as I’m playing in my practice, there’s delight. The harshest of my inner critics can’t stand that childlike joy and hides whenever it shows up. Ultimately, my goal is to see each piece as one small step in a great unfurling; this way there’s no failure because each step takes you to the next. There is no final endpoint to judge worthy or unworthy, but a process and you adjust when you need to. It’s really a reflection of how I try to live. It can be awkward sometimes, but that’s okay.”

Ryan Pola

“I ignore it for the most part. Sometimes, my inner critic can serve a purpose though – this can be anything from making sure I finish incomplete artworks (my bane), to meeting deadlines, and ensuring I am working on my artistic skill. When it gets too much, though, I either exercise or just let those thoughts in and let them
right out again. I’m all about enjoying what I do as much as possible, so I don’t see any real point in letting my inner critic get the best of me. I also try to be kind to myself and not compare what I do to other people. It’s important to recognise what’s going on around oneself as we don’t exist in vacuums but we’re all on a different artistic journey.”

Nicolas Roa

“If you ever find an artist who’s done so success fully, let me know – I’d like to ask them the same thing. In all seriousness though, I have always been a bit of a perfectionist. Being overly critical about my own work, obsessing over flaws and thinking of what I could’ve done better is a part of my process. I’d go so far as to say I’ve embraced my inner critic. Self-critiquing and nitpicking my own work has helped me push, grow and improve. It’s even motivated me to not only do better with my technique, but also to explore deeper themes that are quite personal, and visually express them in ways that are new yet true to my own aesthetic.”

Maya Fuji

“Silencing my inner critic hasn’t been easy! I struggle with comparing myself to other artists, especially when it comes to marketing on social media. My best tactic is to stay positive by distracting myself with other activities. My friends are so encouraging and I love to take time to spend with them when I start to feel down. I think my best practice, though, is to do what I love most – make art. When I’m illustrating or painting, I’m hyper focussed on the work and I can take my mind away from thoughts of self doubt. However, if I do fall into a hole, I try to centre myself by stepping away from social media for a few days.”

Lix North

“Audiobooks are my anxious artist’s antidote. It’s easy to wax lyrical about positive self-talk and personal growth. Regular meditation, yoga, and quality time with great psychologists is still not enough for my over-active, anxious brain. Planning new works is exciting and fulfilling. The act of painting itself is easy, but thinking too much about painting while painting – is the challenging element for me. When my hands and eyes engage with the ‘easy’ part, I need a compelling prefrontal cortex distraction so my trigger-happy amygdala can snooze. I devour at least three 30-40 hour sci-fi or fantasy epics per painting. Immersed in a complex and captivating story, there’s no destructive over-thinking. I paint faster, remember to eat, sleep soundly and feel more fulfilled with each finished work.”

Erica Rose Levine

“I’ve learned that she cannot be silenced, and the judgement is fierce in my own mind. The hardest thing to do for me is to put a piece away when it’s not working, but sometimes that’s what I have to do. I’m an overthinker and sometimes have trouble settling on an idea, so I can keep changing things around until the original idea gets lost and the piece is ruined. Looking at a piece with fresh eyes, or working on something else in order to get out of that rumination funk is so important. Working on a few pieces at once is helpful because being able to quickly switch between projects is a saviour when it comes to overthinking.”

The post Quick Q & A: How do you silence your inner critic? appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

• How do you respond to criticism, and does it influence your future work?
• With the move to more online exhibitions, what role do physical galleries have in the arts going forward?
• If you had unlimited resources what would you do to further your art career?
• How does your work reflect you as an individual?

We feel that the artists’ responses provide such a valuable insight for our community of artists that we wanted to share one Quick Q & A response from each issue with you, going forward. The March 2022 Issue 36 print issue is sold out, but you can download the digital magazine via our webstore to read more. To ensure you never miss an issue again, you can also subscribe to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and have each issue sent straight to your door each quarter.

Excerpt from Issue 36 // March 2022 Quick Q & A editorial: Artists Jisu [Digital Art Award Winner, 2021 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize], Jenny Orchard, Lexi Laine [Photography Award Winner, 2020 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize], Colleen Southwell, øjeRum, and Kim Slate respond to the below Quick Q & A:

With the move to more online exhibitions, what role do physical galleries have in the arts going forward?

