Pattern Pulp

Street Finds: Shepard Fairey in NYC




Life’s all about timing and last night I stumbled upon quite a treat while walking to a meeting along Houston. In preparation for his upcoming New York show, Shepard Fairey tagged the now infamous wall along Houston and Bowery. (The same wall that the Os Gemeos team tagged last year). The artistic spectacle drew a curious crowd of creative types and tourists that watched in excited awe. Between touch ups, Fairey mingled with the crowd, posed for pictures and answered political charged questions about his work. If you’re in the neighborhood, definitely check it out- the final results are stunning.

April 23, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Thorns + Thickets




Thorns conjure up endless imagery. From floral to fairytale to punk, it’s impossible to ignore the dark correlations associated with this part of nature. Cui Fei, a fine artist from Jinan, China incorporates thorns into her art, using minimalism and nature to convey symbolic messaging. Be it calligraphic undertones in Read by Touch, or a disturbing, dada-like take on braille, this piece, like many of her others, forces the viewer to consider nature’s discarded elements. Commercializing the thorn, Barney’s Coop recently used unpruned rose stems to texturize their accessories spread, creating bold fresh contrasts. Whether these triangular pricks are being used to reel in summer or just transition us beyond the overplayed pyramid stud, it will be interesting to see how designers throw their own spin on this prickly ornament.

April 21, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Artist Profile: April Tosch




How many people have what it takes to transition their hobby into a successful business? We’ve been covering entrepreneurs as of late, so its only appropriate to mention April Tosch, owner of Ann Meredith in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tosh creates one of a kind prints for clients ranging from Royalty to corporate. Tosch’s digital library now holds over 80,000 images, all of which cater to the region. The themes are a hodgepodge of landscape and portraiture to romance and caligraphy. Each piece is usually embroidered or beaded before it’s presented to the client.

Since launching her business, the demand for customizable fabrics has sky rocketed in Jeddah, spurring Tosch to expand her services. She now offers photoshop classes for women and teaches them how to print personal patterns on silk for abaya sleeves. Creating a business model that is both profitable and caters to women in the region has been a dream and a truly inspiring story no matter what continent you’re from.

Coverage by: Aysha Ibtasam

April 15, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Bunny Portraiture




At first glance, last week’s New Yorker cover by Kathy Osborn seems like a cute parody on rabbits, Easter and Grant Wood’s infamous 1930 farmer portrait. The idea of a family tree composed entirely of bunnies, captured in stylistic unison is humorous, charming and rather surreal. A year ago, Bergdorf Goodman’s window display revealed a wall of hand painted bunnies framed against a green backdrop. Fast forward and we now have framed imagery from Hunt Slonem’s Manhattan oasis showcasing his own homage to the bunny world. Joe Zee, Elle’s Creative Director, always says, two times a coincidence, 3 times a trend, so we ask, are other adorable cuddlies going to continue adorning walls around the world or will these visual stories alternate as whims change and moods shift?

April 6, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Twitter Influencer: Deanne Cheuk




I’m excited to introduce a new feature to the site called Twitter Influencers. Every week, I’ll be showcasing a new artist, designer or thinker that’s uping the online ante and driving conversation on the world wide web. Just as digital portfolios and blogrolls satiate our inspirational desires, so does twitter and it’s important to understand how this platform compliments other media outlets.

Today I’m kicking off with Deanne Cheuk, a true  star in the art and design world. Her mix of bold color and delicate line has played an integral role throughout her career, from Art Directing her first magazine at age 19 to countless freelance illustration and design projects. Her experience has given her killer insight into all things art, fashion, and culture and you’ll feel creatively fed after reading her daily tweets.

April 1, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Artist Profile: Levi van Veluw




Everyone’s overdone it with a ballpoint pen at least once in their life. From doodling on your favorite jeans in high school to scribbling notes on your hand to remember lines. Regardless of how expressive you may be, chances are your designs don’t hold a candle to Levi van Veluw, an illustrator, sculptor and photographer based in Amsterdam. His reptilian-like doodles are expressive, textured and all encompassing. Using blue ink, a curved hairline and the entirety of his face, van Velum converts his skin into an expressionless textured sculptures. While these self portraits aren’t new, they possess a timeless appeal, much like the work of Cindy Sherman, another creative wonder who gained her notoriety through constant reinvention. Take a look at van Velum’s portfolio, as all of his sculptures are transformational wonderments.

March 18, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.