Art
The Art We’re Obsessed with in February 2024
Feb 21, 2024 11:45AM
“The Art We’re Obsessed With” is a monthly series in which Artsy staff members share the works we can’t stop thinking about, and why. From little-known artists our editors stumble across at local shows to artworks going viral on our platform, these are the artworks we’re obsessed with this month.
Anico Mostert, Let’s Table It, 2023
Are we sick of bows yet? If 2023 was the year of the girl, then the bow was among its most ubiquitous signifiers. It’s up for appraisal in Let’s Table It (2023)—one of the paintings that South African artist Anico Mostert exhibited with EBONY/CURATED at Investec Cape Town Art Fair last week. In it, a group of figures with Gumbyish proportions and mask-like faces look warily at a surface strewn with the remnants of feminine beauty rituals: makeup, a comb, and, of course, a pink bow. Mostert’s pastel palette is right on the line between sickly and sweet, and the work’s punny title mixes notes of playfulness with unease. Altogether, the painting brings a sense of ambivalence that I appreciate. It’s related to the ambivalence I feel about the dueling possibilities for empowerment and infantilization within our girlish zeitgeist.
—Olivia Horn, Associate Managing Editor
Ana Maria Hernando, Welcoming Birds, 2022
Ana María Hernando, A Spring of Wild Kindnesses/Un manantial de bondades agrestes (2024) in Madison Square Park, for “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa.” Photo by Hunter Canning.
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I keep returning to the charming images I’ve seen online of Ana Maria Hernando’s installation in Madison Square Park, To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa (2024). Featuring sumptuous volumes of tulle netting cascading out of metal poles, her work suggests gigantic, show-offy mushrooms, at times covered in snow. Referencing ballet tutus and bustles that primp the female body for male eyes (and, perhaps, conceal its secrets), the installation also recalls the natural forms of clouds and waterfalls, and will be on my list when I visit New York.
In the meantime, I spotted a smaller, wall-based work by Hernando in a recent show from Gallery Elle Fine Art. Titled Welcoming Birds (2022), it tightly packs layers of netting into a gorgeous mille-feuille panel of contrasting color and explosive texture.
—Josie Thaddeus-Johns, Editor
Alicia Adamerovich, Big and sweet by the light, 2023
I first stumbled upon Alicia Adamerovich’s Big and sweet by the light (2023) in Michael Kohn Gallery’s booth at Art Basel Miami Beach. Immediately, the painting’s tenebrous, enigmatic landscape—its forms illuminated by a small circle of light that spotlights the bottom right corner of the canvas—pulled my attention. Adamerovich has said that her intent is to transcend the material world, instead aiming to probe psychological states. In doing so, she creates convoluted, uncanny forms within the painting that possess an astounding depth. The texture and glow of this canvas is best seen up close.
—Maxwell Rabb, Staff Writer
Bre Andy, Peek, 2023
This month, I’ve been exploring Black-owned galleries and the rising artists that they champion. I recently discovered works by Bre Andy at Cierra Britton Gallery, a space dedicated to women artists of color. Peek (2023) is an alluring work on paper that utilizes a limited palette of oils to create subtle shifts in tone, playing with light and shadow to form folds and creases in its subject’s clothing. With loose curl tendrils and glimpses of bare skin, Andy explores the nuances of Black femininity. What captivates me about this particular work is the enigmatic space beyond the frame’s edge. Andy’s cropped scene hints at an intriguing narrative just out of sight.
—Adeola Gay, Curatorial Manager
Ivan Forde, Moonlight’s Decent. (IFO 006), 2023
I encountered this dazzling mixed-media work by American artist Ivan Forde at Tiwani Contemporary’s new(ish) space in London’s Mayfair, in the gallery’s first show of 2024, “Polymythologies.”
The group exhibition—which also features British artist Leo Robinson and Nigerian artist Richard Ayodeji Ikhide—is unified by the theme of “new mythologies,” which Forde approaches through the literary genre of the epic and its hero protagonists. This painting on kozo paper incorporates gold leaf, acrylic beads, graphite, fabric, and holographic vinyl. Its figures move, pose, and leap from a ship that looks as if it is suspended above the Earth itself, on an ambiguous voyage to who knows where.
—Arun Kakar, Art Market Editor
Corrine Slade, Walking on Sunshine, 2023
During New York Fashion Week this month, my brain was temporarily hijacked to pay more attention to fashion than art. Maybe that’s why, upon seeing this uplifting, impressionistic work by Corrine Slade on Artsy, I immediately lasered in on its subject’s irreverent styling. Clunky, sun-dappled combat boots are paired with a flared trouser straight out of the ’70s—and walking on a bed of tulips, no less! With mesmerizing impasto strokes of acrylic, oil, and oil pastel on canvas, Slade conjures a heartwarming scene I can’t stop thinking about (and one I’ll attempt to replicate with my wardrobe).
—Jordan Huelskamp, Curatorial Lead
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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