Jisu

“There’s a time and place for everything. I don’t believe it’s a matter of this or that – both can exist. Traditional galleries have had their place and will continue to have their place. Digital galleries are relatively new, and as a kid who grew up in digital spaces it’s exciting to see how they will evolve. There are already hybrids of digital and physical, for example physical NFT art galleries. For me, personally, the experience of physically stepping into a space and immersing yourself is also indispensable. VR technology at the moment can only do so much to replicate that, and the physical sensation of walking around and locking your eyes on something in observation is truly something special.”

Jenny Orchard

“Like physical touch between people, animals, trees and the sea, physicality is vital to human experience, and no less so for the arts. Physical galleries and their spaces are the soul of art, experiencing work in the real world, in real time, is a different experience to the digital. Online interaction leads us to the physical, it cannot possibly replace visceral, haptic experience, or qualia in the vital human cultural experience. Sharing our experience of art and the rituals and communications around it, from gallery openings and time spent in intimate contact with works is enriching, through the gallery system we can meet the artist in person and have an opportunity to form a deeper relationship with the work.”

Lexi Laine

“With a shift towards virtual exhibitions over the last couple of years due to COVID, and a new trend in selling digital assets in the form of NFTs, the art world is evolving. I think it’s an exciting time to be an artist, with so many different avenues for showing our work. With that being said, exhibiting my art physically will always be important to me and I’m sure most other artists. I love displaying my photography on the scale that I intend it to be seen at, which with a lot of my pieces is large. So, for this reason, and others, I think galleries will always have an important role in the art world.”

Colleen Southwell

“Undoubtedly online exhibitions and platforms play an exciting role in taking art and artists to a broader audience – they’ve been instrumental in introducing my work internationally. Physical galleries, though, offer an opportunity for the viewer to engage personally with the artist and the work, to observe it closely and see the marks of the maker. My own work is so finely detailed and layered. The play of shadow is such an important transient element that it can really only be fully understood when viewed in person. Physical galleries and in-person engagement in any form allow the art and the viewer to communicate in a way that cannot be achieved online.”

øjeRum

“My collages are all hand cut and made with mostly very old, antique papers. The tactile and physical qualities can get a bit lost on a screen. I still participate in physical exhibitions so people can get a closer look at the old papers and see the cuts and imperfections. In a world with an ever increasing abundance of digital images, the role of galleries might be to select and limit the number of works in order to help people appreciate and value individual artworks in real life. I also think it’s important to keep galleries and shops in general – as opposed to online sites – as a way of keeping an open community and a physical space for communication and contact with other human beings.”

Kim Slate

“Virtual exhibitions are a wonderful way to make the arts accessible to anyone anywhere. However, I feel that there is really no substitute for experiencing an artwork in person. I think this is especially true of three dimensional work. It is difficult to capture the essence of a piece in photographs; I have always struggled with that. It’s so much better to be able to inspect the work up close and from different angles, see the brushstrokes and get a sense of the artist’s process. This is pretty difficult to do when looking at a piece online. In a world where many people are staring at screens all day, I imagine that going out to see a gallery show in person will always be appealing.”

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• What’s one thing the pandemic has taught you?
• Do you think art should have a deeper meaning or value or can art just be for art’s sake?
• What response do you want to evoke in your viewers?
• What do you find is the most exciting part of the creative process?

We feel that the artists’ responses provide such a valuable insight for our community of artists that we wanted to share one Quick Q & A response from each issue with you, going forward. The December 2021 Issue 35 print issue is sold out, but you can download the digital magazine via our webstore to read more. To ensure you never miss an issue again, you can also subscribe to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and have each issue sent straight to your door each quarter.

Excerpt from Issue 35 // December 2021 Quick Q & A editorial: Artists Sandra Yagi, Evan Lovejoy, Ebony Russell, Laura Rubin, Horka Dolls, Gina Kalabishis respond to the below Quick Q & A:

What’s one thing the pandemic has taught you?

Sandra Yagi

“It has opened my eyes to the immense magnitude of life’s uncertainties and how little control we have over the relentless flow of human history. When I was younger, I felt fortunate to be living during a calm period of history. But now, I feel like a passenger on a boat with no rudder, battered by raging rapids of epic worldwide events, heading into the unknown. I’ve read about other similar historical events like the 1918 flu pandemic, but I never dreamed I would live through a pandemic so widespread that everyone on the planet would be affected one way or another. It’s a sobering thought to realize that we are at a critical juncture of human history, due to climate change, political turmoil and COVID-19.”

