Buy Art Online: Ravishing Paintings from Katya Leonovich

// June 16th, 2010 // View Comments // b-loud

Katya Leonovich joined our online art network in March and describes her dazzling paintings as figurative, abstract and high fashion. Her work is first and foremost ‘felt’. She paints through a passion tinted lens. Figures and the world are licked with lustrous colour and bold brush strokes. Our leading crowdsourced commission an artist service at b-uncut means you have the opportunity to buy artwork online in her sensational style and by her loving hand. Read the interview below and get to know the talent that is Katya Leonovich.

What was your very first artwork?

— I drew badly, I was the worst in my kindergarten…my favorite subject was the princess torturing the slave. The princess was well dressed and beautiful and the slave had a dirty dress and face…

Describe the piece you love the most—why?

— I can’t pick just one…I like anatomy interpreted in my own way –building bodies with the muscles but not copying it…they should be alive, but not perfect, perfect in it’s artistic way…and also everything should move, move with the brush strokes running around…my body series are probably my favourite pieces.

What are your methods? Your inspirations?

— People used to show their faces, legs, arms, but the other parts of the body are used to be hidden…I never understood why? Who decided that it should be this way? My inspirations are —-the hidden and abandoned parts of bodies, of life, of everything…

What did it take to make it to where you are now?
— my dreams and decisions I made when I was 5 years old…..and love, passion, risk, curiosity, hard work, making people smile, being happy to be born…

Do you make a living from your artwork?
— part time…

Who has helped you along the way?
— people who loved me…..

What 5 artists (dead or alive) would you invite for the ultimate dinner party?
— Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Magnasco, Bosh, Leonardo Da Vinci.

b-Quick!
Your favourite curse?
— Vafanculo! /ital./

Your biggest (albeit endearing) flaw?
— the second toes on my feet and chubby cheeks….

Qualities a man needs to seduce you and the flaws that will repel you?
— 1.Smart eyes…2.arrogance…..

Your parents advice you should have followed, but didn’t?
— I didn’t live with my parents, they’d divorce and disappeared, and I grew up with my grandparents. They spoiled me and loved me and I had all the freedom and was never punished…so, I haven’t any particular advice to follow or not…

Your idea of the perfect weekend?
— Golf and sex…

Who would you chose to rule the world?
— not an artist!

Favourite ice-cream?
— I don’t like ice-cream.

Where do you see yourself in…..
One month?
— in Rome
One Year?
— In New York
One Decade?
— Everywhere

An Art Saint: The Artist Who Rose from Depths of Hell With Faith In His Pocket

// June 9th, 2010 // View Comments // b-loud

b-uncut is proud to introduce you to Samuel Toussaint from our online artist network. Samuel was brought up in a working class, Christian family. By the age of 12 he was busking in the West End of London and by 20 he was homeless.

“I have moved around the English countryside and have been involved in the squatting, travelling and illegal rave scene. Throughout this time I have been involved with various theatres, community spaces, gatherings, art studios and projects. I now live and work in London with a group of artists who go by the name of Sage. I also teach art voluntarily to the homeless at my local church.”

Samuel’s work is deep and thoughtful, bearing the deep scars of a childhood caught between a faith in God who he loved with the hypocrisy of abusive behaviour to him from Christian caregivers.

“Here lies an imaginary landscape, a bridge between two worlds where I explore my own private mythological world. Death and the ability to change or not change are recurrent themes.”

What was your very first artwork?
I can’t remember at what age I first began painting. I was drawing and painting as a child. It is one of the first things that I can remember doing. I remember doing paintings when I was at nursery school.

Describe the piece you love the most—why?
At the moment I would say that it is the one that I have just finished, a painting entitled ‘My Beating Heart’. It’s like I ripped out my heart and threw it at the canvas. That is how much my art means to me. I like it because it is fresh and new and it combines everything that I have learnt so far in my journey into one piece.

What are your methods? Your inspirations?
I work with pen, paint, collage and computer software to create my unique style. I am inspired by my own internal universe and the ancient and contemporary world. My greatest influences are Leonardo DaVinci, Paul Klee and Marcel Duchamp.

What did it take to make it to where you are now?
A lot of pain and suffering, trial and tribulation and rejection. Losing my pride, my ego and my self confidence. Abuse, both self-abuse and that forced upon me by other people, homelessness, drug addiction, several complete break-downs, getting housed and getting clean. Returning to my belief in our saviour, Jesus Christ.

Do you make a living from your artwork?
I wouldn’t say that I make a living out of my artwork, no. I work part-time as a project designer because I do not make enough money from my art to live comfortably. I make enough from my artwork to keep me going and it adds somewhat to my income.

