Just in case you thought art was getting a little… static, Art in America's latest "New Talent" issue has arrived to shake things up. It features 20 emerging artists, all keenly aware that the world (and everything in it) is in a constant state of flux. Which, honestly, feels pretty on-brand for right now.
These artists aren't just dabbling; they're diving deep into transformation. Take Elizabeth Glaessner, whose paintings feature humans morphing into animals or some delightful hybrid. Or Isaiah Davis and Jenny Calivas, who somehow make steel and photography (respectively) feel soft. Because apparently, materials have feelings too.
Juliana Halpert's photographs manage to be both memorials and records of wrongdoing, depending on how you squint at them. Joeun Kim Aatchim's drawings literally change their meaning when stacked, which is a neat trick. And then there's Kiah Celeste, who turns CDs into a shimmering snake and, perhaps even more impressively, a bowling ball into a giant's pearl. Because, why not?
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Start Your News DetoxTerran Last Gun, meanwhile, takes historical accounting ledgers — yes, those things — and transforms them into abstract art. Because if anything needs a glow-up, it’s old receipts. As artist Koyoltzintli, who crafts musical instruments from clay, put it, "I feel like I am in constant conversation with the past and we are discussing what we’re going to do with the future." Which, if you think about it, is both a profound statement and a solid plan.
Beyond the New Talent
But wait, there's more. The summer issue isn't just about the fresh faces. It also delves into why we're all so obsessed with art heist stories (Jackson Arn has some theories in "The Art of the Steal"). Because who doesn't love a good caper, especially when it involves priceless artifacts and questionable getaway vehicles?
There's also Eugenie Brinkema exploring our "Tragicomic Times" and how we process the world through art. Emily Watlington takes a look at how "systems art" became a big deal in the 21st century. Plus, the usual smorgasbord of reviews, interviews, and deep dives into everything from senior citizens as social media ambassadors for museums (yes, really) to the disappearing generation of staff art critics. Because someone has to tell us what's good, right?
So, whether you're into humans turning into animals, bowling balls becoming pearls, or just a really good art theft narrative, Art in America seems to have you covered. And probably makes you want to go look at some art. Or at least Google "giant's pearl."
