Lisa Congdon was always creative growing up, but didn’t start painting until she was 33. Three years ago, she left a career as a leader in the education nonprofit world to pursue a long-held desire to live a full-time creative life.

Painting and illustration has since become a significant part of that life, along with co-owning and curating her store and art gallery, Rare Device. Lisa also eagerly dives into creative adventures, such as her popular Collection A Day 2010 Project, among a long list of other endeavors. Her kind and jovial nature shines though as she shares her creative life and adventures through her twitter feed, allowing her many followers a glimpse into the life behind the artist.

There’s no question that the art of portraiture has changed immensely in recent times. First with the advent of the digital camera, then with the rise in popularity of the camera phone, it’s become much easier to take photos and pass them along to our networks. The modern “art” of self-portraiture is the subject of Columbian artist, Alejandro Ospina’s latest show, “fotolog/.”

Using found photographs of young people frequently posing naked or semi-naked for a camera, and in many cases shot as reflection in a mirror, Ospina paints the digital low-resolution amateur photographs. This method creates a thoughtful and provoking parallel between our modern pop-culture influenced method of self-exposure and the traditional concept of “the nude” throughout the whole of art’s history. The sexualization of the nude and the shifting relationship between artist and model evident in the paintings challenges the audience with debates concerning the body, image and ownership, as both our view and Ospina’s position fluctuates between viewer and voyeur. For more info, click here.

IMT
Unit2/210, Cambridge Heath Road,
London, E2 9NQ UK

Private View: Thursday 2nd September 6- 9pm

Coming from a region where city meets country, it’s easy to see how these Pedlars sleeping bags are such a great alternative to the norm. In keeping with her consistent reel of wonderment, Joanna Goddard of, A Cup of Jo, recently featured these patterned gems. Have a look on this UK site, as the collection’s a true throw back to childhood and a conversation starter for any upcoming camping trips.

While Stanley Donwood is mostly known for his iconic Radiohead album covers, his other works are just as impressive. Skilled in conveying political emotion, modesty and humor through color and text, Donwood is a master at intelligent composition. His latest show, Over Normal, shines a light on the marketing ploys used to clutter our lives. Combining highway advertising color palettes with sexualized spam emails, Donwood marries words and colors to devise seven vibrant and provocative paintings. For more info, click here.

FIFTY24SF GALLERY
218 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA. 94117-3504

Opening Reception September 2nd from 7:30PM – 10:00PM

We’ve all gone graffiti-happy at least once in our lives. Jeans from high school, casts from unexpected falls, even the intentional chalkboard wall you painted to jazz up your kitchen. Personal customization holds a lot of weight in consumer culture and one by one, brands are continuing to get this. One of the coolest collaborations this season comes from Converse and Utrecht Art Supplies. All-white converse high-tops are being sold alongside markers, paints and colorful laces. When you’re doing your back to school shopping, what could be better than a personalized pair of kicks? Show off your illustrative prowess and get a pair today.

While Chris Khaler’s work is clearly influenced by our high-tech digital age, his bold and vibrant colors pop from the canvas in shapes that are also highly organic and reminiscent of cellular and molecular forms. In a collection of paintings that uniquely blends elements of abstract expressionism, color field, psychedelia, op and pop art, Kahler’s work is provocative, intriguing and open to interpretation. Check out his new show, Bio-Dynamic, at the David Richard Contemporary for an in depth live exploration. For more info, click here.

David Richard Contemporary, LLC
130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Opening reception with artist Friday, September 3, 2010, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m

These stylish toes belong to none other than Joy Deangdeelert Cho, of the infamous Oh Joy! blog. While Cho shot this image at the Solage in Calistoga, it reminds me of the beautifully gridded landscape surrounding the Dia Beacon in Beacon, NY.

Just as blueprints serve as the foundation for building projects, so do crisp and certain black and white drawings. Add in patchwork patterns and the composition can literally vibrate. This is the case with two very different styles of art. Olga Nenahzivina’s latest work from her show, From the Edge of Vladivostok, at the Mimi Ferzt Gallery, merges Russian and Japanese narratives for beautifully etched compositions. Exploring busy and intricate from a cartoon perspective, this space monster from the editorial pages of TimeOut NY by Michael Townsend gives the viewer a playful illustrative approach.

If you eagerly await I.D Magazine’s Annual Design Review each and every year like we do, you’ll be excited to attend the opening for this year’s contest winners. Since 1954, the annual competition names the best design execution in categories ranging from  environmental to consumer products, equipment, packaging, furniture, graphics, interactive and basic student work. This showcase chronicles the evolution of design and highlights its impact on our material and visual culture. While flipping through the pages of this issue is thrilling, the opportunity to see the products live is a benefit ofbeing in New York this month. For more info, click here.

AIGA National Design Center
164 5th Ave
New York, NY 10010

1. 1. Charley Harper’s Octoberama print for sale, perfect as fall comes out way via Grain Edit
2. 2. Swell bright and cheery ties from dollbeau via Wit + Delight
3. 3. Digging Anna Von Mertens’ interpretation of aura portraits via My Love For You
4. 4. The excellent transformation of everyday picnic objects by Gareth Neal via Dezeen
5. 5. Check out this colorific kitchen from the 1960’s via My Adventure is Your Advantage
6. 6. Love the “softness” of Lateral Architecture’s bookcase concept via Kistune Noir
7. 7. Loving the literal old-school vibe from Kibber’s bags via Modish
8. 8. Paper silhouettes jump out of books and interact with 3-D objects. Lovely. via Design*Sponge
9. 9. Sweet owl wallpaper created for Anthropologie by Stephanie Webb via All the Mountains
10. 10. Gorgeous “tree” bed from Attila Design via Street Hanger
11. 11. Great look into artist Katharina Trudzinski’s studio via Sight Unseen
12. 12. Killer use of hot pink in this upcycled headboard via OhJoy!

Coverage by: Emily Gup

Elizabeth Briel is an artist and a self described nomad. Traveling the world with her paints, camera, love for papers, writing, and a deep curiosity for other cultures, Briel has no trouble seeing the beauty in the smallest and most obscure places. Based in Sydney and Asia, she illustrates, photographs and writes about her travels and experiences. It is her curiosity for life and love of art and creating that makes her twitter feed such a pleasure to read. Her ability to channel both an inner calm and genuine excitement for life while sharing her opinions and tips makes you feel like you too should be hopping a plane to a distant land.

While schooled in traditional art, Julie West has evolved into a digital designer with realist tendencies. Her illustrative characters are both bizarre and ironic and a reflection of the way most people live and define themselves. Her work has expanded to 3D toys and has been printed in multiple publications. Her current show, Itsy Bitsy, opens tonight at My Plastic Heart on the LES. For more info, click here.

My Plastic Heart
210 Forsyth St
New York, NY 10002

Opening Reception: Friday August 27th 2010 6 – 9pm