Who has helped you along the way?
There have been many sign-posts on the road. Most of them pointing in the wrong direction. The women in my life, my friends and my enemies. The teachers who, noticing my unique talent, encouraged and nurtured me. All the artists, writers, musicians etc. who create work of such exceptional quality. But most of all God.

What 5 artists (dead or alive) would you invite for the ultimate dinner party?
Well of course, the three artists that I have just previously mentioned and to that list I would add Pablo Picasso and Yoko Ono.

Your favourite curse?
Fuck!

Your biggest (albeit endearing) flaw?
Procrastination

Qualities a woman needs to seduce you and the flaws that will repel you?
Self-confidence and a free-thinking mind; Shallowness.

Your parents advice you should have followed, but didn’t?
All of it and none of it!

Your idea of the perfect weekend?
Spending the whole weekend in bed with my latest girlfriend.

Who would you chose to rule the world?
The one who created it.

Favorite ice-cream?
Ben and Jerry’s cookie and dough.

Where do you see yourself in…..
One month? painting!
One Year? painting!
One Decade? painting!

Calder, Stella, Lichtenstein, Warhol and now BMW Koons

// June 3rd, 2010 // View Comments // b-inspired, b-wired

It’d be great if Joe public could buy a car with artwork like this strewn over it! The collaboration marks the 17th car in the BMW Art Car series. In the spirit of Calder, Stella, Lichtenstein, Warhol, BMW announced this year that the 17th Art Car created by Jeff Koons will race where the first rolling pieces of art by legendary artists raced – at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France on June 12-13, 2010. Koons’ canvas is a BMW M3 GT2, which was confirmed to compete at this year’s running of the world’s most famous endurance race.

“At the premiere of the 17th BMW Art Car Jeff Koons unveiled and signed his car in front of 300 international VIP guests on June 1 in the Centre Pompidou, one of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions for modern and contemporary art. It is the same place where Roy Lichtenstein back in 1977 first presented and signed his Art Car.

On June 2, between 11 am to 9 pm, the public had the chance to see the Art Car free of charge in the Forum of the Centre Pompidou. At 5.30 pm Jeff Koons will participate in a book signing at the official book store of the museum before he will talk about his work in conversation with Alain Seban, President of the Centre Pompidou, at 6 pm at the Forum of the museum.”

Check out the official BMW video here below.

via highsnobiety

Calligraffiti: Fusion of Old and New

// May 25th, 2010 // View Comments // b-inspired

Want to see king calligrapher Niels “Shoe” Meulman write with a broom! Watch the video. NOW, WOW

“Shoe revolutionized the art of writing with Calligraffiti, an art form that fuses calligraphy and graffiti. He launched this movement in 2007 with a successful solo exhibition in Amsterdam. Since then, his Calligraffiti pieces (signed NSM) can be seen in various international exhibitions.”

Buy Shoe’s awesome book and read full story here.
Buy art online here.

Pretty Pieces in Strange Places

// April 30th, 2010 // View Comments // Eyes on the Crowd

‘Eyes on the Crowd‘ has been a treat to choose from this month. Our online art community is bursting with talent. Below are four of our exceptional collage artists, and damn their work’s goood!

Kathy Seaboyer had her first solo show in an commercial gallery in 2008. Her work includes childhood memories, fact-based historical references and modern-media based information. The work is executed in a variety of styles and media to further enhance the final outcome.  She has exhibited extensively most notably at Bemused, Argyle Fine Art in Halifax NS Canada, Art As Spectacle, Katonah Museum of Modern Art in NY,  International Millennium Show in Kyoto Japan and Metaphor for the 20th Century at the Hera Gallery in Rhode Island. She will be having a solo show of her latest work in Mexico at the end of the year.

Cora de Lang has worked in many places all over the world including Nigeria, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain and currently working in Sri Lanka. She says the reason why she left her home town and travels around the world is to prove to herself “that the dismissal of the otherness as a culture, countries or people are nourished and preserved by prejudices – and I wanted to overcome them”. Her work really shows her connection with different cultures and worldwide artists.

Stefan Fransson is an artist from Stockholm, Sweden. He received a M.F.A in Sculpture at the Royal Acadamy in Stockholm, and the influence of the medium of sculpture is certainly visible in his textural and multi-elemental collage works. These works are created digitally, and Fransson enjoys the freedom of the creative process in the medium of collage as he is constantly moving the shapes and colours in an image. Fransson has recently begun to display his collages in an international network, and this has resulted in a commission for his work to be displayed in the Google centre in Stockholm.

