Sponsoring the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has been a privilege to support and celebrate the creativity and talent of so many amazing artists from all around the world. Witnessing the diverse expressions and innovative works has been a true inspiration. The Palladium benefaction has not only allowed Musonium Gallery to contribute to the international arts community but also to connect with passionate individuals who share a love for artistic exploration. We are proud to have played a part in fostering an environment where creativity thrives and artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of their imagination through their artistic practices.

– Keeley Gerard, Founder & Art Director, Musonium Gallery

We hope you have enjoyed our week of reveals! The Winners of each Award – 33PA Emerging Artist Award, Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award, Photography Award, Digital Art Award, and RAYMAR Traditional Art Award have now been announced. Aren’t they all incredible?

Now it’s time for the biggest reveal yet! Below we unveil the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, the seven Honourable Mentions (selected by each of this year’s wonderful major sponsors, Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz; and our Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey), plus the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner, which saw our amazing community contribute 11865 votes from 101 different countries!

Thank you to everyone that voted for the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award. We sincerely appreciate your opinions!

Our Thanks

We would like to once again thank the Jury Panel for giving their time and expertise this year: Michael Parkes (Traditional Art juror), Erika Sanada (Sculpture juror), Kirsty Mitchell (Photography juror) and Karl Ortiz (Digital Art juror), as well as the Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz, and the passionate representatives from our amazing major sponsors.

It is thanks to all of our sponsors, particularly our major sponsors: Musonium Gallery,  33PA, RAYMAR, Yasha Young Projects and BearWolf Books, that the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is able to give artists from all over the world the opportunity to have their work seen, recognized and validated. The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize inspires thousands of artists each year and changes the trajectory of many of these artists careers due to the exposure, recognition, and funding that the Prize provides.

Finally we would like to thank the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners all-year round.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine will continue our work to ensure that the 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize adds even more value to artists globally. The 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will open in February 2025, so to ensure you don’t miss the news, please join our email mailing list here. If you are a brand or philanthropist that would like to become a champion of the arts by supporting next year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, please email our Deputy Editor Natalia Joruk who would love to chat to you regarding how we can collaborate.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ Exhibition

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize Winners of the 33PA Emerging Artist Award, Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award, Photography Award, Digital Art Award, and RAYMAR Traditional Art Award, plus the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, have been invited to participate in this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition ‘Paracosmic Escape’ at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco later this year. ‘Paracosmic Escape’ has been curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by Musonium Gallery. We look forward to presenting their work as part of this prestigious annual exhibition! These works will be shared in the coming weeks leading up to the opening.

Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Musonium Grand Prize Award

The Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will receive:

• $8,500 USD cash, generously donated by Palladium sponsor Musonium Gallery, Palm Springs’ premier art gallery with a clear focus on exhibiting and promoting compelling artworks from exceptional contemporary artists. Musonium exists as an institution within the art world’s traditional art sectors, where innovation and new rising talent constantly influence the ever evolving art scene. 
• $1,500 USD cash, donated by our Platinum sponsors RAYMAR, 33PA, and Yasha Young Projects.
• The opportunity to work with Musonium Gallery to plan and produce a solo exhibition, which will be published in a special editorial in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. 
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 10 page in-depth interview editorial published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine December 2024 issue.
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Winner of the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award

The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will receive:

• $2,000 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• Deco Pro (Gen2) MW, generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• 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.
• Plus most importantly, receive worldwide exposure for their practice.

Winners & Honourable Mentions

So without further ado, it is with great pleasure and much pride that we share with you the Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Musonium Grand Prize Award, Honourable Mentions, and the Winner of the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award.

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner

Andrea Kowch

Born and Currently resides: USA

“In the Distance”, Acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 36″

American artist Andrea Kowch combines realistic narrative and naturalistic technique, subtly fused with surreal, dreamlike undercurrents in the quest to investigate and represent the human condition. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she attended the College for Creative Studies, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BFA. Her paintings are rich in mood, allegory, and precision of medium, reflecting a wealth of influences from Northern Renaissance and American art to the rural landscapes and vernacular architecture of her native Michigan.

Kowch’s highly acclaimed paintings garner Best of Show awards globally. Major exhibitions at museums and galleries include the Bo Bartlett Center, Museum of Art-Deland, where her recent solo retrospective, Mysterious Realms was presented in 2023, London and Rome’s Dorothy Circus Gallery, Muskegon Museum of Art, where her first solo retrospective Dream Fields debuted in 2013, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville, Grand Rapids Art Museum, ArtPrize, Art Basel Miami, the Los Angeles Art Show, ArtHamptons, and SCOPE NYC. She also frequently headlines leading national and international art publications. Kowch’s works occupy public and museum collections, such as the R.W. Norton Art Gallery Museum, of the R.W. Norton Art Foundation, Muskegon Museum of Art, Grand Rapids Art Museum, and significant private collections worldwide. Kowch works and resides in Michigan, and is represented exclusively by RJD Gallery.

“In the Distance”: Love is a flaming catalyst that alters reality in a flash. My mind opens and tunes into a new frequency. Is the storm upon the horizon approaching or departing? What, or Who, might this storm be? What transference does it carry? Will it strike down or dissipate as swiftly as it arrives? My duality awakens. The real and unreal are one. I am reminded that yin and yang energy is ever-present in all things. The male presence reveals how my paintings evolve with me, imparting experiences and lessons learned. The woman baking rouses from a reverie, alerted to distant thunder and a sudden electric charge that cuts the air. Two men feverishly harvest wheat, the source of her bread. The horizon implies an unknown destiny.

This work is a testament to the divine power of two halves creating a whole.

Honourable Mentions

Dory Whynot

“Bodies In Our Wake”, Watercolour on cold press watercolour paper, 22″ x 16″

Awarded by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

Bob Doucette

“Where Angels Fear to Tread”, Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 30″

Awarded by Musonium Gallery

Caroline Nelson

“First Bloom”, Oil on panel, 26″ x 22″

Awarded by RAYMAR

Chloe Chen

“FICTIONAL SELF”, Advanced Resin, 30cm x 85cm x 56cm

Awarded by Yasha Young Projects

Rubén Fernández Pereira

“The Beacon”, Charcoal and acrylic drawing on paper, 62cm x 47cm

Awarded by 33PA

Felicia Feldman

“Lilith”, Oil on panel, 48″ x 36″

Awarded by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom

Stuart Pearson Wright

“Middlesbrough”, Oil on linen, 42cm x 30cm

Awarded by Modern Eden Gallery

Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner

Valeria Andreis

“L’enfer c’est les autres”, Oil on canvas, 30″ x 40″

“Congratulations to all of the Winners and Honourable Mentions!

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

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Musonium Grand Prize Award Announced + Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner & Honourable Mentions! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Brimming with creativity, the diverse range of styles and themes each artist brings imparts a unique perspective that allows us to wander freely into a world of imagination. It challenges our senses with beautiful compositional complexities, and there within the magic, we are able to escape and immerse ourselves in visionary elegance.

Like a vessel for emotions and ideation, the thought-provoking narratives tether heart and soul and spark a silent, fiery dialogue that welcomes a union of interpretation and meaningful connection. View these collections in their entirety, and all available inventory, by visiting the Haven Gallery website!

Allison Reimold, Kim Slate, Himena Kokufuta, Grimoire Group Show

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 21, 2024 |  6-8pm

Exhibition Dates: September 21 – October 20, 2024

The event is open to the public | Free Entry | Refreshments will be served.

Haven Gallery

50 Main St., Northport, NY 11768 | ph. (631) 757-0500

To inquire, please contact Erica at Haven Gallery via email info@havengallery.com

About the Gallery //

Haven Gallery is run by Erica Berkowitz and Joseph Weinreb. The gallery first opened in 2015 in the Carriage House of historic Northport, NY. Within two years, the gallery doubled in size and expanded into the entire Carriage House building. Through their successful in-house exhibitions and presentations at art fairs both domestic and international, Haven opened a secondary location at 90 Main St., in 2020, during the height of the Covid pandemic.

It was at that point, that Erica and Joseph knew it was time to find a permanent location for their artists. In January of 2022, they bought the building at 50 Main st., and opened its doors as Haven Gallery’s perennial home.

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.

Allison Reimold, Lux Nocturna

Haven Gallery is pleased to present a new collection of radiant paintings from Los Angeles based Allison Reimold for her upcoming solo show “Lux Nocturna”. “Lux Nocturna” is Reimold’s second solo show at the gallery and features seven paintings featuring luminescent female protagonists with their animal familiars in the landscape. Inspired by art history and mythology, each painting pulsates with glowing energy and emboldens a graceful sense of power and strength.

About Allison Reimold //

Allison Reimold is a Los Angeles native and nature enthusiast who currently works in the entertainment industry, illustrating posters for film and TV.

She is a graduate of Otis College of Art and Design and resides in Los Angeles with her muse, a French Bulldog named Penny.

Kim Slate, Home

Haven Gallery is pleased to present a new collection of mischievous sculptures from Oregon based artist Kim Slate. The new collection entitled “Home”, will feature eight new sculptures of animals and fauna with Slate’s quintessential wide and snarky grins. Both enchanting and playful, each animal and plant are meticulously sculpted and painted to capture bold personalities. A storyteller at heart, Slate invites the viewers to create their own narratives and characters.

About Kim Slate //
Even from a young age growing up in Eastern Washington, Kim Slate had a fascination with the creation of images and the power they had to capture the imagination and elicit emotion. The encouragement of her interests and talents led her to study animation where the power of images are amplified by story. After graduation, she applied her training to several feature films, most recently the award winning film Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. In her sculptures and paintings she has honed a unique perspective, depicting the mysterious and sometimes mischievous adventures of ordinary and exotic creatures.

Each piece suggests a narrative, her charming characters caught in some act of scheming, play, or discovery. Kim resides in Portland Oregon where she can be found running its miles of forest trails or traveling with her husband and four year old son.

Himena Kokufuta, The Blue Dragon

Northport, NY– Haven Gallery is pleased to present a collection of ten new works from Japan based artist Himena Kokufuta entitled “The Blue Dragon of Life”, at Haven Gallery. “The Blue Dragon of Life” is Kokufuta’s first solo show at the gallery and features ten oil paintings of larger than life elemental dragons with their human familiars, as they live harmoniously without the blight of pollution and natural disasters. Dragons made of coral, trees and moss are protective deities that maintain the delicate balance of life and remind us of the importance and necessity of respecting and preserving the natural world.

About Himena Kokufuta //
Born in 1994 in Ibaraki Prefecture. Graduated from the Graduate School of Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2019.

Artist Statement //
My work expresses the vitality of nature through the form of a dragon, using motifs such as coral and giant trees. I depict a world themed around “the connection between humans and nature,” which has been woven over many years.

The subjects of my work are the dragon god legends passed down in Japan. In Japan, dragons are revered as water gods, and legends are associated with various places such as rivers, lakes, and waterfalls in each region. Since ancient times, Japan has experienced frequent water-related disasters, such as water shortages and river floods, leading people to pray to the dragon gods for help. Many stories are written about dragons and people helping each other.

Even today, water-related disasters occur all over the world due to climate change, and I feel that we are still plagued by natural disasters today and in the past. All living things cannot survive without water, but I feel that in today’s scientifically advanced world, people are no longer aware of the fact that they are living with nature in their hurried daily lives.

In this exhibition, I will present ten works, mainly featuring pieces inspired by sea coral, depicting interactions between dragons and humans in the great outdoors. Coral and giant trees grow over long periods, purifying carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and quietly protecting the natural environment. These entities watch over us today, having witnessed countless encounters with many people. Through my works, I hope to convey the mystical vitality of the natural world. I would be delighted if my art serves as an opportunity for people to turn their hearts toward nature. – Himena Kokufuta

Grimoire,  Group Exhibition

Haven Gallery is pleased to present “Grimoire”, a group show celebrating the darker corners of the world of magic.

Exhibiting artists include //
Grace Aldrich, Kit Curry, Jennifer Hrabota Lesser, Takuya Mitani, Petra Frankova, Dewi Plass, Alexandra Lukaschewitz, Michele Melcher, Yuriko Shirou, Paige Carpenter, Andrew Currey, Claudia Griesbach Martucci, Bea Bastet, Kane Kokaris, Shelby Clark, Enys Guerrero, Valerie Savarie, Po Yan Leung, Kyra Wilson, Jeremy Hush, Amelia Leonards, Laura Colors, Arkadiusz Dzielawski, Shannon Taylor, John Lally, Eva Boneva, Anna Wilson, Sophie Wilkins, Bill Mayer, Nadezda, Vince Natale, Phoenix Chan, Valery Vecu Quitard, Zoe Chigi, Hannah Flowers.

