Author: Seraphina Calder

In a career spanning more than 50 years, British journalist Lynn Barber has interviewed numerous artists, writing in the last line of her new book A bit of art education that “they have that consuming passion that will last them a lifetime”. Barber, a self-proclaimed outsider to the art world whose memoir was turned into the acclaimed film. An Education (2009), recalls and gives away in this compilation of his encounters over the decades. She describes why she came to admire Tracey Emin but fell out with other big players, including Jake and Dinos Chapman, after a controversial interview for…

ArtMaxwell RabbPortrait of Boscoe and Geoffrey Holder, London, 1961. Courtesy of the Holder Family Archive.Geoffrey Holder, Woman on man’s shoulders, approx. late 1970s. © Geoffrey Holder. Courtesy of Geoffrey Holder Estate and James Fuentes.Dancer, choreographer, designer, actor and painter – brothers Boscoe Holder and Geoffrey Holder wore all these hats as they charted parallel paths through art and performance over careers that spanned more than half a century. Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1921 and 1930 and settling in London and New York respectively, the brothers drew inspiration from their rich heritage and the cultures of their adopted cities…

Mary McSweeney paints the beautiful landscapes, simple events, and everyday life of the people of Ireland. The Killarney native and oil-on-canvas painter graduated from Cork College of Art and began her professional career as an artist when she opened her first studio in Tralee. Her first solo exhibition was opened by the then Tánaiste Dick Spring at the Siamsa Tire Gallery in 1984. She immigrated to North America that year and continued her career on this side of the Atlantic. Her unique realistic style bears testimony to her carefully honed talent, and her fond familiarity with her subject breathes life…

Public sculpture is having a hard time these days as the focus of a self-righteous attack. It tended to be largely overlooked, unless it fit into the standard narrative of the rise of Modernism, like Jacob Epstein’s battered figures in the British Medical Association building in the Strand, which caused Edwardian London to gasp in obscene bewilderment at its opening in 1908. Eric Gill’s 1932 figures outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House were attacked in 2022 and 2023 as the work of a pedophile; and in Cardiff, the statue of the controversial Waterloo hero, General Thomas Picton, was removed from the…

Robert M. Deschenes, a Quebec-based naturalist wildlife artist, has carved out a niche in the art world with his hyperrealistic paintings. Using watercolor and acrylic, Deschenes creates lifelike depictions of wildlife and their habitats, reflecting his profound connection with nature. His art serves not only as a visual delight but also as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of biodiversity and the urgent need for its protection. Deschenes’ journey into the world of art began in the lush, diverse landscapes of Quebec. Surrounded by the natural beauty of his homeland, he developed an early fascination with wildlife. This fascination blossomed…

Charles Osawa, an American sculptor, uses recycled materials and resin to create thought-provoking works. His pieces, often described as abstract and architectural, delve into the current state of society by preserving the broken reflections of humanity within the confines of his unique medium. Osawa’s work is not only a testament to his artistic vision but also a commentary on modern culture and the industrial processes that shape it. Born and raised in the United States, Charles Osawa found his passion for art and design early in life. His interest in transforming everyday objects into something extraordinary led him to pursue…

Elisabeth Eliora Bousquet’s latest collection, “Cosmosis,” is a mesmerizing journey through the abstract realms of the universe, brought to life with fluid acrylic on canvas. This collection, rich in vibrant hues and intricate designs, is more than just a visual feast; it is a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of the cosmos and its Creator. The name “Cosmosis” combines “Cosmos” and “Osmosis,” suggesting a harmonious blend of elements within the universe. This concept is vividly depicted in Eliora’s paintings, where each canvas represents an imaginary celestial landscape. Through the fluid acrylic pouring technique, she captures the dynamic and mysterious nature…

The 20th BMW Art Car, designed by contemporary art luminary Julie Mehretu, was unveiled at the Center Pompidou in Paris on Tuesday. Following tradition, the BMW M Hybrid V8 racing car will take part in the famous endurance-focused 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s oldest race of its kind. Mehretu’s collaboration with BMW marks the first time the artist’s signature abstractions, which are made from digitally altered photographs overlaid on multiple layers of dot grids, have been applied to a three-dimensional surface. The design aesthetic of the M Hybrid closely follows Mehretu’s monumental painting At all times (2021-2023). Related…

Born in Atlanta, Erin Evans’s journey as an artist began when she picked up a pencil as a child. Her fascination with drawing was immediate and enduring. Over the years, this fascination evolved into a lifelong commitment to making art., even as she pursued other endeavors to make a living. Her story is one of resilience and an unyielding passion for art. During the Vietnam War, Erin moved to New York City to attend the prestigious Pratt Institute. The city, with its vibrant art scene and cultural dynamism, became her home for nearly three decades. Living in New York during…

The first volume of a catalog raisonné dedicated to the work of one of the UK’s most influential artists, David Hockney, will be released online in 2026. The debut volume will be dedicated to the artist’s paintings; more than 35,000 works will be documented in total. “This is a project of approximately 15 to 20 years; in due course there will be a call for works”, says a statement from the project.The catalog will be overseen by an editorial and supervisory team made up of Hockney himself, his studio assistants and the trustees of the David Hockney Foundation (Jean-Pierre Gonçalves…