Hit The Surf With Takashi Matsuo

// April 29th, 2010 // View Comments // Eyes on the Crowd

Takashi is a Japanese painter, surfer & karate student. He has chosen to express his feelings between the abstract and figurative with blushes of colour. When he’s had difficulties in life, art was there and helped his soul. From this; specials paintings came. His work is not all born from adversity but instead there was an audience who spoke with him and through his paintings.

The broad, confident brush stokes and bright expressions would bring positivity, sunshine and warmth to any environment. Takashi gives calligraphic spirit to canvas and his painting echoes the zen culture he prescribes to. If it were music, you’d call it Chill-out or Balearic but like the artist there’s more to it than that. Click here to visit Takashi’s gallery page or invest in his work.

BUT THEY CALL IT ART ON THEIR WEBSITE

// April 15th, 2010 // View Comments // b-Crowd

Why do they call it art?
It’s generic mass produced visual puke! I’ve had enough!

Habitat, Ikea, Conran to name a few pass off tonnes of “art” to an unsuspecting public. It may look like art, BUT IT’S NOT, do not be fooled. If this were anything else Trade Standards would be knocking at their door. All items would be recalled and better regulation would ensue for the future. Would you buy a clock that doesn’t tell the time? Errrrr….

Look it isn’t your fault for buying this repetitive guff nor Habitat’s for trying to feed you something pretty for your living room. It boils down to the big fat pompous cat, the art industry. For centuries the art market has been an insular incestuous breeding pot where art dealers prey on deep pockets and bathe in caviar and elephant tusk. WELL NO MORE! Like all industries, the internet is liberating us once more. It is art’s turn to get a kick up the jacksie.

THERE ARE places you can buy original and affordable art. It comes from real artists. Not just nutters who cut off their ears but working people like you who have a talent for painting, sculpture and much more. Why spend money on mechanically mass produced pictures from a global giant in an age of the local global community. Nowadays you can commission artists that are part of an online art network giving you a choice of every genre and technique from anywhere in the world.

The best part is you now have an investment that has the potential to increase in value as opposed to becoming landfill dreck . Plus the money goes into the artist’s pockets. You invest in a fellow human being and help them with their career. Look, we all want art on our walls, even in prison. Now we have the real solution for everyone. It’s going to take time but unlike plastic bags which we want to degrade over time, it’s about art that lasts, not building up the land fill exhibition.

Affordable Art Revolution: Taking Emerging Artists to a Wider Audience

// April 9th, 2010 // View Comments // b-Crowd

We have just launched our
‘Commission An Artist’ service
at b-uncut where buying art online is a only a couple of clicks. We offer one of the best and most comprehensive commission services in the industry thanks to our large, international and dynamic online art network.

Managing more than 1700 online artists we have the privilege to offer our buyers any genre or media. Be it figurative or abstract, a mural or a sculpture, digital or in oils; We do everything. No commission is too big or small and the best thing is that our artists get 80% of the money as we make strides in our quest for a fairtrade system for artists.

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Takashi Matsuo

Philip Letts

Lyonal Thouvenot

Russel Hulsey

Charbel Samuel Aoun

Dorka

If you want art off the rack our curated virtual gallery is the place to visit. We have beautiful and affordable contemporary paintings, photography and mixed media pieces all from fantastic emerging talent.

Lastly is our store where you can buy T-Shirts and other cool apparel and goods featuring our artists work. A perfect choice for an original gift or personal purchase.

At b-uncut we are firm in our commitment to supporting emerging artists and if you’re interested you now know

where to go.

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B-UNCUT Talks With SFMoMA’s John Zarobell

// April 8th, 2010 // View Comments // b-hind the scenes

As Assistant Curator of Collections, Exhibitions and Commissions at the SFMoMA, John Zarobell is an innovative figure inside the San Francisco art scene. John acted as the coordinating curator of Frida Kahlo and also organized Art in the Atrium: Kerry James Marshall and New Work: Ranjani Shettar.

We caught up with John for a chat on his methods for discovering new and exciting emerging artists, his latest upcoming projects at SFMoMa and his views on the level of influence that artist social networks and online art communities are having on the world stage.

What are the hot trends in the contemporary art scene?

Craft, mapping, neo-baroque, artists curating, references to high modernist art and design.

Like the chicken and egg, what comes first; the concept for a show or the mass inspection of what’s available?

In the US, contemporary museums do very few concept shows and concentrate on monographic exhibitions for the most part.  The concept shows that do get produced try to capture the zeitgeist but the challenge is that it takes museums years to organize exhibitions and by the time comes to put on the show, the moment may have passed.  One good concept exhibition at SFMOMA recently was The Art of Participation, curated by Rudolf Frieling, which I believe he had been planning for years but that show was based on a historical evolution of the notion of participation in art and covered a lot of historical ground.  Sandra Phillips, the head of our photography department has been organizing a powerful exhibition that will be shown at Tate London called Exposed about the camera and technologies of surveillance since 1870.  It’s old but new as well.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Microphones, 2008

Abramović : Ulay

Is there anything exciting in the pipeline, perhaps a show or an artist close to your heart?