Haven Gallery Social Media Accounts

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

The post Haven Gallery Presents Allison Reimold, Kim Slate, Himena Kokufuta, Grimoire Group Show appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Winners Announced!

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.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey has the pleasure of curating each issue of the magazine and our exhibitions. The Art Prize entries 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.

We would also like to sincerely thank the 2024 Jury Panel: particularly the Traditional Category Judge Michael Parkes for giving his time and expertise to the panel. Additionally, we warmly thank the other Category Judges: Kirsty Mitchell (Photography juror), Erika Sanada (Sculpture juror) and Karl Ortiz (Digital Art juror), as well as the Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz.

To our major sponsors: Tracey Maigne & Keeley Gerard, Owners and Directors of Musonium Gallery; 33PA‘s CEO, Marketing Director & Curator, Didi Menendez; RAYMAR President & Creative Director, Emilie Dietrich; Yasha Young Projects Founder Yasha Young; and the Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, Catherine K. Gyllerstrom – our deepest gratitude for supporting this year’s Prize. It is through your support and generosity that the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is able to acknowledge and uplift so many incredible artists and photographers from around the world.

As always a huge thanks also to the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners all-year round.

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

RAYMAR Traditional Art Award

The RAYMAR Traditional Art Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by RAYMAR, creators of the finest panels! Panels are their passion. They craft their panels with the world’s finest materials to serve as the foundation for your artwork. 
• $750 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• $1,500 USD worth of art photography and/or Fine Art archival print reproduction from Static Medium.
• A full grant to experience the 7-day Quarantine event “THE ART SPIRIT” from April 7th to 13th, 2025, on Lazaretto Island in Menorca Spain, generously donated by Quarantine Events. The grant includes 8 nights stay in a nearby hotel (breakfast included), plus the 7-day event including boot camps with each of the guest mentors, masterclasses and other activities, easel and other large or non-transportable materials, most beverages and daily lunch and dinner. Travel expenses to/from Menorca, personal painting supplies, and additional hotel expenses are not includes in the grant.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, 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 media platforms).
• Winning artwork published in the December 2024 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Rosemary Brushes, the finest quality handmade Artists’ Brushes.
• $750 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• $250 USD gift voucher, generously donated by Golden Artist Colors, manufacturer of artist quality materials including colours and mediums for painting in acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolour.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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:

• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Rosemary Brushes, the finest quality handmade Artists’ Brushes.
• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• $100 USD gift voucher, plus the opportunity to join a 3hr workshop in their NY studio, generously donated by Chelsea Classical Studio, a fine art school focusing on the human figure and manufacturer of highest quality, handmade, natural, and archival artist materials created using historic methods.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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.

Congratulations to the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Winners: Jon Ching, Haejin Yoo, and Victor Wang!

3rd Prize Winner

Jon Ching

Born in: Hawaii and currently resides: United States

“Bardo”, Oil on wood, 30″ x 24″

Jon Ching grew up steeped in the natural beauty of O’ahu which formed the foundation of his deep fascination with the natural and wild world. A self-trained painter, Jon’s devoted art practice and detailed realism is inspired by the interconnectedness of nature. Jon’s work is a surreal imagining of what limitless wonders and combinations nature can produce. His meticulously rendered oil paintings are often driven by his personal desire to find balance between the human and natural worlds, exploring themes of symbiosis and searching for connections, physical and metaphorical, across nature’s kingdoms. He has a keen interest in endangered species and seeks to share their stories, show off their idiosyncratic beauty and bring awareness of their plight. He hopes his art can spark an emotional connection and evoke compassion for the kingdoms of life. Jon’s ultimate goal is to inspire love and admiration for the universally unique beauty and intrigue of our living world.

“Bardo”: Bardo is the god of the forest floor, watching over the liminal space above ground with all that we see and the ground itself with all the unseen magic below. Conservation of energy is their specialty as they steward the transference of nutrients in a self sustaining cycle. Bardo, like the forest floor itself, invites the viewer to take a closer look and investigate what wonders are hidden under the fallen leaves.

2nd Prize Winner

Haejin Yoo

Born: South Korea, raised in: Australia, and currently resides: Germany

“Woman in the Bath VI”, Acrylic on linen and wood, hand made wooden frame, 105cm x 75cm

Haejin Yoo, a self-taught acrylic artist born in Seoul and raised in Australia, creates surrealistic expressionist art to evoke both past and present emotions. Her work transcends traditional boundaries by incorporating mixed media like acrylics, textiles, carpentry, and spray paint, aiming to breathe life into her creations and enhance their dimensionality. Discovering her artistic passion early, Haejin initially pursued a career in the sciences, which later enriched her understanding of various artistic mediums. Now residing in Cologne, Germany, she actively exhibits her work across Europe. Haejin’s notable accomplishments include being a finalist for the Boyne’s Artist Award 10th Edition in 2024, winning the Merit Prize at Teravarna’s International Juried Art Competition in 2023, receiving the Artist Expert Award from Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi in 2022, and securing the First Prize Abstract Award at the FIRA International Art Fair Barcelona 2022. Her piece ‘Woman in the Bath III’ was featured prominently at The Other Art Fair London 2024, displayed on a large banner in central London. Haejin’s work has been repeatedly spotlighted by Artfinder and Saatchi Art, and showcased at The Other Art Fair in both London and Los Angeles in 2023.

“Woman in the Bath VI”: Woman in the Bath VI is from the ongoing series captures the introspective and imaginative world of an introverted individual. Inspired by my husband, this artwork embodies a masculine and empowering feel, showcasing the strength and depth of his inner world. Unlike other pieces in the series with a melancholic tone, this painting reflects the calm and thoughtful nature of his personality, highlighting the richness of internal landscapes.

1st Prize Winner

Victor Wang

Born: China and currently resides: United States

“The Angel of Sunflower”, Oil on canvas, 63″ x 48″

Victor Wang grew up in Northern China and graduated BFA from The Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, one of three top art institutes in China. After graduation he taught there for four and a half years and was sent to The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a visiting scholar. He earned his MFA in Fontbonne University. He currently lives in St. Louis, where he teaches painting, drawing and graduate critique classes as a full professor at Fontbonne University. Victor has exhibited widely across the country and internationally and has won various awards for excellence, including awards for both painting and art instruction. His work has been shown nationally and internationally. The human figures in his paintings serve as vehicles to convey human experience, representing the emotional tension and psychological drama of life’s turning points. Nostalgia, harmony, passion, agony, sadness, and pleasure are all revealed in his new body of work in the last decade. The images portrayed in his art are provoked by childhood memories and past experiences. An artist often tells one story repeatedly; however, his story is created from the images and feelings from his past experiences that represent the memories of his life. Technically, Wang was influenced by the exaggerated way Auguste Rodin uses clay to model figures. He has tried to treat his paint on canvas as the equivalent of a sculptor’s clay to build up form on canvas. The thickness of the paint evokes a sculptural physicality.

“The Angel of Sunflower”: Her wings are woven from sunbeam threads,
A halo of warmth stop her blue head.
With each gentle breeze, she twirls and spins,
A guardian of joy where the sunlight begins.

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Winners Announced! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

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.

Thank you & Acknowledgements

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey has the pleasure of curating each issue of the magazine and our exhibitions. The Art Prize entries 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.

We would also like to sincerely thank the 2024 Jury Panel: particularly the Digital Art Category Judge Karla Ortiz, who gave her time and expertise to the panel. Additionally, I warmly thank the other Category Judges: Michael Parkes (Traditional Art juror), Kirsty Mitchell (Photography juror) and Erika Sanada (Sculpture juror), as well as the Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz.

To our major sponsors: Tracey Maigne & Keeley Gerard, Owners and Directors of Musonium Gallery; 33PA‘s CEO, Marketing Director & Curator, Didi Menendez; RAYMAR President & Creative Director, Emilie Dietrich; Yasha Young Projects Founder Yasha Young; and the Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, Catherine K. Gyllerstrom – our deepest gratitude for supporting this year’s Prize. It is through your support and generosity that the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is able to acknowledge and uplift so many incredible artists and photographers from around the world.

As always a huge thanks to the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners all-year round, and of course to my partner, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine‘s Co-Founder Richard Purssey.

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

Digital Art Award

The Digital Art Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash generously donated by Platinum sponsors.
• USD$375 cash, plus a US$375 gift card to use at GelaSkins.com, and the opportunity to have a collection with the brand, all generously donated by GelaSkins. GelaSkins create artist-designed premium cases and skins, supporting independent artists since 2005.
• Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2), generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• Rebelle 7 Pro, plus US$60 worth of additional Paper, Canvases and Other Art Surfaces, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
• A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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 2024 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 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2)generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• Rebelle 7 Pro, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
• A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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:

• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• Deco Pro (Gen2) XLW generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• Rebelle 7 Pro, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
• A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

Congratulations to the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Digital Art Award Winners: Siana, VZEWL, and Tristan Elwell!

3rd Prize Winner

Siana Park

Currently resides: USA

“Epilogue of A Tragedy” (Photoshop)

Siana Sunghee Park is an illustrator/concept artist based in Los Angeles. She is originally from South Korea and studied in San Francisco. After focusing on using traditional medium such as charcoal, watercolor and oil at the Academy of Art University, she developed a digital art portfolio and has been working in the entertainment industry since 2014.

“Epilogue of A Tragedy”: Not all love story have perfect happy endings. When the most tragic plot unfolds the noble lady chose the worst ending for herself. A golden goblet filled with poisoned wine, that is now flowing into her throat and to the knight’s, will soon be dropped onto the ground covered with debris, leaving echos of clanging sound. The knight, however, is in complete peace. Accepting the impending death, it is also what he’s chosen, and it is his best choice. Is this a sad ending? Or would you say it’s a happy ending?

2nd Prize Winner

VZEWL

Currently resides: Canada

“The Bee’s Knees” (Created in DAZ Studio and Blender. Rendered with Cycles)

VZEWL, Pronounced visual, is a 30 year old 3D Artist from Ontario, Canada. They began their 3D journey at the age of 13 and have been creating ever since. Primarily self-taught, they have honed their craft over the years, especially in the realm of portraiture, where their characters convey deep emotions and complex feelings. VZEWL grapples with emotional struggles, and finds that expressing these through their artwork provides a powerful way to communicate their inner experiences to others. “When I create, I cease to be myself. I don’t like my own work. But I know that VZEWL does. It is an interesting dichotomy that I have really enjoyed observing. It helps that I have an absolute fascination with psychology, and I think that those things go hand in hand quite nicely.”

“The Bee’s Knees”: Anything taken literally can be strange. Idioms and metaphors casually tossed about without any consideration for the objective meanings. Subtlety and nuance are very complex and without relative context, can sometimes go completely unnoticed. Surrealistically looking at a literal interpretation hopefully provokes an intrigued hesitation the next time you use one.

1st Prize Winner

Tristan Elwell

Currently resides: USA

“Inversion” (Photoshop)

Tristan Elwell is a New York based illustrator working in publishing, advertising, editorial, and games. He has done book covers for all the major publishing houses, including Avon, Bantam, HarperCollins, Penguin, Pocket Books, Scholastic, and Tor. His work has appeared in Print, Communication Arts, the Society of Illustrators Annuals, and Spectrum, and has been exhibited at the Society of Illustrators, the Art Director’s Club, the United Nations, and galleries in New York, California, and Europe. He has won the Chesley Award for best paperback cover and been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist. Tristan lives in the Hudson Valley and teaches drawing, painting, and illustration at the School of Visual Arts.

“Inversion”: Inversion is part of a series depicting figures and their animal avatars in an isolated setting, often on high-wires or other elevated environments. I am strongly influenced by the Symbolists and Decadents of the late 19th century such as Félicien Rops, Fernand Khnopff, and Franz von Stuck.

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Digital Art Award Winners Announced! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Photography Award Winners Announced!

It was an honour to judge the photography category for this year’s Beautiful Bizarre competition.  There were so many strong candidates with such intriguing bodies of work!  I can’t wait to follow the trajectory of their careers and the evolution of their artistic vision.

-Catherine Gyllerstrom, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books

Thank you & Acknowledgements

Once again, we would like to thank all of the photographers 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.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey has the pleasure of curating each issue of the magazine and our exhibitions. The Art Prize entries 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.

