Curator Picks: Damien Cifelli

In a talented display of creative virtuosity, Cifielli conjures the enigmatic realm of Tarogramma, a society veiled from the typical gaze of the world, oscillating between the recognizable and the uncanny. Drawing parallels with contemporary society and culture, Cifielli weaves an intricately detailed depiction that would leave even luminaries like Lewis Carroll in contemplative admiration.

With meticulous attention to composition, texture, depth, layers, and colour palette and countenance of Tarogrammains skin, Cifielli’s canvases eloquently narrate the quotidian experiences of Tarogramma’s residents, ranging from intimate portraiture to depictions of everyday happenings like café visits to Football match days, bypassing traditional muses and themes; Cifielli’s oeuvre is an audacious venture into conceptual world-building as an artist, wherein he becomes the sole guardian of its narratives and relics. Cifielli emerges as an artist, one whose work demands unwavering observation.

The curator’s role is crucial in the realms of art curation and collection and in advocating for artists. They are the ones who illuminate the path for artists before anyone recognizes their potential or becomes captivated by their work. Art Plugged’s curator picks highlight artists who have piqued our interest for various reasons. These may include aesthetic appeal, social and cultural significance, or simply because we admire their work.

©2023 Damien Cifelli

Len Gordon

Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.

Curator Picks: Meron Engida Hawke

Hawke’s motivation comes from her sharp understanding of how Ethiopia and Africa are considered worldwide and the narratives that often revolve around famine, climate crises, and conflict.

However, Hawke’s ambition goes beyond these singular stories. She aims to unravel these complex narratives, offering an insider’s view that resists stereotyping and provides a more genuine representation of her homeland. Hawke’s expression manifests across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and boundary-pushing mixed media, bearing her unique artistic imprint.

Hawke’s work is deeply introspective, drawing heavily from her cultural heritage. She leans into Ethiopia’s religious aesthetics to devise a compelling visual language underscored by a sense of the divine. Her most renowned pieces are marked by her distinctive style of composition, filled with narratives of vulnerability, migration, empowerment, resilience, and the lived experiences of women in East Africa, employing her art as a vehicle for change, traversing the intricate passageways of memory and storytelling.

Hawke’s work presents the viewer with a candid portrayal of her culture, challenging preconceived notions and urging deeper contemplation of Ethiopia’s societal makeup, a terrain frequently referenced but needs to be fully understood. Hawke’s practice illuminates these complexities through her authentic narrative lens.

The curator’s role is crucial in the realms of art curation and collection and in advocating for artists. They are the ones who illuminate the path for artists before anyone recognizes their potential or becomes captivated by their work. Art Plugged’s curator picks highlight artists who have piqued our interest for various reasons. These may include aesthetic appeal, social and cultural significance, or simply because we admire their work.

Read more about Meron Engida Hawke in our interview

Len Gordon

Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.

Curator Picks: Angel Ortiz “LA II” Ortiz

His partnership with the iconic Keith Haring is a celebrated chapter of art history that shaped the aesthetic narrative of an era and continues to influence collectors and enthusiasts today.

LAII was more than just a collaborator; he was Haring’s key to the electrifying world of New York street art. With LAII serving as his guide, Haring plunged headfirst into New York’s pulsating Graffiti scene through The Non-Stoppers (TNS) – the largest graffiti crew in Lower East Side at the time. Their first joint venture, a distinctive NYC taxi hood covered in their combined signatures, fetched a handsome $1,400 – an early hint at the market’s impending appetite for their artistic vision.

The 1980s saw their alliance flourish as they worked together, fusing their unique styles to create breathtaking murals, sculptures, train paintings, and a myriad of other creative objects. LAII’s signature style and technique, believed to have significantly influenced Haring’s solo work, left an indelible mark on the street art scene. At just 16, LAII boldly decided to leave high school in 1983 and join Haring on a global artistic expedition until 1985. During this time, their creative synergy birthed some of the most seminal works in contemporary art, etching their names into the annals of cultural history.

Our curator picks is a strong influence by LAII’s artistic journey, and partnership with Haring encapsulates a crucial part of New York’s Graffiti art history. It is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and a vivid demonstration of how art can echo the rhythm and spirit of a city. The works they created remain sought after, not merely as collectable pieces but as iconic symbols of an era. Their story is a compelling chapter in the chronicle of art, reminding us of the powerful resonance of urban creativity and the transformative potential of friendship.

The curator’s role is crucial in the realms of art curation and collection and in advocating for artists. They are the ones who illuminate the path for artists before anyone recognizes their potential or becomes captivated by their work. Art Plugged’s curator picks highlight artists who have piqued our interest for various reasons. These may include aesthetic appeal, social and cultural significance, or simply because we admire their work.

Read more about Angel “LAII” Ortiz in our interview

©2023 Angel “LAII” Ortiz

Len Gordon

Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.