I’m working on an upcoming New Work project with the artist Anna Parkina for next spring.  She’s a young artist from Moscow who is brilliant on multiple fronts: watercolors, graphics, performance, and sculpture.  She takes the best from Russian Constructivism and reinvents it for the 21stcentury (film noir, punk, blocky Soviet architecture).

Where and how do you look for emerging talent?

Here at SFMOMA, we host an semi-annual exhibition of local emerging artists put on by the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA)—every two years they award prizes to a group of artists and this group works with assistant curators at the museum and is a great way for us to follow what is going on in our own backyard.  Further afield, the online resources are so huge these days, you can have access to worlds that no one can possibly traverse and I spend a lot of time with those resources.  But nothing beats getting out and pounding the pavement to see work at galleries, non-profits, and museums.  San Francisco has a huge range of emerging talent but you have to travel and look around in New York, London, Los Angeles… Biennials and fairs are like one-stop shopping but it wears you down if you go too much.

Anna Parkina, Mono, 2005

b-uncut’s approach to artists, art and the market is based on open communication and dialogue between artists and the broader art community. How do you think we can get the more established art industry to engage with us and others in the online space?

The problem is that there are so many sources of information and everyone is just too damned busy.  Saatchi has captured the world though contests (American Idol style), e-flux fills your inbox but they also do a publication, run a gallery, and host symposiums.  I think the key is to have both a real and an online presence so that your online presence has greater visibility and folks think of it as more than just a blog or a chat room.  Mix social networking with the online art community.

How do you think the internet is changing the art world and the art market?

Questions from our crowd:

Given the profusion of online galleries where do you see the role of brick and mortar galleries in the next few years?

(Donald Kolberg)

There is no substitute for seeing art in the flesh.  Unless you’re talking about a video, which is made for a screen, seeing art on a screen is not the same as seeing the object.  I know that many folks buy art after seeing photos or jpegs but it is usually an artist whose works they have seen in person at some point previous.  Online galleries (and online presence for brick and mortar galleries) provide new windows and valuable marketing tools but people and art live in space and so I expect galleries will continue to require space to sell art.

How are you dealing with being in such a visible position in the art world. How do you would react to a simple request from Joe Artist to review his portfolio?

(Olgar Dmytrenko)

This is not an uncommon occurrence in my world and I’ll be honest with you and say that my response is not entirely consistent.  I know that contemporary curators often maintain a sense of exclusivity and do not have time for studio visits unless they are arranged.  I try to be more open but one only has so much time.  I feel like if I have a relationship with someone, however brief, I will consider a request to visit but that has to come from some kind of conversation.  When I started getting Facebook friend invitations from artists who I had never met, I realized that I am exposed and I have to be selective about who I engage with and why.

As an older emerging artist, I have noticed a certain amount of discrimination. There is a consensus that young emerging artists deal with contemporary issues from a fresh point of view which makes their work more viable and gives the gallery owners an advantage in promoting them even before the art is seen. I have found that some galleries only deal with young emerging artists [under thirty]. What insights do you have regarding galleries’ views on mature emerging artists [in their fifties] verses young emerging artists?

(Jeanette Luchese)

This is a very good question because “emerging artist” is just a label for an artist you’ve never heard of until you get your work in a group show and someone points you out in the press as a promising emerging artist.  In other words, there are emerging artists who no one in the art world has heard of and there are emerging artists who have been called out by a dealer, curator or a critic.  I think there is a lust for youth in American culture at least and it seems from my perspective that, if it was not always this way, this perception has become more or less universal now.  To make matters worse, if you’re not under 30 and no one has ever heard of you, you have to confront the obvious question of why you have not already achieved some degree of success. There are a lot of reasons that gallerists have to be biased against artists.  At bottom, the strength of any emerging artist is the originality of her or his voice, the idea that what you have to say has never been said no matter what your age.  The more you can produce that kind of work, and convince others of its honesty, the better chance you have going from emerging artist a to emerging artist b.

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B-POWER: b-uncut, The online art platform enabling artists

// March 11th, 2010 // View Comments // b-Crowd

Claudie Bastide

Carolyn Jordan

So put it in your diary and get to the show. You’ll see some great work as well as catch up with Claudie, Carolyn and some of the b-uncut team in the flesh. Not only that, who says you can’t be in the next Go Figurative exhibition! Get connected.