Our sincere thanks to the 2024 Jury Panel, particularly the Photography Award category Judge Kristy Mitchell, for giving her time and expertise to the panel. Additionally, we warmly thank the other artist Judges:  Michael Parkes (Traditional Art juror), Erika Sanada (Sculpture juror) and Karl Ortiz (Digital Art juror), as well as the Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz.

To our major sponsors: Tracey Maigne & Keeley Gerard, Owners and Directors of Musonium Gallery; 33PA‘s CEO, Marketing Director & Curator, Didi Menendez; RAYMAR President & Creative Director, Emilie Dietrich; Yasha Young Projects Founder Yasha Young; and the Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, and Snap Collective – our deepest gratitude for supporting this year’s Prize. It is through your support and generosity that the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is able to acknowledge and uplift so many incredible artists and photographers from around the world.

As always a huge thanks to the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners all-year round.

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

Photography Award

The Photography Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $2,500 USD cash generously donated by Snap Collective.
• $500 USD generously donated by Platinum sponsors.
• A guaranteed book publishing deal with Snap Collective. In addition to the royalties, the Winner will receive 20 free books. Snap Collective is an innovative and unconventional publishing concept, specifically designed to help photographers and artists bring their portfolios to life. Snap Collective gives artists the ability to publish a photo book or portfolio of their work, offering a streamlined platform with some of the best printing and distribution partners, support of a design team, and more.
• 20×30 Epic Print + $250 Lab Credit (worth USD$672) by Bay Photo, the trusted partner for Photographers, Artists and Creatives since 1976. The Epic Print includes optional Frame and choice of display options.
• A special 10% discount code generously donated by MagMod, a specialist in lighting accessories for photographers.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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 media platforms).
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,000 USD generously donated by Platinum sponsors.
• A guaranteed book publishing deal with Snap Collective. In addition to the royalties, the Winner will receive 15 free books. Snap Collective is an innovative and unconventional publishing concept, specifically designed to help photographers and artists bring their portfolios to life. Snap Collective gives artists the ability to publish a photo book or portfolio of their work, offering a streamlined platform with some of the best printing and distribution partners, support of a design team, and more.
• 16×24 Epic Print + $200 Lab Credit (worth USD$532) by Bay Photo, the trusted partner for Photographers, Artists and Creatives since 1976. The Epic Print includes optional Frame and choice of display options.
• A special 10% discount code generously donated by MagMod, a specialist in lighting accessories for photographers.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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:

• $500 USD generously donated by Platinum sponsors.
• A guaranteed book publishing deal with Snap Collective. In addition to the royalties, the Winner will receive 10 free books. Snap Collective is an innovative and unconventional publishing concept, specifically designed to help photographers and artists bring their portfolios to life. Snap Collective gives artists the ability to publish a photo book or portfolio of their work, offering a streamlined platform with some of the best printing and distribution partners, support of a design team, and more.
• 12×18 Epic Print + $150 Lab Credit (worth USD$389) by Bay Photo, the trusted partner for Photographers, Artists and Creatives since 1976. The Epic Print includes optional Frame and choice of display options.
• A special 10% discount code generously donated by MagMod, a specialist in lighting accessories for photographers.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

Congratulations to the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Photography Award Winners: Stasia Schmidt, Diego Orlando Art & Mothmeister!

3rd Prize Winner

Stasia Schmidt

Currently resides: Canada

“Floe”, Digital Photography, Canon R5, Canon RF 70-200 f/4

Stasia Schmidt (b.1978) is an award winning, fine art photographer based in Calgary, Alberta. Her landscapes and portraits show attention to simplicity and form. She is drawn to unexpected surrealism within the natural environment, and throughout the photographic process Stasia works to layer subversive femininity with stark reality. Self taught, she draws from a deep well of inspiration that includes a love of music, dance, science fiction, and adventure. The medium of photography is her chosen method of exploring creative boundaries and challenging expectations in order to create provocative, vivid, and resonant art.

“Floe”: is one of 10 pieces of a larger body of work – “Ephemerality.” Stasia created this image, and Ephemerality as a way to explore her own femininity while out adventuring in environments that have traditionally been considered the domain of men. Harsh, bleak landscapes call to her in a way that makes her feel vividly alive. There are many images of places like this, usually featuring a man in outdoor gear, staring off into the distance. Stasia’s vision with “Floe” was to prove to herself and others that feminine presence also belongs. She created this piece with her camera on a tripod, and arranged herself on the iceberg remnant that had washed up on the shores of Disko Island in Greenland. Happily, a large iceberg was stationed in the background long enough for her to compose and create an image she loves.

2nd Prize Winner

Diego Orlando Art

Currently resides: Spain

“Eminence in Shadows: A Baroque Reverie”, Digital Photography, Nikon

Diego Orlando is a passionate photographer known for his distinctive approach to capturing the essence of subjects through compelling imagery. With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for light and shadow, Diego specializes in portrait photography that resonates with emotional depth and artistic flair. His work often draws inspiration from classical art techniques, particularly the chiaroscuro style of the Baroque era, reflecting a fusion of traditional aesthetics with modern sensibilities. Diego’s journey in photography began early, driven by a fascination with visual storytelling and a desire to evoke powerful emotions through his photographs. His portfolio showcases a diverse range of subjects, from intimate portraits to captivating landscapes, all united by a timeless quality and meticulous craftsmanship. As a dedicated artist, Diego continually explores new techniques and styles, pushing the boundaries of photographic artistry while remaining true to his distinctive vision. His work has been recognized in various exhibitions and publications, affirming his reputation as a skilled photographer capable of capturing the essence of his subjects in a profound and evocative manner.

“Eminence in Shadows: A Baroque Reverie”: In Diego Orlando Art’s photographic artwork, he presents a portrait of a gentleman employing the chiaroscuro technique reminiscent of Baroque Spanish and European painting. This pictorial photograph aims to capture the essence and personality of the sitter through a nuanced interplay of light and shadow. The richness of color, the subtlety of forms, and the profound emotive force are encapsulated within this image. It is a homage to the timeless artistry of Baroque masters, translating their mastery into the medium of photography. Through meticulous composition and a deep understanding of classical aesthetics, he invites viewers and critics alike to delve into the narrative woven by light and darkness, and to discover the enduring allure of a bygone era.

1st Prize Winner

Mothmeister

Currently reside: Belgium

“Payback Time, Bloody Berlin Butcher”, Digital Photography, Canon EOS R5

Mothmeister is the nonstop morphing alter ego of two artistic soulmates based in Belgium, home of surrealism. Through their eerie, imaginary post-mortem fairy tales they portray a series of masked, grotesque characters – often accompanied by stuffed animals and a variety of curiosa from their private collection. Similar to the Victorian era when dead dear loved ones were photographed as a memento mori for the relatives, Mothmeister immortalizes animals in a dark and dystopian fairytale world.

“Payback Time, Bloody Berlin Butcher“: Art doesn’t need explanation. It just happens. And evokes whatever it evokes.

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Photography Award Winners Announced! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Winners Announced!

There is nothing more rewarding than to support young and emerging talent or boost 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 has been a passion of mine. Buying art is important but supporting the artists to be able to create is, in my opinion, just as vital.

-Yasha 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.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey has the pleasure of curating each issue of the magazine and our exhibitions. The Art Prize entries 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.

We would also like to sincerely thank the 2024 Jury Panel, particularly the Sculpture Award category Judge Erika Sanada, for giving her time and expertise to the panel. Additionally, we warmly thank the other Category Judges:  Michael Parkes (Traditional Art juror), Kirsty Mitchell (Photography juror) and Karl Ortiz (Digital Art juror), as well as the Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz.

To our major sponsors: Tracey Maigne & Keeley Gerard, Owners and Directors of Musonium Gallery; 33PA‘s CEO, Marketing Director & Curator, Didi Menendez; RAYMAR President & Creative Director, Emilie Dietrich; Yasha Young Projects Founder Yasha Young; and the Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, Catherine K. Gyllerstrom – our deepest gratitude for supporting this year’s Prize. It is through your support and generosity that the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is able to acknowledge and uplift so many incredible artists and photographers from around the world.

As always a huge thanks to the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners 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.
• $400 USD 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 Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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 media platforms).
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,000 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.
• $220 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 Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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:

• $500 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.
• $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 Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

Congratulations to the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Winners: Spencer Hansen, Ornélie & César Orrico!

3rd Prize Winner

Spencer Hansen

Currently resides: United States

“Lela”, Ceramic, Himalayan goat fur, Brass, 80 x 34 x 24 in.

Spencer Hansen graduated from San Francisco Art Institute in 2006. He is an interdisciplinary artist whose imagination and intellect intertwine to create playful art thoughtfully sourced, designed and constructed. Spencer works primarily with natural materials, hand making detailed art that is the antithesis of our disposable culture. Endlessly experimenting with processes and fueled by curiosity, his work flirts with the relationship between light and time, texture, weight and form. The resulting story often reveals a transformation of a common object into abstraction, undeniably familiar, simultaneously foreign. In addition to Spencer Hansen’s Art, which includes painting, sculpture, masks and photography, he is also the co-founder and creative director of BLAMO toys and BLAMO clothing, both conceived in rural Idaho and developed into established independent companies. When he is not experimenting in his Bali workshop, (designed from recycled Javanese boat wood and home for himself and co-workers), he travels between his home state of Idaho, Orcas Island, Japan, California and Europe.

“Lela”: is a Bat Spirit created and photographed by Spencer. Encountering LELA is like discovering a new species with an heir of familiarity, with the power to elicit nostalgia and a sense of belonging, yet an undeniable essence of something unknown. Lela was created for Strangers; a show inviting viewers to contemplate the perception of foreign encounters and wonder at their significance in this world.

2nd Prize Winner

Ornélie

Currently resides: France

“Royal Widow”, Polymer clay, acrylic paint, 27 x 20 x 20 cm.

Since graduating from the GOBELINS school of animation in Paris, Ornélie worked as an animation artist on numerous European feature films. Drawing characters in volume led her quite naturally towards figurative sculpture, which she started to practice as a self-taught artist. At a crossroads between volume and illustration, through portraits of female characters Ornélie develops an atmosphere often surreal and romantic, sometimes dark and strange. She is influenced as much by classical painting, as from comics and illustration, cinema, animation, and literature. By playing on the codes of the cabinet of curiosity, her sculptures reflect her dreams of fantasized eras, as Gothic and Victorian visions. All her artworks are strictly one-of-a-kind, handmade in full polymer clay. Flowers, eyes, fabric, lace and embroideries are modeled with polymer clay, then hand-painted. Ornélie is happy to be at the start of her journey as an explorer of this modern material, which she hopes, combined with her ideas and technical skill, will allow her to explore her creative potential. She will continue to develop her work, playing with containers and floating effects, along with the modeling of fabrics and the render of materials, textures and patterns. She plans to make more ambitious pieces, while keeping the pop and surrealist spirit that she loves : challenging herself is largely the driving force behind her art.

“Royal Widow”: The king is dead. With her mourning dress, the queen wears the appropriate outfit, which contrasts with the color of her thoughts. With the glass dome (and the face) which can be rotated and thus allow the sculpture to be opened, I wanted the effect of surprise more striking and the idea more impactful. The creation of this piece was really the pretext to deepen my work on the modeling and painting of fabric, lace and embroidery, with this unique color for the black dress with a whole range of shades of matte and glossy effects.

1st Prize Winner

César Orrico

Currently resides: Spain

“Bosque”, Bronze, 67 x 40 x 35 cm.

Born in Spain in 1984, César Orrico is a contemporary figurative sculptor. His work proposes a reflection on the syncretic character of contemporary society through the representation of the human form. The reference to different periods and contexts becomes visible in his sculptures, which metaphorically connect time and concepts. César obtained his licentiate degree in Fine Arts from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2007 and supplemented his specialization with postgraduate studies in Art Creation and Research. Over the last few years, his work has been singled out for recognition in world-class competitions. In 2019, he received the Jean Asselbergs Prize from the Taylor Foundation in Paris and won First Prize in Sculpture two years in a row, 2021 and 2022, in the 15th and 16th International ARC Salon, United States. Also in 2022, his work was awarded the Mariano Benlliure Sculpture Medal. In 2023, he received the Reina Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture in Madrid. César has participated in outstanding individual and collective exhibitions in cities of America, Europe and Asia, with a particular presence in the United States, France and England. His work has also been shown in contemporary art fairs and salons of recognised standing such as Context Art Miami, Art Wynwood, LA Art Show, Hamptons Fine Art Fair New York, London Art Fair or ST-ART Strasbourg, and his works have been included in public and private collections around the world.