Evan Lovejoy

“That we are all bound together on this spaceship. There are endless lessons from the last couple of years and endless angles from which to look at it. Every time I try to reflect on this collective trauma, I always come back to how interwoven we all are with every other being on the planet and its ecosystems. Our increasing individualism and the rampant destruction of the environment (among many, many other factors) is all creating a reality that’s fomenting conditions more likely to produce global catastrophes, including pandemics. The increased feeling of community and a deeper understanding of our connection with the natural world, which seems to have followed the pandemic, gives me hope that we may find a safe path through the mire.”

Ebony Russell

“To let go of the things I can’t control, to slow down and count my blessings, and to simply carry on. Everything passes. During the first wave, I had to think fast and find a way to continue working while homeschooling my daughters. I created a home studio in my laundry room, and bought a small kiln that could fit in my outhouse. This made it possible for me to keep creating work and exhibiting. Staying positive and finding solutions to overcome the obstacles taught me that I am a resilient person. Now, in the second year of the pandemic, my home studio has saved me again. I’m able to care for my daughters and keep working while in lockdown.”

Laura Rubin

“A month after the first lockdown, I found myself in a surprising situation. Unlike most of my friends and family, I felt comfortable and not at all lonely or bored. Elaborately planned events were cancelled one after the other and important meetings were postponed and postponed again, only to be cancelled in the end. All the noise outside on the street stopped and I realised how quiet the world can be. Were all these events really necessary and the meetings really so important? After years, I finally had some time for myself, and I realised that I should evaluate the relevance of some of my projects more strictly, in order to have more time for the really important things.”

Horka Dolls

“Do not lick your fingers before unsticking the sides of a plastic bag in a supermarket! I live off the beaten track, between fields stretching far to the horizon. I see wild animals more often than people, but still, unfortunately, I caught COVID-19 while grocery shopping in a nearby town and had a serious illness. During this time, I learned how to make my own compost and prune fruit trees, and planted new plants in various parts of my garden. The forced lack of contact with friends and the absence of human faces around me resulted in a series of ‘animal’ dolls. The biggest misfortune was the inability to ship the dolls around the world via air mail, and some buyers have waited for theirs for over six months!”

Gina Kalabishis

“The pandemic made me come to a standstill. I had to veer into an unknown path and it taught me to adapt, to produce within adversity and plan with fresh imagination. The pandemic illuminated my fear of uncertainty and the exhaustion it would bring. It taught me to tackle a hopeless situation and change it into an opportunity for my practice to be more visionary and purposeful. Time suddenly became the most precious commodity. This shared experience taught many of us to embrace the opportunity to create, amplify empathy, generate positivity, and hopefully work toward creating a new “Belle Epoque”.”

The post Quick Q & A: What’s one thing the pandemic has taught you? appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Halcyon Days: A period of tranquility and happiness, often nostalgic, used to describe an idyllic time in the past that is remembered. 

An exhibition to remember

This exhibition marks our fifth curated show with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and we are always so thrilled to host Danijela Krha Purssey’s vision and esteemed artist selection at the gallery. ‘Halcyon Days’ is no exception, bringing together over 80 top contemporary artists from all over the world in an uplifting and positive theme. It’s exactly what our gallery patrons and really, the world as a whole, needs right now.

Kim Larson, Modern Eden Gallery Director

Once again, I am incredibly grateful to Gallery Director’s Kim Larson & Bradley Platz for their continued support of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. Their incredible passion and dedication to the arts is uplifting and matches our own ethos. It is always a pleasure to work with you. You are both a huge inspiration – thank you!

Of course, my deepest gratitude also goes to the 80+ artists that have contributed work to this exhibition. This also includes the winners of the 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. Myself and my team have all been blown away by the calibre of the work! Take a peek at all the photographs from the opening reception, installation, and Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Award presentation here.

2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize – Award Presentation

Thank you, THANK YOU, a million thank yous to everyone involved in bringing this exhibition to life, including my amazing Beautiful Bizarre Magazine team. This has been another huge success and I feel incredibly grateful! If you are interested in seeing the entire exhibition online or purchasing any of the works you can do so via the Modern Eden Gallery website now.

The exhibition closes on December 3, 2022. If you would like to see the exhibition in person, please email Kim Larson to make an appointment.

