Looking for stuff to make my place nicer...

March 29, 2006 4:38 PM

Emerging artists... who are your picks of relatively, virtually, or literally (but for you, I suppose) unknown artists who create things I can put in my home (ie, not filmmakers/animators/writers/comic writers, etc.), such as paintings, pottery, furniture, photographs, etc? Criteria inside...

Please only list artists:

1. who have a web site with samples
2. who are not already major names (ie, are "affordable" (I know that's relative)).
3. will be, in your opinion, well known in the future (ie, breaking boundaries or challenging their medium, etc.)

posted by Manhasset to media & arts (26 comments total)

Do they have to be contemporary artists? Or will you accept dead artists who's work will soon gain in value, and are affordable despite being well known?
posted by fire&wings at 4:51 PM on March 29, 2006

Affordable trumps well known. Dead or alive don't matter. Either does when they did their work.

Just looking for nice, affordable, unique stuff for my home and figured little-knowns were the best route. I'm open to be proven wrong.
posted by Manhasset at 4:58 PM on March 29, 2006

Joanna Sherwell is a close friend of mine. You might like her works.
posted by sjvilla79 at 5:06 PM on March 29, 2006

IMHO most of the real interesting work today is being done in mediums that aren't easily purchased by the casual art buyer (that is, installation, or virtual, etc etc).

That said, maybe if you flip through juxtapoz for awhile, you'll get a good idea of the kind of painting and sculpture that may be poised to blow up, as far as being collectible.

I assume by affordable you're thinking around $200-700 for a decent sized painting and about the same for a medium sculpture. If you're thinking under this, you're looking at art school territory -- over this, you may have some options with "names".

unfortunately, I don't have any specific folks I can recommend... Maybe Keith Boadwee [some website images NSFW] -- he's already known (but not "well-known") and I get the feeling you could probably pick up some of his stuff for a reasonable price. He went to my school as a grad student and is a really awesome guy, if that helps. Doesn't sell work through his site. Whether or not he'll be well known in the future is up in the air (like it is with anyone), but he is doing interesting work with a good sense of humor.
posted by fishfucker at 5:15 PM on March 29, 2006

I am an artist and I would suggest purchasing work that you like, not stuff you are banking on to appreciate in value or for the artist to become a "name". Go to BFA and MFA thesis shows at art schools and colleges/universities with art programs, go to the pottery sales that most schools have out of their ceramics departments or even commission someone to create work for you. A lot of larger regions have Open Studio events where you can visit artists in their homes/studios and get to know them and their work.

And maybe the Next Big Thing will be the artist who is self-taught. Artists attending art school are coming out saddled with huge student loan debt in a lot of cases, and they aren't going to be the ones making art consistently unless they hit the jackpot right out of school. The pressure of the debt will force them into "real" jobs and their art will be marginalized out of financial necessity.

Buy what you like. Develop your own eye and taste. Trust your own reactions to art and get to know the artists who are making work you like. You will be the patron that helps them make it, you will have an investment in their success.
posted by 45moore45 at 5:38 PM on March 29, 2006

Thanks for the answers so far.

I'm thinking anything from $5 to under $2k or so, FF, though the range you specified is more ideal. The whole idea of asking the question came when I was just about to purchase as vase from Zuzano Licko--who is relatively well known, though not for pottery, but, in my eyes, extremely well-priced--and it occured to me that there may be other stuff out there equally nice that I may wish to buy so I'm holding off my purchase till I see some more stuff. I don't know much about pottery, however, as I mostly buy paintings.

I like a lot of stuff I see on cloudking.com or artdorks.com but a lot of those people don't sell online.

Also, two mefites have mailed me about their own work. Please, mefite artists, feel free to self-link if you wish.
posted by Manhasset at 5:38 PM on March 29, 2006

If you like things at the pop-end of the spectrum, check out Gemma Jones (no relation)
posted by bunglin jones at 5:52 PM on March 29, 2006

Homegrown folks: I truly think interrobang's work is wonderful, as is the work of mrs.pants. They certainly both deserve to be better known!
posted by melissa may at 5:59 PM on March 29, 2006

His illustrations and tatoos are more familiar than his art to many folks, but I also thought that our neighbor Mitch O'Connell's work was fun and unique...especially the skateboard art!
posted by jeanmari at 6:03 PM on March 29, 2006

http://www.lowlandking.com/
posted by nimsey lou at 6:12 PM on March 29, 2006

Ditto the suggestion to check out MFA programs. Some even have websites with online portfolios, such as my boyfriend's program, the #1 ranked sculpture program. (Not to brag or self-promote by proxy or anything. Heh...)
posted by lalalana at 6:16 PM on March 29, 2006