“Bosque“: Reflects on the importance of connecting with the inner essence, a concept that is represented through the meditative attitude of the figure and the introspection reflected in her face. The yearning for spiritual transcendence is perceptible in the weightless nakedness of her body, which appears metaphorically suspended in a world where nature and human being come together to form a perfect symbiosis.

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Winners Announced! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Setting the stage for a collection of compelling editions, this marks a milestone for the creative team. Showcasing their dedication, the inspiring narrative is sure to be embedded within each page. With a blend of Jasmine’s and David’s unique art styles, it’s undoubtedly poised to make a significant impact on the art community. The Kickstarter has already garnered a lot of attention as supports eagerly anticipate the release of their exciting Issue 1.

This passion project embodies not only a display of creativity but also serves as a testament to their unwavering artistic pursuits. With 24 delicious pages, Death & the Maiden immerses readers into the mysterious shadow lands, gripping imagination with its eerie adventures, vivid imagery, and evocative language.

Death & the Maiden – Issue 1

Jasmine Becket-Griffith Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

David Van Gough Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | Instagram

The post Death & the Maiden Issue 1 Kickstarter: Jasmine Becket-Griffith and David Van Gough’s Dark Fantasy Comic Series appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

These collections offer a glimpse into the boundless creativity and artistry of the human mind. Through wonder and whimsy, delve into the depths of emotion and introspection. You never know what awaits you. Additionally, you can view past and present exhibitions as well as all available inventory by visiting the gallery website.

Nadezda and Erika Sanada Solo Exhibitions

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 6-9 PM

Exhibition Dates: September 14 – October 3, 2024

Modern Eden Gallery

1100 Sutter Street | San Francisco, CA 94109

For press inquiries or sales, please contact Modern Eden Gallery Director Kim Larson at kim@moderneden.com | General Information, please email info@moderneden.com

Phone: (415) 956-3303 

Wednesday–Saturday, 12–5 pm

Private artwork viewing appointments are available

Nadezda: Once There Was, Once There Wasn’t

Press Release //

We are excited to present the latest solo exhibition for gallery favorite, Nadezda. After leaving the Bay Area for Europe last year, this new work is coming fresh from her Spanish countryside studio with new influences. As the artist explains, “for this show I am finding a new harmony of imaginative work coexisting together with the figurative. It feels wholesome and I really enjoy the balance they create together. The work is also becoming more textural and there are new barely visible sub-narratives hidden in the corners.”

Erika Sanada: Us

Press Release //

Modern Eden Gallery is pleased to present the latest solo exhibition by San Francisco sculptress, Erika Sanada.

Erika Sanada’s early inspirations stemmed from creatures and characters of horror films. Watching these stories were a way for her to escape unpleasant realities during childhood. She creates intricate, hairless ceramic creatures—often adorable but also unsettling and bizarre. Sanada is represented by Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco where the artist currently lives and works.

Modern Eden Gallery Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | X | Instagram

The post Modern Eden Gallery Presents Nadezda and Erika Sanada Solo Exhibitions appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: 33PA Emerging Artist Award Winners Announced!

Sponsoring the Beautiful Bizarre Emerging Artist prize gave me an opportunity to reconfirm that artists are still creating original and refreshing work. It was my pleasure to nurture these artists to continue creating and flourishing in their craft.

-Didi Menendez, 33PA CEO, Marketing Director & Curator

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.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Danijela Krha Purssey has the pleasure of curating each issue of the magazine and our exhibitions. The Art Prize entries 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.

We would also like to sincerely thank the 2024 Jury Panel, particularly the Emerging Artist category Judge Didi Menendez of 33PA, for giving her time and expertise to the panel. Additionally, We warmly thank the artist Judges:  Michael Parkes (Traditional Art juror), Kirsty Mitchell (Photography juror), Erika Sanada (Sculpture juror) and Karl Ortiz (Digital Art juror), as well as the Directors of Modern Eden Gallery, Kim Larson & Bradley Platz.

To our major sponsors: Tracey Maigne & Keeley Gerard, Owners and Directors of Musonium Gallery; 33PA‘s CEO, Marketing Director & Curator, Didi Menendez; RAYMAR President & Creative Director, Emilie Dietrich; Yasha Young Projects Founder Yasha Young; and the Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, Catherine K. Gyllerstrom – our deepest gratitude for supporting this year’s Prize. It is through your support and generosity that the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is able to acknowledge and uplift so many incredible artists and photographers from around the world.

As always a huge thanks to the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners all-year round.

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

33PA Emerging Artist Award

The 33PA Emerging Artist Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by 33PA, a diversified contemporary realism gallery, art community and publication.
• Deco Pro (Gen2) LW generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 on 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,750 USD cash, generously donated by Principle Gallery, a fine art gallery with branches in Alexandria, VA & Charleston, SC, focusing on contemporary realism since 1994.
• 6 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• 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.

3rd prize winner will receive:

• $750 USD cash, generously donated by Principle Gallery, a fine art gallery with branches in Alexandria, VA & Charleston, SC, focusing on contemporary realism since 1994.
• 4 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

Congratulations to the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 33PA Emerging Artist Award Winners: Senescence, Ross Takahashi & Nadine Tralala!

3rd Prize Winner

Senescence

Currently resides: Australia

“Theseus”, Marker (Copic and Generic), Colored Pencil, Ballpoint, gel and felt tip on rag stock paper, 81.4 x 118.9 cm

Born in Adelaide Australia Senescence began informally illustrating in black and white pencil at an early age, before entering the visual arts industry at eighteen. Following my various roles in the commercial graphic arts sector he completed a psychology and then medical degree, ultimately specialising in the teaching of surgical and medical anatomy at the University of Adelaide. After over fifteen years in Senescence academic role, and just before the birth of his daughter, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor as well as several other health concerns. Unable to return to work Senescence have come full circle to his art origins. He has never created art for himself nor outside of the commercial space, and so he begins this part of his life a new, merging several decades of experience into one.

“Theseus”: Stemming from Greek mythology, the Ship of Theseus grew to be a thought experiment as to whether an object is the same after having had all its original components replaced. The idea has been and continues to be explored in the context of human identity, as well as individual anatomy and physiology. From a cellular level and possibly more we are all something new today, with most of the body being replaced with analogous parts at varying speeds. The same question has and will likely be asked when medical technology enables a lot more of our bodies to be augmented. Arguably you of now will never be again, so what features most make you – you.

2nd Prize Winner

Ross Takahashi

Currently reside: United States

“Birds of a Feather Nesting Together”, Cast Bronze, patina, 26 x 16 x 14 in

Ross Takahashi is a Japanese-American sculptor and art educator. His work focuses on human cognition, ecological impacts, and our current climate crisis. Ross holds a B.A. in Psychology from Nevada State University. His work takes from research in ecology and psycho-social systems of transgenerational threads of permanence, and evanescence. Each piece is derived from a basis of conceptual, and empirical research, and explores these topics through a magical realistic lens. Hyper realistic details help bridge the gap of our relationship with nature, and human-related forms. Metals are an important medium in his practice, as they represent immortality, and a means for lasting preservation of temporary elements.

“Birds of a Feather Nesting Together”: A flock of birds building a children’s chair as a nest for their and our young. Created as a magical realistic take on ecological memory interwoven with post generational trauma impacted by humanity on the world surrounding us. This delicate piece is made purely out of bronze, with patina and polish.

1st Prize Winner

Nadine Tralala

Currently resides: Germany

“I Was Stone”, Oil on panel, 50 x 60 cm

Nadine Tralala is a figurative oil painter based in Germany. Her work blends classical techniques with modern surrealism and creates a dreamlike atmosphere, offering the viewer a moment of calm in a chaotic world. She is known for her bold and vivid color palette, which makes her otherworldly figures seem to radiate with an ethereal glow. Nadine aims to make people feel comfort and peace through her art, like the warm embrace of a long-lost friend. “I inhale the world and paint a healed version of it.”

“I Was Stone”: Pays tribute to a resilience that is as unyielding as stone. Even in our darkest moments, in the deepest of nights, an inner light shines within each of us. The woman in my painting glows from within, she herself lightens up the darkness surrounding her. With two lambs by her side, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, she awaits the dawn to break.

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, 33PA Emerging Artist Award Winners Announced! appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

• What is the biggest change you’ve made to your art practice since you started, and why?
• If you could only create one more work what would you like that work to say?
• What impact has your upbringing and cultural background had on your work, and how it has influenced your approach and aesthetic?
• What motivates you to keep going even when sales are slow or you hit a creative block?

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 2024 Issue 45 print issue is available plus 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 45 // June 2024 Quick Q & A editorial: Fandi Angga Saputra, Grant Perry, Diego Fernandez, S.V. Williams, Stephanie Inagaki, and Shinya Takanezawa all respond to the below Quick Q & A:

Quick Q & A: What impact has your upbringing and cultural background had on your work, and how it has influenced your approach and aesthetic?

Fandi Angga Saputra

“My alma mater, the Indonesian Institute of Arts Yogyakarta, was the pivotal starting place for me to hone my painting and artistic skills intensely. Through focused practice on traditional painting, I learned to master all of those mediums. I’ve also begun to gain an interest in myth and metaphorical language as the main ideas that I presented in my works. My upbringing in Indonesia, immersed in Javanese culture rich with myths and metaphors, sparked a desire within me to translate it into an imaginative visual language, conveying messages from our ancestors. As a custodian of Javanese culture, I strive to preserve its essence for future generations, utilising my art as a vessel to transmit timeless messages and foster a sense of continuity amidst the ever-changing landscape of modernity.”

Grant Perry

“I fell in love with classical art at a very young age as I grew up visiting various art museums regularly whenever my parents went on business trips. Even from a young age, I tended to be drawn to, or appreciate, work that shows mastery of skills. The aesthetics of classical art appealed to me for that reason because its level of understanding in multiple aspects of painting and drawing is not easily achievable. I like to work towards something that can challenge me and push my abilities to expand. My parents are a big influence on that tendency of mine because they taught me to be inquisitive and proud of the work you do.”

Diego Fernandez

“Even though I don’t come from a family of artists or with a special interest in art, my parents were very supportive of me and took me to art classes when I was a child. I used to be very curious as a kid, and I remember reading about classical art and masterpieces like the sculptures of David and La Pietà by Michelangelo. I enjoyed and learned a lot in History of Art classes in high school but what really had an impact on my artistic style was when I learned about Alphonse Mucha while I was studying advertising in college. His style is still one of my biggest influences in both my personal and commercial work, in terms of composition, movement and expressiveness.”

S.V. Williams

“Around the mid 1990’s, during my teenage years, I became heavily involved in graffiti. Painting trains, freeways, and large scale graffiti productions with a crew of friends, consumed most of my days during that period of time. I focused mostly on letter structures then, which taught me speed, scale, composition, and many other important aspects of this lifestyle that were crucial to my upbringing and most influential to the way I continue to develop today.”

Stephanie Inagaki

“Around junior high school there was a trifecta of films that came out: The Crow, The Craft, and Nightmare Before Christmas that pretty much set the tone for my aesthetic life, along with discovering gothic and 80’s music. My parents are Japanese immigrants, so we spoke Japanese at home and we were exposed to my heritage through frequenting Japanese markets, watching Japanese TV at home, as well as watching all the Miyazaki films before they became popular in the West. All these influences are still apparent in my darker drawing and jewellery making aesthetic, mixed with my use of Japanese mythology and folklore, alongside anthropomorphic animals like cats, foxes, crows, snakes, and bats. These animals tend to not have negative connotations in the East.”

Shinya Takanezawa

“Japan has an anime/manga culture that developed independently after being imported from the USA and Europe, and I have been in close contact with that culture since I was a child. At an art university in Tokyo, I studied and mastered Western academic oil painting techniques, but on the other hand, anime and manga have always been my interests. When creating my work I wanted to depict something unique, and I thought that by combining the accumulation of these experiences an unexpected
world might emerge, and as a result of my exploration I arrived at my current approach. For me, Raffaello Sanzio, Hokusai, Jakuchū, anime, and manga all exist on the same level and are an equal source of inspiration.”

The post QUICK Q & A: What impact has your upbringing and cultural background had on your work, and how it has influenced your approach and aesthetic? appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 46

Inside this Issue, we delve into the painterly works of Aaron Westerberg. With a notable edge of old-world elegance, his style is heavily influenced by his artistic hero, John Singer Sargent, who, among other painters, collectively defined much of our 21st century schemas of 19th century art. Aaron is not a painter of portraits, but rather, a portrayer of emotion. In letting his sentiments flow through his brushstrokes onto the canvas, he releases the emotion from his body, processing the feeling and letting it go.