Exhibiting artists, including the Winners of the 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

Alessandra Maria, Alexandra Manukyan, Allison Reimold, Andi Soto, Andie Taylor, Anna Karvounari [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Photography Award 3rd Prize Winner] Annie Montgomerie, Basia Wesolowska, Ben Ashton, Bradley Platz, Brian Mashburn, Brittany Ryan, Calvin Ma, Carolynda Macdonald, Chie Shimizu [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Sculpture Award 1st Prize Winner] Chie Yoshii, Chris Guest, Clairy Laurence, Colleen Southwell, Crystal Morey, Daniel Bilmes, Darian Mederos, Darya Dolgareva, Dewi Plass, Ebony Russell, Edith Lebeau, Erica Rose Levine, Erika Sanada, Forest Rogers, Hannah Flowers [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 3rd Prize Winner], Heidi Taillefer, Hikari Shimoda, Hiroshi Hayakawa, Jason Mowry, Jennifer Allnutt, Jennifer Bruce [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award 1st Prize Winner], Jenny Boot [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Photography Award 1st Prize Winner], Jessica Dalva, Jon Ching, Jordi Diaz Alama, Jorge Vascano [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Sculpture Award 3rd Prize Winner], Juli About, Juliet Nneka [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award 3rd Prize Winner], June Stratton, Justin M Zielke, Kelsey Beckett, Kent Williams, Kevin Peterson, Kim Slate, Kisung Koh, Kremena Chipilova [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 2nd Prize Winner], Kristin Kwan [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Grand Prize Winner], Kristine & Colin Poole, Kseniia Boko, Lavely Miller, Leilani Bustamante, Lilli Waters [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Photography Award 2nd Prize Winner], Lindsey Carr, Makoto Chi, Marcela Bolívar [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award 2nd Prize Winner], Martine Johanna, Mary Jane Ansell, Mary Syring, Nadezda, Naoto Hattori, Natalia Fabia, Nicole Evans, Olga Esther, Pablo Santibañez, Paul Neberra, Robin Whiteman, Rodrigo Luff, Ron Hicks [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 1st Prize Winner], Sandra Yagi, Sarah Joncas, Shana Levenson, Sharon England, Soey Milk, Stephanie Kilgast, Stephanie Rew, Susannah Montague, Tania Rivilis, Tina Yu, Troy Brooks, Yoko d’Holbachie.

Enjoy some of the wonderful pieces from the exhibition!

Kisung Ko
“Magic Gathering”, Oil on canvas, 24” x 24″

Jessica Dalva [2019 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 2nd Prize Sculpture Award Winner]
“Water’s Edge”, Mixed media sculpture: polymer clay, epoxy clay, acrylic, vintage velvet, resin, rhinestones, crystal beads, wire, acetate, and mohair, 15 x 10 x 12″ 

Kevin Peterson
“Charged”, Oil on panel, 12.5 x 16.5″ 

Martine Johanna
“Alcy-One”, Acrylic on panel, 31.5 x 24”

Ebony Russell
“Enchanted Kingdom” (9 pieces), Hand piped porcelain, glaze, and mother of pearl lustre, 35 x 16 x 24″

Yoko d’Holbachie
“Secret Stash”, Acrylic on wooden blockboard, 16 x 16 x 1″

Chié Shimizu [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 1st Prize Sculpture Award Winner]
“Head No.4 (Ko-Omote Gold)”, Ultra-cal 30, plaster, seashell powder, pigments, gold leaf, 9 x 5.5 x 8″

Ron Hicks [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 1st Prize Traditional Art Award Winner]
“Modal Harmony”, Oil on cradled panel, 27.25 x 24″

Stéphanie Kilgast
“Plastic Play”, Mixed media on reclaimed plastic toy, 4 x 5 x 4” 

Chie Yoshii
“The Dream”, Oil on canvas, 18 x 24” 

Jorge Vascano [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 3rd Prize Sculpture Award Winner]
“Silence”, Laminated wood, 18 x 15.25 x 3.5″ 

Leilani Bustamante
“Remembrance”, Acrylic on panel, 11 x 14” 

Colin and Kristine Poole [2020 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 1st Prize Sculpture Award Winner]
“Dove Dreams of Flying”, Ceramic, cold finish, 20 x 4.5 x 3.5″

Jenny Boot [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 1st Prize Photography Award Winner]
“Origin”, Fine Art op dibond – Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Bright White, 17 x 22″

Kristin Kwan [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Grand Prize Winner]
“Gulf”, Oil on panel, 30 x 24″

Juliet Nneka [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 3rd Prize Digital Art Award Winner]
“Apolysis”, Digital artwork on archival rag paper, 12 x 16″

Tania Rivilis
“Floating on the Boundless Realms of Nostalgia”, Oil on OSB, 16 x 24″ 

Lilli Waters [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 2nd Prize Photography Award Winner]
“Where Dreams Inhabit”, Archival pigment print on fibre rag, 16.5 x 25″

Sharon England
“Beat Surrender”, Watercolour and acrylic on Arches watercolour paper, 22 x 30″.

