one of my favorite classes while studying for my degree in textiles was jacquard - the behemoth of a weaving machine that truly amazed me each time i had a chance to see my patterns come to life in an instant. i think my appreciation for the complexity of these machines is what makes me so obsessed with these gorgeous woven portraits by artist joanne arnett. using vintage mugshots, (which let's be honest, are already pretty cool in and of themselves) she creates oversized portraits that blend pattern mixing, bright color, and intricate weave patterns to create something completely new. the pieces are woven with a mix of cotton and thin metallic wire which lends them a reflective, photographic quality that shifts with the viewer. consider me impressed! see more from joanne here. and thanks to erika for the tip!
courtesy of olivia steele.
seoul based photographer lee jung is just my type, and her project aporia is both visually striking and incredibly moving. in greek, aporia means "coming to a dead end," or "impassable," which i think is a fitting title for the project. she uses traditional neon signs to create phrases that speak about love and longing, but places them in quiet, isolated places, as if to send a meaningful message that nobody is there to receive. i find them to be both beautiful and lonely at the same time. see more from lee here.
i always appreciate when art is not only visually captivating but it also brings a smile to my face. i can't help but grin when i look at the beautiful work of los angeles artist megan whitmarsh, whose "paintings" are actually meticulous hand-stitching and embroidery that are part abstract, part pop-art, and part collage. the neon colors and quirky characters are spot on. i also don't know the meaning of the furry ape with the boombox, but i love that he always manages to show up somewhere! learn more about megan here.
it's always refreshing when a beautiful product has a beautiful origin, and that's definitely the case with these handmade desert boots from namibia-based schier schoes. each day 8 damara men assemble each shoe by hand, creating about 20 pairs a day. the leathers come from wild kudu and hyena, so they can often have imperfections such as scars that lend them a unique character. i love the neon touches on the toes, and they even have small versions for littles - too cute! learn more about schier shoes here.
alba prat is a spanish fashion designer whose pieces from her recent "neon cold war" lookbook have really caught my eye. i love the workwear aesthetic on its own, but it's always nice to see something old updated with a little something new. those shoes with the neon piecing are to die for! learn more here.