We also discover the inspiring work of American sculptor, and 1st Prize Winner of the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Forest Rogers, who will take you to an enchanted place, full of mystery and ethereal beauty, a place where you see wondrous transformations happening before your very eyes and yearn to believe that they were real.

There is a bittersweet charm to Issue 46 cover artist Jennybird Alcantara’s paintings. On the surface lies a sentimental sweetness. Her work feels reminiscent of antique chocolate box cottages furnished with kitschy wallpaper, floral China tea sets and cherished knick-knack ceramic figurines. Woodland creatures with their big doe eyes, untouched by the horrors of the world, beckon viewers forward. Take a closer look and one might realise that hidden behind these charming pastels lie gloomy shadows and blackened corners, as a looming sadness approaches only to be gently washed away by a sense of hope.

Next we take a look at the fantastic visions of Pol Kurucz, a self-taught artist that has been making vibrant strides within both the art and drag communities with his hyper pop photography style all while making cultural critiques on social, gender and aesthetic norms that feel both humorous and palpable in style and tone.

Time to get inspired as we learn what Victoria Olt, owner of Victoria Olt Gallery in Estonia would like to add to her personal collection in this Issue’s Curator’s Wishlist.

We also take a deep dive into the work of 32-year-old UK photographer Claire Luxton whose oeuvre has mostly centred around photographing herself. We uncover fascinating contradictions and paradoxes within Claire – the person and the artist – and her work. The introvert behind the camera who thrives in front of it. Open and honest stories hidden in symbolism and double entendre.

If a Rococo masterpiece could speak, what would it say? Anne von Freyburg, a modern woman and contemporary artist who is consistently questioning the social and aesthetic constructs of femininity and western beauty, was willing to dive in with works pairing the fine art of painting with that quintessential “female” pastime, embroidery – letting ideas, hypotheses, and emotions burst into a beautiful chaos of acrylic and spray paint, sequins, polyester wadding, and hand-dyed fringes.

Thoughts get wings in the hands of Matthias Verginer. The soul rests. The world stops spinning. Nature is at arm’s length. It’s time to breathe again and let the mind fly. A quiet cartographer of the psyche, Matthias uses sparing, minimalist concepts, and carefully chosen materials that speak volumes through shared moments of truth.

Bold colours cast upon darkened backgrounds make the flora and fauna of Fatima Ronquillo’s paintings come to life. Existing somewhere between Rococo and Baroque, these extraordinary pieces feel right at home alongside Vermeer and Boucher. The spellbound expressions show figures devoted to the stories so carefully crafted for them.

Noah Norrid, a resident of Copenhagen, Denmark does not consider himself uniquely preoccupied with themes of mortality and life’s fleeting nature, these concepts naturally surface in his work. His focus on the natural world allows him to explore universal themes and relationships, tapping into a long history of humans depicting nature as a reflection of their experiences.

Travel deeper into Issue 46 and see how Laine Bachman’s fascination with fables and fairytales from her childhood have deeply influenced her work. She delves into the history and beliefs behind these stories, drawing on a wealth archetypes and symbols that resonate across cultures and time. This allows her to create hybrid creatures and imagined flora and fauna, presenting them as if documenting undiscovered species and their habitats.

Lauren Marx mesmerizes us with full page reproductions of her evocative watercolour paintings inside this Issue’s Lookbook Editorial.

In the Quick Q & A editorial, we ask Alfred Liu, Hiro, Mao Hamaguchi, Abigail Goldman, Garis Edelweiss [1st Prize Winner of the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Digital Art Award], and Andrea du Plessis to answer the same questions:

• What are your goals as an artist?
• What do you struggle most with as an artist?
• What was the most helpful feedback you ever received?
• How do you approach the challenge of staying relevant and current in the rapidly changing world of contemporary art?

In this issues’ Collector’s Profile, Yasha Young, juror and sponsor of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize’s Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award speaks to us about her life as an entrepreneur, curator, collector and mentor.

Yasha Young is a name known throughout the contemporary art world. Blessed with a natural drive and unimaginable energy, she has forged her path as an entrepreneur in the arts, supporting creatives of all ages and cultures to better thrive doing what they love best.

In this Issues’ Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory editorial we highlight the work of many exceptional artists and photographers including: Rocio Villanueva, Miguel Casco, Ibicella Costume Designer, Maysa Bogheiri, Takahiro Hirabayashi, Carmit Haller, Alessandra Maria, Kristine & Colin Poole, Patrice Pit Hubert, Sally K, Kuang Chu, Dave Seeley, Tassy, Chichetam Okoronta, Farnoosh Doroudgar, Hilary Martin, Loles Romero, Forest Rogers, Garis Edelweiss, Lo Chan Peng, Nika Nyoko, Severine Pineaux, Richard Williams, Markus Akesson, Nick Pedersen, Natasha Zraikat, Odhara, Jason Mowry, Petite Doll, Nico Pearleyes, and Nasim Pachif.

Next let us slow down for an inspiring Letter from the Editor, as Danijela Krha Purssey, Editor in Chief, touches on exhibiting part of her – and husband and Co-Founder Richard Purssey’s – personal art collection at the New England Regional Art Museum [NERAM] in Australia.

She also embraces the incredible legacy of this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. When you are reading this in September you will have had your opportunity to vote for the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award from the 149 short-listed Finalists here. So make your voice heard – vote for your favourite works today! The Winners of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will be announced via our usual channels during the week of the 13th of September.

We also highlight more of the artisan fashion designers that have caught the eye of our Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief, in this Issue’s Some of our Favourite Things editorial.

And last but not least, enjoy a beautiful collection from Our Community, featuring some of the amazing hashtagged #beautifulbizarre artworks from our social media of over 1 million followers!

All this inside Issue 46 //September 2024, which showcases some of the best and most inspiring emerging and mid-career artists of our time.

Visit our online store and enjoy Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 46.

The post Issue 46 On Sale appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Natasha Zraikat is an imaginative realist oil painter living on the Gold Coast, Australia. She has a deep interest in environmentalism and humanitarianism and these themes underpin much of her work. She hopes to bring meaning and positive change to the world through her paintings and their stories.

Born in California to Jordanian-Palestinian and Ukrainian-Russian parents, Natasha moved to Australia as a child where she has lived ever since. Her earliest artistic memories include drawing, studying and surrounding herself with animals. This lifelong affinity has seen Natasha grow into a passionate environmentalist, and these themes have spilled into her work in recent years as her concerns about the state of the natural world continue to intensify.

Natasha is a self-taught artist, having taken one year in Florence, Italy for informal artistic development where she won Best in Show in the City-Wide Art VIII Competition. Her work has since been included in numerous other art prizes, including the SBS Portrait Prize, Metro Gallery Art Award, Lethbridge 20000 Art Prize, Williamstown Contemporary and the Art Lovers Australia Art Prize.

Natasha Zraikat’s work brings us to a place where realism and imagination meet. Through brilliant, oil-painted sky scapes, narrative portraiture, allegory and symbolism, her works offer an insight into the artist’s innermost musings. Building upon previous years in contemporary portraiture, Natasha’s more recent works look beyond the physical subject – diving into the realms of deeper consciousness and the human relationship with the natural and spiritual worlds.

The artist often uses herself as model and muse, in part as a matter of immediate practicality, but more so to add creative depth to the messages that she conveys through her art. Being an aerial silks enthusiast and yoga teacher, Natasha welcomes the added layer of meaning this physicality brings to her creative process and expression.

She is fascinated with nature, humanity and how the two interconnect. The animal allegories found in her work represent various parts of her own psyche and how she perceives reality, exploring our intrinsic connection to our natural surroundings. Thoughtful compositions, glowing palettes and painterly brushwork combine, blurring the lines which often define realism and inviting the viewer into a dream-like state were intuitive meaning triumphs over physical reality.

Join cutting-edge artists from around the world

The Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory is a powerful tool for artists looking to grow their visibility, and connect with fellow artists, curators and collectors. To join the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory click here for more information.

Natasha Zraikat Social Media Accounts

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | TikTok | Cara

The post Artist Directory: Natasha Zraikat  appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

If you’re searching for the next great piece to add to your collection or feel like perusing an exhibition, Arch Enemy Arts invites you to join them in celebration of shows by Danielle Schlunegger, Alex Sugar plus their SPECTRUM 5 group exhibition. Each body of work pushes the boundaries between reality and imagination, allowing the birth of innovative ideas and perspectives to come together for something truly spectacular.

Danielle Schlunegger, Alex Sugar + SPECTRUM 5

Arch Enemy Arts

109 Arch Street | Philadelphia, PA 19106 USA | (215) 717-7774

For sales or private viewing appointments, please email info@archenemyarts.com

Regular Gallery Hours:

CLOSED MONDAY & TUESDAY

• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 10am – 4pm
• Saturdays & Sundays: 11am – 5pm

Danielle Schlunegger, SURFACE TENSION

Solo Exhibition August 2nd – September 1st, 2024

​​Press // Arch Enemy Arts presents SURFACE TENSION by Danielle Schlunegger, a series of emotive landscapes inspired by the artist’s expeditions in Svalbard, a remote archipelago in Norway that is sixty percent covered in glaciers. Moving and original, SURFACE TENSION captures Danielle’s experience seeing the climate crisis firsthand. With her work, she grapples with the disorienting beauty of the Arctic landscape–what it is like to witness the natural wonders of our planet while knowing it is forever changed. 

SURFACE TENSION includes a series of miniature resin-cast icebergs affixed inside bell-jars and three larger, masterfully sculpted wall-hanging icebergs. Each dimple, crevasse and striation in these lonely, floating masses of ice is meticulously carved and colored with beautiful, translucent hues of blue dry pigment. Their precise elegance evokes a deep reverence for icebergs. As glacial detachments, they stand alone and truly feel lost at sea. 

Danielle’s greatest achievement, however, is in the five massive circular lightboxes–her largest resin casts to-date–which contain gorgeously painted, cut, and manipulated landscapes of the Arctic Sea. And her process for creating them is just as inspired: 

“During The Arctic Circle residency, I made a spontaneous series of photographs using an old lens salvaged from an overhead projector. Photographing through the lens caused the landscape to flip 180°, which changed the way I looked at and saw what was around me–a shift in focus that was both literal and metaphorical. After returning home, I wanted to make sculptures that mimic the effect–much in the way the Arctic ecosystem is altered by human activity and climate change–it has become unrecognizable to the people and animals that live there.”

Danielle Schlunegger is based in Portland. She graduated with distinction from the California College of Arts, but much of her work with resin is self-taught. SURFACE TENSION is Danielle’s third solo exhibition with Arch Enemy Arts since joining the AEA family in 2019. 

Alex Sugar, STILL DOWN UNDER

Solo Exhibition August 2nd – September 1st, 2024

​Press // Arch Enemy Arts presents STILL DOWN UNDER by Alex Sugar, seven fantastically rendered still life paintings of seemingly disparate objects–odds and ends one might find in the pantry, antiques from their grandmother’s cabinet, or nostalgia from an artist’s shelf imaginatively staged with flora and fauna from the Australian landscape. His unconventional groupings framed with razor-sharp titles inspire narratives that feel both classic and contemporary, refined and psychedelic, and encourage our search for meaning. 

“The Massacre,” for instance, depicts a lava lamp of jellyfish on a table of marbled waves. Surrounded by cool blue and crisply rendered animals of the Great Barrier Reef, the heat from the lamp casts a warm and shallow glow that could ultimately be their demise. In “Salute,” the eyes of a wise owl reflect the master of surrealism, and a kookaburra in “The Local” is perched on the quintessentially Aussie snack. 

“My inspiration comes from a merge of influences: Dutch Golden Age still life paintings, street and graffiti culture, daily observations, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. These paintings reconstruct my personal stories, blending real and imagined worlds with monochrome aesthetics and vibrant color highlights to inspire curiosity, imagination, and to support new perspectives on familiar depictions…[begging] the question: How might a deeper appreciation of daily scenes and natural beauty transform our perspective on our environments?”

Alex Sugar is based in Melbourne. Best known for his large-scale murals, Alex is entirely self-taught with a background in street art that brings a fresh perspective to formal realism painting. He began showing with Arch Enemy Arts in 2021, and STILL DOWN UNDER is his debut solo exhibition with the gallery.