Troy Brooks
Angel Eyes, Oil on panel, 24 x 18″

The post Halcyon Days appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

The last few years have seen ongoing struggle for many people around the world, and of course the unending damage to nature. But rather than focusing on these challenges that easily send us into a doom spiral, I wanted this exhibition to focus on the good times, the positive memories, the experiences that bring warmth and comfort when we recall them. Halcyon Days is an expression of joy, and our combined hope for the future.

Halcyon Days will also showcase the work of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2022 winners, in each of the four Award categories: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Prize Winners); INPRNT Photography Award (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Prize Winners); Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award (1^st and 3^rd Prize Winners); iCanvas Digital Art Award  (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Prize Winners) and of course, the Grand Prize Winner.

Halcyon Days Exhibition

The opening reception at Modern Eden Gallery will be open to the public, all are welcome!

Of course, Modern Eden Gallery will have all the work up online after the opening so you can peruse the exhibition at your leisure. Please do email Gallery Director Kim Larson so you can be added to the Collectors Preview, if you are considering purchasing any of the work. Remember, the holiday season is just around the corner. What better gift could you give your loved ones or yourself, than the gift of original art?

The gallery will also be sharing a video walk-through of the exhibition for those that are unable to attend in person, stay tuned for more details.

Halcyon Days

International Group Exhibition curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 5, 2022 | 6 – 9 pm

Exhibition Dates: November 5 – December 3, 2022

MODERN EDEN GALLERY

Modern Eden Gallery | 1100 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. USA | +1 415 956 3303

To receive the Collectors Preview please email Kim at info@moderneden.com

Exhibiting artists, including the Winners of the 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

Alessandra Maria, Alexandra Manukyan, Allison Reimold, Andi Soto, Andie Taylor, Anna Karvounari [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Photography Award 3rd Prize Winner] Annie Montgomerie, Basia Wesolowska, Ben Ashton, Bradley Platz, Brian Mashburn, Brittany Ryan, Calvin Ma, Carolynda Macdonald, Chie Shimizu [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Sculpture Award 1st Prize Winner] Chie Yoshii, Chris Guest, Clairy Laurence, Colleen Southwell, Crystal Morey, Daniel Bilmes, Darian Mederos, Darya Dolgareva, Dewi Plass, Ebony Russell, Edith Lebeau, Erica Rose Levine, Erika Sanada, Forest Rogers, Hannah Flowers [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 3rd Prize Winner], Heidi Taillefer, Hikari Shimoda, Hiroshi Hayakawa, Jason Mowry, Jennifer Allnutt, Jennifer Bruce [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award 1st Prize Winner], Jenny Boot [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Photography Award 1st Prize Winner], Jessica Dalva, Jo Ching, Jordi Diaz Alama, Jorge Vascano [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Sculpture Award 3rd Prize Winner], Juli About, Juliet Nneka [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award 3rd Prize Winner], June Stratton, Justin M Zielke, Kelsey Beckett, Kent Williams, Kevin Peterson, Kim Slate, Kisung Koh, Kremena Chipilova [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 2nd Prize Winner], Kristin Kwan [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Grand Prize Winner], Kristine & Colin Poole, Kseniia Boko, Lavely Miller, Leilani Bustamante, Lilli Waters [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Photography Award 2nd Prize Winner], Lindsey Carr, Makoto Chi, Marcela Bolívar [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award 2nd Prize Winner], Martine Johanna, Mary Jane Ansell, Mary Syring, Nadezda, Naoto Hattori, Natalia Fabia, Nicole Evans, Olga Esther, Pablo Santibañez, Paul Neberra, Robin Whiteman, Rodrigo Luff, Ron Hicks [2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Traditional Art Award 1st Prize Winner], Sandra Yagi, Sarah Joncas, Shana Levenson, Sharon England, Soey Milk, Stephanie Kilgast, Stephanie Rew, Susannah Montague, Tania Rivilis, Tina Yu, Troy Brooks, Yoko d’Holbachie 

We are now delighted to reveal below just a small selection of the 84 works, which will be on view at Modern Eden Gallery from 5 November. Enjoy!

Modern Eden Gallery Social Media Accounts

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The post Beautiful Bizarre Curated Exhibition “Halcyon Days” @ Modern Eden Gallery appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.