Before I file these away, here’s a random sampling of pieces from various summer art shows that I happened to like. They’ve been hanging out on my desktop, waiting for a nice cozy home on the external hard drive.
Chris Buzelli
Colin Johnson
Femke Heimstra
Jason Limon
Kris Kuksi
Lou Beach
Martin Hsu
Naoto Hattori
Ojimbo
Kukula
Teresa James
Zdzislaw Beksinski is an old favorite of mine and I was just browsing a folder I kept of his surreal, nightmarish paintings.
This introverted artist had no formal training, and managed to paint apocalyptic scenes that rival today’s digital video game art.
Unlike some of the surrealist art I post, I have NO desire to live in his imagination or fictional worlds.
I’ve always been touched by this painting in an uneasy way…
I can relate to some aspects of this man’s personality (particularly his desire to avoid the spotlight in person):
Although Beksiński’s art was often grim, he himself was known to be a pleasant person who took enjoyment from conversation and had a keen sense of humor. He was exceptionally modest and somewhat shy, avoiding public events such as the openings of his own exhibitions.
See many more on this site.
I would say these are the images of my dreams, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I wish my dreams looked like Veronichka’s work.
There is most certainly a recurring theme that appeals to me: small objects or characters in expansive spaces, often accompanied by images associated with floating and flight.
I love her use of empty space…
See more here.
A favorite art collective and a favorite gallery…boy do i wish I were in LA to see this exhibit. Metamorphosis is now showing at the Copro Gallery.
What a collection of dark, delicious surreality! Catch it in person if you can…
See many more from the exhibit here.
Since people seemed to love Mark Ryden’s time lapse video of Incarnation, here is a time lapse/tribute to Pink Lincoln, which I recently saw at the Gay 90’s Old Tyme Art Show.
I wish I could find more about this artist. Micha Lobi paints wonderful modern surrealist images.
Yes I’m a sucker for Bosch inspired art.
Originally seen here.
I don’t have much information about Belgian photographer Raoul Ubac, but I was just looking at a few of his pieces that I saved.
A favorite…
I would like to find more surreal photography created before the advent of digital editing software. Suggestions?
Brian Smith makes fantastic surreal oil paintings, delightfully dark. The first two are from a Painting-a-Day series (done on 5X7″ panels, selling for $100 each).
And here are a few other recent works:
I love all the melting, pulling and swirling sensations in these paintings, as if the subjects and their surroundings are a single (often tortured) entity.
Whenever my friend Damon shares a link, I know it’s going to be well worth checking out. I thank him for this twisted clip of straight-jacketed meat, ambling through the grocery store late at night…
Ask me why I love surreal animal hybrids so much. Actually, don’t ask me…because I can’t really explain it.
Perhaps they remind me of dreams, where physical reality loses its tenacious grasp on perception. On some level, I am always aware of nature’s interconnectedness, but I enjoy seeing NEW and unexpected connections.
Linda R. Herzog loves to combine animals with machinery, household objects (and of course, other animals).
She frequently uses puffer fish in her paintings (one of my very favorite marine creatures).
But all of her surreal creations are lovely. She appropriately calls her work “wildlife fantasy.”
See more in her gallery.
SheWalksSoftly 