The new lineup includes work from //
@alexgarantart, @alexkuno, @bserway @goblinfruitstudio, @cassandralkim, @mfhaastyle, @colete.martin, @seidmanart, @googoogilly, @ericalynschmidt,@gabrielled_art, @happydartist, @helicewen, @harianddeepti, @horrible_adorables, @ian.c.hess, @joevaux, @justinlovatoart, @verpabunny, @kurtlluch, @laura.catherwood, @lorinelsonart, @lurklovesyou, @raid_33333, @sinistern_art, @mheldillustration, @michaelkoehlerart, @michaelcampbellart, @devlinmolly @nomkinnearking, @bosmaus, @theartofrain, @seaofdoom, @shelbyeclark and @wing.chow.

SPECTRUM 5 will be on view to the public starting this Saturday August 24th with an official Opening Reception party scheduled for #FirstFriday September 6th from 5pm – 9pm.

About the Gallery //

Seeking to fill the need for a centralized hub focused exclusively on new contemporary genres within Philadelphia’s already vibrant art scene, Arch Enemy Arts was founded in 2012 and quickly became Philly’s freshest new venue dedicated to exhibiting emerging and established artists, both local and international. Located in Philadelphia’s Old City District, and with an emphasis on the lowbrow, pop-surrealism, urban, and macabre in a wide range of mediums, Arch Enemy Arts was chosen as Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly” Best Art Gallery for its 40th Anniversary issue, voted the “Best Art Gallery in Philadelphia” on Philly HotList in 2013, and in 2012. 

Noah Musher // co-founder & owner
Lawren Alice // co-founder & curator

Arch Enemy Arts Social Media Accounts

Website | Instagram | Facebook | X

The post Arch Enemy Arts Presents Danielle Schlunegger, Alex Sugar + SPECTRUM 5 appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

With distinctive aesthetics and narrative techniques, the skillful visual storytelling and compositional artisanship delivers a creative spark that’s sure to set fire to your imagination. Don’t miss the opportunity, visit Thinkspace Projects Saturday August 24th for the opening reception and join the celebration of creativity that transcends boundaries.

Craving more inspiration? Thinkspace Projects also offers a full schedule of events, interviews, and much more to keep you and your creative needs fully immersed. Be sure to follow their blog Sour Harvest to stay updated on all the artsy things you love! With just a few clicks, you can browse through an extensive selection of art. Take a moment and visit Thinkspace Projects’ online store to view all available inventory, created by talented artists from around the world!

Thinkspace Projects Presents

Listfield | Arnon | Mr. Kreme | TuiʻAsoa | Skibs

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 6:00-10:00pm

Be sure to come hungry, the gallery will have @5cazuelas serving amazing tacos + @bluenovala will be bring you homemade ice cream bars + madbarista with coffee, tea + Thinkspacwe Projects has an open bar + GoopMassta’s Night Market featuring vintage finds from @tallcan4mayor & artist booths. Additionally, @ari.bean.things @chompton_ @bbeachbboyzz & @alipancho + outdoor murals & installations. What more could you possibly ask for?!

Exhibition Dates:  August 24 – September 14, 2024

Thinkspace Projects

4207 W. Jefferson Blvd. | 4217 W. Jefferson Blvd. | Los Angeles, CA 90016
#310.558.3375 | Tues. – Sat. Noon to 6PM
thinkspaceprojects.com

For all inquiries please contact the gallery via email at contact@thinkspaceprojects.com

Search their hashtags: #thinkspaceprojects #thinkspacegallery #thinkspacefamily

About the Thinkspace Projects // 

Thinkspace Projects was founded in 2005; now in LA’s burgeoning West Adams District, the gallery has garnered an international reputation as one of the most active and productive exponents of the New Contemporary Art Movement. Maintaining its founding commitment to the promotion and support of its artists, Thinkspace Projects has steadily expanded its roster and diversified its projects, creating collaborative and institutional opportunities all over the world. Founded in the spirit of forging recognition for young, emerging, and lesser-known talents, the gallery is now home to artists from all over the world, ranging from the emerging, mid-career, and established.

The New Contemporary Art Movement, not unlike its earlier 20th Century counterparts like Surrealism, Dada, or Fauvism, ultimately materialized in search of new forms, content, and expressions that cited rather than disavowed the individual and the social. The earliest incarnations of the Movement, refusing the paradigmatic disinterest of “Art” as an inaccessible garrison of ‘high culture’, championed figuration, surrealism, representation, pop culture, and the subcultural.

By incorporating the ‘lowbrow,’ accessible, and even profane, an exciting and irreverent art movement grew in defiance of the mandated renunciations of “high” art. Emerging on the West Coast in the 90’s partly as a response to the rabid ‘conceptual-turn’ then championed on the East Coasts, the Movement steadily created its own platforms, publications, and spaces for the dissemination of its imagery and ideas.

SCOTT LISTFIELD, ‘Oh, Dystopia’ (Gallery I)

Show statement:

Are you feeling stressed or anxious? Has the erosion of democracy and the feeling of impending societal collapse got you down? Are you tired of technological solutions no one asked for? Worn out by end stage capitalism? Sick of social media? Billionaires? Traffic? War? The Supreme Court? Well then, have I got just the thing for you!

My next solo show, “Oh, Dystopia,” a show about finding beauty in the end of things, opens Saturday, August 24th, 6-10pm at Thinkspace Projects in Los Angeles.

Friends, let’s go off into the end times together. We’ll frolic amongst the leftover bits of our civilization: Crumbling skyscrapers! Partially destroyed machines! Piles of trash! A giant donut! Sad robots! The remains of a sunburnt Earth! We’ll leave our names on a broken building and hope that our distant ancestors find it one day and remember us.

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.

Artist Bio:

Scott Listfield is known for his paintings featuring a lone exploratory astronaut lost in a landscape cluttered with pop culture icons, corporate logos, and tongue-in-cheek science fiction references. Scott grew up in Boston, MA and studied art at Dartmouth College. After some time spent living abroad, Scott returned to America and, shortly before the real life, non-movie version of the year 2001, began painting astronauts and, sometimes, dinosaurs.

Scott has been profiled in Juxtapoz, Wired Magazine, the Boston Globe, New American Paintings, and on at least one local television station. He has exhibited his work in Los Angeles, London, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Miami, Montreal, Boston, and many other nice places.

SHAR TUI’ASOA, ’Time Before Us’ (Gallery II)

Artist Statement:

In some of our Pacific Island languages, our terms for speaking of the past, ka wa mamua in Hawaiian, or kuonga mu’a in Tongan, translates into “time ahead” or “time in front”. Conversely, when we speak of the future, our terms translate into “time behind”. When we speak about time in these terms we are saying that as we stand in the present we can see clearly the roots and pathways of our history because our past and our ancestors are standing there before us.

The future, however, is behind us. We cannot see it. It is unknown and so we look to the time before us to guide us in our present day lives, our decisions, and in the things we create. Our indigenous languages hold so much philosophy and beauty and they teach us so much about who we are, where we come from, and where we should strive to go.

“Time Before Us” is a whimsical display of the cultures of the pacific and how our traditions of the past inform the ways in which we show up in our modern world. Each piece is a personification of traditional ideas and practices of the pacific, made modern with bold colors, shapes, and imagination. Every symbol considered. Every detail woven with meaning.

Tongan scholar, Epeli Hau’ofa, spoke of the collaborative nature of the arts in oceania and believed that we could propel forward our oceanic mark in the world through meaningful collaborations with other pacific artists and makers. For this show, I collaborated with Kumu William “Miki” Kalaniopio Cook, on several custom built and carved wooden frames. Miki is a professor of Hawaiian language, history, and traditional wood carving, kalai la’au, and his knowledge and thoughtful perspectives are imbedded into every piece in this show.

In every artwork I produce, and in every mark I make, I am guided by my culture, our moana (the ocean), and her people. This body of work is meant to spark joy and curiosity in the viewer. In the paintings of this collection, lies a journey of modern existence through color, patterns, and the whimsy of our present day and woven into every mark and every brush stroke there is a story of a time before us.

Artist Bio:

Shar Tui’asoa is a Pacific Islander artist of Tongan decent, born and raised in Hawai’i on the island of O’ahu where she runs her illustration business “Punky Aloha Studio”. She received her Fine Art certificate from Windward Community College in 2010 and earned her BFA in illustration from Laguna College of Art and Design in 2015. She is full-time freelance illustrator and has created artwork for Target, Disney, Pixar, Apple, The New York Times, Alaska Airlines, Facebook, Amazon, Starbucks, Harper Collins and many more.

Shar also spends time outside of her studio painting murals throughout the Hawai’i island chain and the states. Her work is most recognized as a celebration of her Pacific Island culture which she shares through bold color pallets, stylized shapes, and most notably, strong statuesque femme subjects depicting the people of the pacific islands in her oceanic home.

CHEESE ARNON, ‘One Step Closer’ (Gallery III)

This project with Thinkspace is considered a collection of all the experiences I have encountered, both positive and negative. It reflects my own identity through various artworks. Before reaching this point, I have experienced both happiness and sorrow. To overcome the hardships, it required tremendous perseverance and years of dedicated work, even though nobody saw it.

Today, I am ready to showcase to the world that if you strive for success, it will come. However, success comes hand in hand with sweat and tears. Prior to this, nobody knew me, but I always believed in myself and remained confident that one day people would appreciate my work just the same.

The character of the fox symbolizes the ability to adapt well in any situation, no matter how dire. Regardless of how villainous the circumstances may be, the fox can still survive. Therefore, I praise the fox as the main character in my story, as it truly reflects my own identity. It hasn’t been easy to come to this point. It has taken time, perseverance, and resilience. I am grateful to everyone who loves this fox character.

Artist Bio:

Arnon Neiysoongnoen (aka Cheese Arnon) was born in 1986 in Thailand. He embarked on his artistic journey in the realm of traditional arts. He embraced a self-taught methodology, immersing himself in the teachings of established artists who came before him, and fearlessly experimenting with a wide array of techniques.

Throughout his artistic career, Arnon has remained versatile, continuously honing his skills across various formats. One of his notable creations, “The Fox,” serves as a testament to his versatility, as it beautifully showcases a multitude of art styles in a carefully arranged composition.

Just like the cunning nature of a fox, Arnon’s artistic approach is characterized by wit, improvisation, and the ability to thrive even in the harshest of circumstances. He effortlessly flows with the inherent imperfections of his chosen medium, allowing them to become integral parts of his designs. Furthermore, he fearlessly creates cracking surfaces to accentuate his artistic vision, transforming what could be perceived as flaws into captivating elements of his work.

MR. KREME, ‘Floral Muse’ (Gallery IV)

Mr. Kreme is a Thai / Hong Kong artist who is passionate about the style of vibrant colors of found objects in the mid 80s and the early 90s. He’s known for street art, art toy design, and painting. He finds inspirations from objects that are personal to him which leads to a nostalgic feel. His cherished childhood visions are emulated and retold in his work, much like a storybook. Scenes from the artist’s nocturnal story, some pleasant dreams, others nightmares, but the entire composition is full of awareness and open for all to explore.

The main character design of his art evolves around a family of furry monsters with vibrant colors and unique personalities. His art is often recognized as pop surrealism. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a Masters in Industrial Design.

“The charisma and allure of bedtime stories is that because adults have a lifetime of experiences, they will understand them more deeply than young children.. A young child who reads them is sure to have an unbounded imagination that adults might not comprehend.

Many if not countless bedtime stories will include written words to guide the reader through the story. The visuals are purely illustrative in nature. This implies that written words determine the story, rather than with the aide of visuals. However, I feel that the written plot should not be used to constrain the visual comprehension of the stories. Similar to a child’s free imagination, the visuals will be able to open up our visions to new perceptions of the same stories.” – Mr. Kreme

CRAIG “SKIBS” BARKER, ‘Dot-Dash’ (Dog House Gallery)

Craig “Skibs” Barker grew up in Southern California during the early 80’s and the explosions of both punk rock and surfing culture. With a healthy dose of punk flyers, album covers, and surfing magazines buzzing through his head, Craig began making flyers and t-shirts for his friends and his own punk bands. Fast-forward to today; Craig’s most recent paintings infuse his long-standing love for painting and rendering the human female figure with his punk fueled graphic design.

Mixing different approaches, techniques, and mediums, he creates a sense of memory, personal history, and appreciation for the female form. Combining elements of pop culture, literary censorship, and a positive mental attitude, he creates layered scenes of voyeuristic mischief. Craig’s work explores the junctions between past and present, memory and imagination, fantasy and reality, while creating a dialog between image and viewer.

Thinkspace Projects Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The post Thinkspace Projects Presents Exciting New August Exhibitions appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

We have enjoyed traditional artworks made with oils, inks, pastels, mica powders, coloured pencils, charcoal, acrylics, watercolours, Gouache, spray paint, marker pens, 25K gold and white gold leaf, newspaper, crushed glass, pens, pencils, wax, and even coffee and sand!