Dan McCarthy does great work.
posted by spork at 6:17 PM on March 29, 2006

definitely agree with 45m45 -- you're doing a lot by supporting local artists -- usually when I buy work for my mother (whose tastes usually run to prints that match her couch), I'll try to support local artists who make work I think she'll like. There's two benefits to that -- 1) you're getting one-of-a-kind work (often for a great price), which to me is cooler than having the same print that a million other jerks have, and more importantly, 2) you're supporting practicing artists.
posted by fishfucker at 6:35 PM on March 29, 2006

www.beeflowers.com

megastar in the making

he has a huge exhibition in Moscow at the moment

he is in the current New Yorker

he is still totally affordable

His books are fantastic. I have 'Megastructures' and a couple of prints.
posted by unSane at 6:42 PM on March 29, 2006

FF and 45moore45, thanks, and no offense, but I'm really not looking for advice--just links. I have plenty of work by local artists and have no probs with buying locally and always have feelers out for stuff around me, but that's not the purpose of my question. Contrary to 45m45's comment (and perhaps implied by the wording of my question), I'm not looking for work *only* by artists who will 'blow up'. I have to like it; and I know what I like. Just trying to see more--I can't like it or buy it if I don't know it exists.

I'm also not looking for prints (though links to them are welcome as people who do them often do other stuff too), but one of a kind pieces, which is what I meant, partially, by "unique".

Anyway, back on track, I'm just looking for links to art that impresses the poster(s), not advice on art in general or on how to develop "my eye".

How about if instead of 'you believe will blow up' I rephrase as
'you think should be better known as their work kicks ass'. Fair enough?
posted by Manhasset at 6:47 PM on March 29, 2006

Joseph Mills does some work I really like (full disclosure: is my ex-boyfriend and still a good friend), most particularly his assemblages and literature-derived paintings. If you buy something, tell him he owes me a commission!
posted by scody at 7:07 PM on March 29, 2006

I like the work of Alex DeSpain. Also, here's what a local rag had to say about him.
posted by melt away at 7:07 PM on March 29, 2006

Self-link

I can assure you that:
I’ll be famous someday VERY soon.
My work not only appreciates, but improves continually with appreciation.
I’m priced right at that happy point where desire meets risk, so don’t be afraid to ask;)

And thanks for asking, btw.
posted by dpcoffin at 7:32 PM on March 29, 2006

My favorite Boston artist is Filiz Emma Soyak. Spectacular abstract work that affects me in some hard to describe way. Works on canvas. Also works on paper that are priced at accessible levels and wonderful for framing. First saw her work during open studios. Finally purchased her work during the Fort Point holiday sale. She's also sweet as can be, though I've only actually met her once.
posted by VulcanMike at 7:39 PM on March 29, 2006

Direct link to sample page.
posted by VulcanMike at 7:41 PM on March 29, 2006

Not sure where you're located, but there just happens to be a pretty cool art sale going on at my college this weekend.
posted by Cochise at 8:55 PM on March 29, 2006

The Savannah College of Art and Design has a nice little online shop.

Lotta Jansdotter makes pretty and affordable ceramics.

This stuff is mostly tabletop but they're affordable, some of it can be used decoratively, and super lickable candy colored glaze, yum.

Lisa makes neat shadowboxes.

Flensted mobiles.

I also recommend reading Drawn! religiously as the occasional artist featured sells their work online and is affordable.
posted by birdie birdington at 10:05 PM on March 29, 2006

I am admittedly biased, but my husband, known here as Slothrop, is one of the best painters I have ever seen. I was quite surprised when he started pulling these amazing things out of nowhere - they are just absolutely brilliant.

Some of the larger paintings get pretty pricey (although well worth it), but his Transpinner toys are a steal.

As an added benefit if you like his work, I'm pretty sure he'll be famous someday. He's just that good. Happy hunting!

(And might I say thank you, for wanting to purchase original work, instead of shlock from Target. Right on, kudos, pats on the back, and all that).)
posted by dirtmonster at 8:54 AM on March 30, 2006

Ah crap, my link doesn't work. Let me try again:

Slothrop
posted by dirtmonster at 8:57 AM on March 30, 2006

I have coveted this etching by Sharon Augusta Mitchell for a long time.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:50 AM on March 30, 2006

Rain Polsky is really good. Her work is a bit creepy, but also beautiful.
posted by Brainy at 1:41 PM on March 30, 2006