The Prizes

RAYMAR Traditional Art Award

The RAYMAR Traditional Art Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by RAYMAR, creators of the finest panels! Panels are their passion. They craft their panels with the world’s finest materials to serve as the foundation for your artwork. 
• $750 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• $1,500 USD worth of art photography and/or Fine Art archival print reproduction from Static Medium.
• A full grant to experience the 7-day Quarantine event “THE ART SPIRIT” from April 7th to 13th, 2025, on Lazaretto Island in Menorca Spain, generously donated by Quarantine Events. The grant includes 8 nights stay in a nearby hotel (breakfast included), plus the 7-day event including boot camps with each of the guest mentors, masterclasses and other activities, easel and other large or non-transportable materials, most beverages and daily lunch and dinner. Travel expenses to/from Menorca, personal painting supplies, and additional hotel expenses are not includes in the grant.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, 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 media platforms).
• Winning artwork published in the December 2024 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Rosemary Brushes, the finest quality handmade Artists’ Brushes.
• $750 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• $250 USD gift voucher, generously donated by Golden Artist Colors, manufacturer of artist quality materials including colours and mediums for painting in acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolour.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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:

• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Rosemary Brushes, the finest quality handmade Artists’ Brushes.
• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books, an independent publishing house that specializes in Illustrated Fantasy, Mythology, and Stories for Young Readers.
• $100 USD gift voucher, plus the opportunity to join a 3hr workshop in their NY studio, generously donated by Chelsea Classical Studio, a fine art school focusing on the human figure and manufacturer of highest quality, handmade, natural, and archival artist materials created using historic methods.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

From the 150 Finalists across all Award categories the Jury Panel will select the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner.

The Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will receive:

• $8,500 USD cash, generously donated by Palladium sponsor Musonium Gallery, Palm Springs’ premier art gallery with a clear focus on exhibiting and promoting compelling artworks from exceptional contemporary artists. Musonium exists as an institution within the art world’s traditional art sectors, where innovation and new rising talent constantly influence the ever evolving art scene. 
• $1,500 USD cash, donated by our Platinum sponsors RAYMAR, 33PA, and Yasha Young Projects.
• The opportunity to work with Musonium Gallery to plan and produce a solo exhibition, which will be published in a special editorial in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. 
• A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• 10 page in-depth interview editorial published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine December 2024 issue.
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award

The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will be selected by popular vote from the 150 Finalists. The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will receive $2,000 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books; a Deco Pro (Gen2) MW generously donated by XPPen, and a 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys.

Voting will open on 23 August [AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time]. To ensure you don’t miss your chance to vote, please join our email mailing list here.

Additionally, the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will enjoy a year’s worth of social media advertising through the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine to ensure they are able to connect with the right audience, raise their profile, and of course to grow their social media following. They will also enjoy a Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months, plus a 12 month Beautiful Bizarre Magazine print subscription, and an in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize websites, giving readers an insight into their vision and practice!

In addition, each sponsor will choose one outstanding work from their award category to receive an Honourable Mention. Stay tuned to learn more!

So without further ado we are proud to announce the RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize…

RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists Announced appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

As per the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Entry Criteria: Art created using AI image generators of any kind will not be accepted. Whether entirely made by AI, or partly made by AI image generators – this work is not eligible to enter.

We are very grateful to this years Jury Panel and particularly our esteemed digital artist juror Karla Ortiz who is currently campaigning for artists rights in regards to AI art generation, and has considerable expertise in this regard.

We are thrilled to now share the 25 Digital Art Award Finalists of this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize below. As always the quality and diversity of entries has been exceptional! We have received digital artworks created in a variety of software and hardware including: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fresco, Sketchbook, Wacom Intuos Pro, Compound Light Microscope, Autodesk, Samsung Tablet, Canon Camera, Affinity Photo, Cinema 4D, After Effect, Arnold, Clip Studio Paint, Medibang Paint, CaptureOne, Procreate, Huion Kamvas Tablet, Lenovo Ideapad, Ibis Paint, iMac, Lightroom, iPad, iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Sketchpad, MacBook Pro, Wacom One, Nikon Camera, Notebook MacBook, SAI, Scanner, Photomosh, Intros Pro, XP Pen, Zbrush, Mac Studio, Prisma, SNote, Wacom Cintiq, Rebelle, Substance Painter, and Blender.

The Prizes

Digital Art Award

The Digital Art Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash generously donated by Platinum sponsors.
• USD$375 cash, plus a US$375 gift card to use at GelaSkins.com, and the opportunity to have a collection with the brand, all generously donated by GelaSkins. GelaSkins create artist-designed premium cases and skins, supporting independent artists since 2005.
• Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2), generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• Rebelle 7 Pro, plus US$60 worth of additional Paper, Canvases and Other Art Surfaces, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
• A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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 2024 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 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2)generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• Rebelle 7 Pro, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
• A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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:

• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• Deco Pro (Gen2) XLW generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• Rebelle 7 Pro, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
• A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

From the 150 Finalists across all Award categories the Jury Panel will select the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner.

The Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will receive:

• $8,500 USD cash, generously donated by Palladium sponsor Musonium Gallery, Palm Springs’ premier art gallery with a clear focus on exhibiting and promoting compelling artworks from exceptional contemporary artists. Musonium exists as an institution within the art world’s traditional art sectors, where innovation and new rising talent constantly influence the ever evolving art scene. 
• $1,500 USD cash, donated by our Platinum sponsors RAYMAR, 33PA, and Yasha Young Projects.
• The opportunity to work with Musonium Gallery to plan and produce a solo exhibition, which will be published in a special editorial in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. 
• A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• 10 page in-depth interview editorial published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine December 2024 issue.
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award

The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will be selected by popular vote from the 150 Finalists. The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will receive $2,000 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books; a Deco Pro (Gen2) MW generously donated by XPPen, and a 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys.

Voting will open on 23 August [AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time]. To ensure you don’t miss your chance to vote, please join our email mailing list here.

Additionally, the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will enjoy a year’s worth of social media advertising through the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine to ensure they are able to connect with the right audience, raise their profile, and of course to grow their social media following. They will also enjoy a Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months, plus a 12 month Beautiful Bizarre Magazine print subscription, and an in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize websites, giving readers an insight into their vision and practice!

In addition, each sponsor will choose one outstanding work from their award category to receive an Honourable Mention. Stay tuned to learn more!

The RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists will be announced later this week.

So without further ado we are proud to announce the Digital Art Award Finalists of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize…

Digital Art Award Finalists

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024: Digital Art Award Finalists Announced appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Thought-provoking narratives weave like threads of emotion and resonate long after the story ends. Fostering a sense of connection, each artist inspires us as they reshape the artistic landscape and encourage us to embrace our own creativity. View each collection in their entirety, and all available inventory, by visiting the Haven Gallery website!

Brian Mashburn, Kseniia Boko, Genevive Zacconi

Calvin Laituri, Dongni Hou

Opening Event with Brian Mashburn, Genevive Zacconi and Calvin Laituri

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 17, 2024 |  6-8pm

Exhibition Dates: August 17 – September 15, 2024

The event is open to the public | Free Entry | Refreshments will be served.

Haven Gallery

50 Main St., Northport, NY 11768 | ph. (631) 757-0500

To inquire, please contact Erica at Haven Gallery via email info@havengallery.com

About the Gallery //

Haven Gallery is run by Erica Berkowitz and Joseph Weinreb. The gallery first opened in 2015 in the Carriage House of historic Northport, NY. Within two years, the gallery doubled in size and expanded into the entire Carriage House building. Through their successful in-house exhibitions and presentations at art fairs both domestic and international, Haven opened a secondary location at 90 Main St., in 2020, during the height of the Covid pandemic.

It was at that point, that Erica and Joseph knew it was time to find a permanent location for their artists. In January of 2022, they bought the building at 50 Main st., and opened its doors as Haven Gallery’s perennial home.

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.

Brian Mashburn, Carnival

Haven Gallery is pleased to present a collection of fourteen new paintings from North Carolina based artist Brian Mashburn, for his fifth solo show entitled “Carnival” at the gallery. “Carnival” finds inspiration from Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of Animals” musical symphony and features 14 oil works nodding to the fourteen animals/themes from the suite.

Artist Statement // “Carnival” is a series of 14 new paintings loosely based on Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals – a 19th century musical suite comprising 14 movements rooted in the animal kingdom.

Following a disastrous concert tour of Germany in 1885-1886, Saint-Saëns withdrew to a small Austrian village where he composed The Carnival of the Animals. From the outset he viewed the work as unserious and potentially career damaging, to the extent he prohibited its publication until after his death. Saint-Saëns died in 1921 and with the exception of The Swan and a few private performances, The Carnival of the Animals remained largely unheard for decades. The suite was eventually published in 1922 to great acclaim.

Today it is considered among his best-known and most beloved works. With conspicuous frivolity, The Carnival of the Animals features parodies and musical jokes, a little shade directed at music critics alongside some polite indignation. It was intended to be a light-hearted departure from his typically serious work and it shows with its playful aspect and somewhat hokey interludes.

As an artist I find this origin story appealing. It shows how new creative avenues can be uncovered by letting go of the more self-serious, self-conscious aspects of one’s work. Moreover, it suggests a novel creative potential made available during liminal and uncertain periods. By removing the constraints imposed by expectation – writing for a private audience, withdrawing to the countryside – Saint-Saëns was free to compose with a lightness and charm that he perhaps would not have been capable otherwise. Traditionally Carnival is the period of public celebration and revelry before the observance of Lent, a sort of reprieve.

Artists over time, as I have come to realize, follow a path of inquiry and contemplation that while justified and executed in good faith can lead to a level of self consciousness and trepidation leading to an overly serious, pretentious approach to art-making. Periods of transition and uncertainty offer the silver lining of new insights and a fresh perspective.

As a new and first-time father of a 20 month-old boy at the time of writing (think: teething, sleep deprivation, ubiquitous viral loads and a new appreciation of my own mortality), my home and studio are a pretty good embodiment of transition and uncertainty – hence The Carnival of the Animals seemed an apt jumping off point for my latest solo with Haven Gallery.

The 14 paintings in the series are not necessarily illustrative of their musical counterparts; the music needn’t be reproduced visually, I’d argue that’s not really possible in any case. By and large the music acts as a sort of armature or underlying structure for the series of paintings. Some pieces are the result of following tangents, going down rabbit holes while considering various aspects of the music and ending up with an image seemingly unrelated to its musical pairing; while others more directly borrow/appropriate the subject.

Kseniia Boko,Whispering Woodlands

Haven Gallery is pleased to present Ukranian based artist Kseniia Boko, for her fourth solo show at the gallery, entitled “Whispering Woodlands”. “Whispering Woodlands” is a new collection of oil paintings focusing on human and animal portraiture utilizing ethereal palettes and empyrean landscapes highlighting the magic of nature and that of within.

Kseniia Boko (actual surname Bobchenko, b. 1990) is a traditional artist living and working in Ukraine. She works primarily in oil paints and creates fantastic pieces featuring mysterious female portraits with fragments of the natural world. She wants to show a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Kseniia graduated Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (in 2013) and worked as an architect before serendipitously falling into the art world. Today she works as a full-time artist.

Genevive Zacconi, Immemorial

Haven Gallery is pleased to present a collection of new works from artist Genevive Zacconi, entitled “Immemorial,” for her first solo show at the gallery. “Immemorial” blends traditional portraiture with symbology from antiquity, emphasizing the universality and timelessness of these motifs and their relevance throughout the evolution of mankind. Looking to the gamut of art history, Zacconi juxtaposes hieroglyphics, pictographs, and neoclassical portrait tendencies to connect us to past, present and future.

Each painting is vehemently researched and pieced together to hold deep and pertinent meaning for both the artist and viewer. Developing her work further, Zacconi adds reflective gold, and carves into the surface of her paintings, creating sculptural dimension—insisting the tableaus be experienced in person. One finds multiple movements of creation contemplated and criticized, highlighting the vicissitudes of human development and artistic rumination.

Genevive Zacconi’s paintings have been displayed at prominent galleries across the world, in both solo and group exhibitions. She has been featured by media outlets such as MSNBC, Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, Beautiful Bizarre, and in numerous hardbound art books. Her illustration and design work can be found in advertisements, album art, and novels. In addition to creating her own art, Zacconi was the director of Trinity Gallery in Philadelphia, worked as painting assistant to Ron English, was co-founder and director of Last Rites Gallery in New York City, and served as exhibition director for the world’s largest erotic art expo.

She has written about art for multiple arts organizations and internationally distributed magazines, and co-authored with Daniel Martin Diaz 2023’s “Iconoclasm.” Zacconi currently splits her time between Philadelphia and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Calvin Laituri,  Endfield County

Haven Gallery is pleased to present a collection of ten new ink works from Vermont based artist Calvin Laituri for his third solo exhibition entitled “Endfield County” at the gallery. “Endfield County” demonstrates the artists highly detailed line work depicting New England landscapes and architecture, as guided by an curious fox. Monochromatic yet serene, one finds layers of emotion and contemplation in these quiet yet poetic scenes of inquisitiveness.

Devoid of human presence, outside of the structures left behind, one is reminded of the great expanse of time, the unbounded essence of nature and ephemerality of life. Touches of gold are used to highlight the beautiful details of the natural world that sometimes go unseen, reminding us to cherish the present and all the beauty the world holds.

Laituri’s work is made up of highly skilled line work, built from a push and pull approach where ink is laid down on his clayboard medium, and carved out with sharpened tools, resulting in highly defined and meticulous strokes reminiscent of a cross hatching technique. Each drawing cultivates its monochromatic palette to emphasize the artists control of values, contrast, mood and narrative, as inspired by printmakers and artists of the past. This dichotomy of technique serves as an accentuation of the artists play on dualities throughout his work.

Dongni Hou,  Beyond the Veil

Haven Gallery is pleased to present a collection of tempera paintings from Paris based artist Dongni Hou for her first solo exhibition entitled “Beyond the Veil” at the gallery. “Beyond the Vei” presents a collection of bold yet gossamer portraits of female sitters often shrouded in armor. Hou paints heroines, unveiling the deepest emotional complexities of their expeditions and psyche, often nodding to the darker chambers of the human soul. Poetic introspection and reflection are evident in the moments she captures with tempera, as one cannot avoid the darkness in even the most noble of pursuits.

Textured and haunting backdrops serve as extensions of the psychological complexities to further the emotional state and personal strength each sitter carries on their quest. Feminine yet tenacious, each portrait embodies the dualities of the human condition, the multi-faceted nature of the choices we make and the tethers that continue to stay with us afterward. Completed with antique and aged frames, the artist honors and adorns her female visages with mounting reflective of the wear and beauty of life.

Dongni HOU was born in 1987 in Fuxin, in the Chinese province of Liaoning. After studying graphic arts from a very young age, she joined the famous Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg at 19. Several of her works were selected for the permanent collection of the Academy of Fine Arts Museum. She now lives and works in France.

Haven Gallery Social Media Accounts

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

The post Haven Gallery Presents Brian Mashburn, Kseniia Boko, Genevive Zacconi, Calvin Laituri, Dongni Hou appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Besides having opposable thumbs, Richard A Williams has been an illustrator for many years working for many well-known publishers, and companies. After leaving that field, he dabbled in portraiture for a while working for major portrait companies in the U.S. Later he developed a desire to teach and with the help of “low friends in high places” was able leapfrog from an associate’s degree in humanities to a master’s degree in Illustration and entered the education arena.

Never having had the benefit of formal art training Richard’s views on art and methods may seem scatter shot and quirky. How he managed to get this far he can only attribute to the occasional altruistic individuals Richard has met along the way who gave him aid and comfort and a boost up. 

The major theme in Richard A Williams’ work is “Woman” The Mythical Goddess, the source of life and the dark chthonic sensuality they exude. The Divine feminine suppressed by patriarchal society makes a resurgence in Burlesque. Exquisitely decadent and provocative, and aware of her strength and power over men who are reduced to silly ineffectual creatures bumbling around her.

When puberty kicked in, he was magically transported to the voluptuous realm of female sexuality. The power of their bodies to turn a man’s brain into oatmeal was an awe-inspiring phenomenon and the desire to relinquish his soul to the pleasures of the flesh was quite alarming. Burlesque was long dead when Richard saw his first “girlie show” at the local State Fair. It was, he found out later, a pale reproduction of the genuine article. Yet it fascinated him then, and still does. The sparkling costumes and headdresses, opera gloves, and pasties accentuated the dancers’ sexuality, transforming her into a primal goddess. She conceives and destroys, brings joy and despair, true light and true darkness, wet dreams and nightmares.

The theme of Richard’s work is “Ecce Homo” which is Latin for “your place or mine”. And his mission is to undermine our pedestrian culture, abolish our bourgeois morality and confront the darkest, nastiest, gooiest depths of our souls….or something like that. 

 Every idea or inspiration that comes to his mind he twists, manipulates, exaggerates and push over the top. Innocence is boring and sincerity breeds’ misery. Richard likes his art and women, voluptuous and elegant with a touch of sin and depravity. Burlesque has become a mythical fantasy for him. Women, for thousands of years, have rouged their lips and swayed their hips as they danced their way across the luminous arc of man’s sexual pathology. From Temple Priestess to Burly Q queen, in incarnation after incarnation, they have been the “Constant”, the “Divine Devil”, the “Madonna Whore”, the “Alpha and Omega” which the male species cringes before and is desperate to possess and repress.

 To sum up. Men are the loose change in Mother Nature’s cosmic handbag. There is not enough there to buy anything worthwhile, just enough to be annoying.

Join cutting-edge artists from around the world

The Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory is a powerful tool for artists looking to grow their visibility, and connect with fellow artists, curators and collectors. To join the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory click here for more information.

Richard A Williams Social Media Accounts

Instagram

The post Artist Directory: Richard A Williams appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Our Jury Panel – including esteemed Arts Champion Didi Menendez of 33PA – have been going through the entries and making incredibly the difficult decisions. Once again, the overall quality of entries was exceptional; we are deeply honoured by our community’s interest in the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. Now in its 7th year, our annual non-acquisitive international art prize, focusing on Contemporary Art, celebrates diversity and excellence in all static mediums of the representational visual arts – including Traditional, Digital and Photographic media, with wide-ranging techniques, styles and genres from realism to hyperrealism and surrealism.

We have received sculptures in multiple mediums including metal, marble, wood, gold, glass, cardboard, plaster, stone and semi-precious stones, gold leaf, mirrors, silk, flowers; kozo tissue, papier-mâché, vintage items, fabrics, many resins, ceramic, clays and CosClay, cement, wool, moss, latex, wax, Polylactic acid (PLA), epoxy, glazes and paints, taxidermy, found objects, linoleum floor tiles, and even Himalayan goat fur, horns, human hair! The innovation and imagination of the artists who have entered has amazed us. Every year we are introduced to new ideas and levels of experimentation.

We have enjoyed traditional artworks made with oils, inks, soft pastels, mica powders, coloured pencils, charcoal, acrylics, watercolours, Gouache, spray paint, marker pens, 25K gold leaf, newspaper, pens, pencils, wax, and even coffee!

Digital artworks included the use of: Blender, XPPen, Photoshop, Maya, Redshift, Zbrush, Wacom Intuos Pro & Cintiq, Xencelabs, Procreate, Lightroom, Sketchup, Rebelle 6, Cinema 4D, Marvelous Designer, Corel painter, GIMP, DAZ Studio, and Paint Shop Pro.

Additionally, Photography entries included the use of apparatus and software by: Sony, Laowa, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Sigma, Kamlan, Logiciels Lightroom, Godox, Octabox, Nanlite, Broncolor, Profoto and Luminar, and analogue photography equipment such as wetplates!

The Prizes

33PA Emerging Artist Award

The 33PA Emerging Artist Award 1st prize winner will receive:

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by 33PA, a diversified contemporary realism gallery, art community and publication.
• Deco Pro (Gen2) LW generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, 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.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 on 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.

2nd prize winner will receive:

• $1,750 USD cash, generously donated by Principle Gallery, a fine art gallery with branches in Alexandria, VA & Charleston, SC, focusing on contemporary realism since 1994.
• 6 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• 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.

3rd prize winner will receive:

• $750 USD cash, generously donated by Principle Gallery, a fine art gallery with branches in Alexandria, VA & Charleston, SC, focusing on contemporary realism since 1994.
• 4 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• 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.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

From the 150 Finalists across all Award categories the Jury Panel will select the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner.

The Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will receive:

• $8,500 USD cash, generously donated by Palladium sponsor Musonium Gallery, Palm Springs’ premier art gallery with a clear focus on exhibiting and promoting compelling artworks from exceptional contemporary artists. Musonium exists as an institution within the art world’s traditional art sectors, where innovation and new rising talent constantly influence the ever evolving art scene. 
• $1,500 USD cash, donated by our Platinum sponsors RAYMAR, 33PA, and Yasha Young Projects.
• The opportunity to work with Musonium Gallery to plan and produce a solo exhibition, which will be published in a special editorial in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. 
• A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• 10 page in-depth interview editorial published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine December 2024 issue.
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award

The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will be selected by popular vote from the 150 Finalists. The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will receive $2,000 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books; a Deco Pro (Gen2) MW generously donated by XPPen, and a 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys.

Voting will open on 23 August [AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time]. To ensure you don’t miss your chance to vote, please join our email mailing list here.

Additionally, the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will enjoy a year’s worth of social media advertising through the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine to ensure they are able to connect with the right audience, raise their profile, and of course to grow their social media following. They will also enjoy a Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months, plus a 12 month Beautiful Bizarre Magazine print subscription, and an in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize websites, giving readers an insight into their vision and practice!

In addition, each sponsor will choose one outstanding work from their award category to receive an Honourable Mention. Stay tuned to learn more!

The Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award, Photography Award, Digital Art Award and the RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists will be announced later this week.

So without further ado we are proud to announce the 33PA Emerging Artist Award Finalists of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize…

33PA Emerging Artist Award Finalists

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by

PALLADIUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The post Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024: 33PA Emerging Artist Award Finalists Announced appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Each piece feels like a portal into her creative spirit, and as we travel this surreal landscape, we are encouraged to ponder the interplay between memory and truth, reality and myth. As the layers of her artistry unfold, revealing a myriad of symbols and motifs that speak to the universal human experience, we follow the characters of her vision, experiencing their story. Join Modern Eden Gallery this weekend for the opening reception of Angelique Benicio’s ‘Memories and Myths’ solo exhibition.

Take a trip down memory lane and view past exhibitions. You can also visit the gallery website to explore upcoming events and available inventory.

Angelique Benicio ‘Memories and Myths’

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 10, 2024 | 6–9 pm

Exhibition Dates:  August 10, 2024 – September 5, 2024

Modern Eden Gallery

1100 Sutter Street | San Francisco, CA 94109

For press inquiries or sales, please contact Modern Eden Gallery Director Kim Larson at kim@moderneden.com | General Information, please email info@moderneden.com

Phone: (415) 956-3303 

Wednesday–Saturday, 12–5 pm

Private artwork viewing appointments are available

Modern Eden Gallery Press Release //

Memories and Myths is inspired by the idea of predictive perception – the idea that the worlds of our imagination are not at all restricted to dreams, but make up almost all of what we believe is real and factual. Experiences are mostly shaped by our minds. Everything we perceive as “the truth” will pass though our unique neurological pathways and be altered by our own particular brain chemistry.

We store these bits of information in our brains assuming that the information is fixed and unchanging. But accumulated memories continue to morph over time. As they evolve even more character is added to our creative filters and reality becomes more tailored. We cannot escape the world which our creative minds shape for us. When we recognize and embrace the mythology of our minds our worlds expand.

About the Artist //

Angelique Benicio is an award winning painter, sculptor and performance installation artist. Her paintings have been exhibited internationally and across the Western United States for exhibitions at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art in Novato CA to Sedona Arts Center in Sedona AZ, The Brayer Gallery in Ventura CA; Axis Gallery in Sacramento CA; Trans-Art Gallery in Trondheim, Norway; and at Casa Cor Annual Architectural Design Exhibition in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Her performance art has been shared with many non-profit art and community organizations such as Art Works Downtown in San Rafael CA; The Crucible in Oakland CA; and Trails and Vistas in Truckee California. She has hosted community maker events and performance art events at Autistry Studios in San Rafael CA and Allegory & Art in San Rafael CA. Angelique is an award winning children’s illustrator and has many years of experience as a cinema set decor and special effects artists in Paris, France.

Modern Eden Gallery Social Media Accounts

Website | Facebook | X | Instagram

The post Modern Eden Gallery Presents Angelique Benicio ‘Memories and Myths’ Solo Exhibition appeared first on Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.