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	<title>Colossal</title>
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	<item>
		<title>Christina Mrozik Illustrates an &#8216;Emotional Ecosystem&#8217; Oracle Deck with Fantastical Forms</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/christina-mrozik-the-feelings-of-all-things/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Grace Ebert]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illustration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christina Mrozik]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drawing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plants]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474430</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-9.jpg" alt="Christina Mrozik Illustrates an &#8216;Emotional Ecosystem&#8217; Oracle Deck with Fantastical Forms" />"Each drawing took between 20 to 40 hours of focused work," the artist writes.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/christina-mrozik-the-feelings-of-all-things/">Christina Mrozik Illustrates an &#8216;Emotional Ecosystem&#8217; Oracle Deck with Fantastical Forms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-9.jpg" alt="Christina Mrozik Illustrates an &#8216;Emotional Ecosystem&#8217; Oracle Deck with Fantastical Forms" />


<p>Six years in the making, <a href="https://www.christinamrozik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christina Mrozik</a>’s new project tackles &#8220;the feelings of all things.&#8221; Fifty cards comprise the richly illustrated oracle deck, which delves into a vast emotional terrain through the artist&#8217;s distinctive visual metaphors of flora and fauna. Monochromatic in palette and surreal in subject matter, the individual works portray a variety of curious pairings from twin turtles with eyes nested into their shells to a bird speared by a spindly tree to a lily pad bursting from an open alligator jaw.</p>



<p>&#8220;Each drawing took between 20 to 40 hours of focused work,&#8221; Mrozik writes. &#8220;I built every image in layers—starting with rough sketches, researching forms, refining the composition, and slowly developing the final drawing in pencil until it felt complete.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2833" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of a bird in a plant" class="wp-image-474442" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10-640x907.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10-960x1360.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10-768x1088.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-10-1446x2048.jpg 1446w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<p>What results is an &#8220;emotional ecosystem designed to help you witness your feelings, understand their purpose, and build a relationship with your inner world. It is not a tool for fixing yourself, but a practice for meeting yourself,&#8221; they add. </p>



<p>As with much of <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/tags/christina-mrozik/">Mrozik&#8217;s work</a>, <em>The Feelings of All Things</em> melds beauty and pain, death and life. The deck is designed to be used on its own or alongside a preferred tarot set, either by selecting an illustration that feels most alluring or profound in the moment or simply choosing a card and reflecting on the imagery.</p>



<p><em>The Feelings of All Things</em> has just under a week to go on <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/christinamrozik/the-feeling-of-all-things-oracle-deck?ref=profile_created&amp;category_id=22" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kickstarter</a>, where it&#8217;s blown past its original goal, although there are still a few rewards available. Find more on Mrozik&#8217;s <a href="https://www.christinamrozik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/christinamrozikart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1397" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-11.jpg" alt="a collection of oracle cards on a table" class="wp-image-474443" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-11.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-11-640x447.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-11-960x671.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-11-768x536.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-11-1536x1073.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="2833" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of two turtles with eyes on their backs" class="wp-image-474440" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8-640x907.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8-960x1360.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8-768x1088.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-8-1446x2048.jpg 1446w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1500" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-7.jpg" alt="three drawings by Christina Mrozik on oracle cards" class="wp-image-474439" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-7-640x480.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-7-960x720.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-7-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-7-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2833" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of an alligator jaw opening around a plant " class="wp-image-474438" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6-640x907.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6-960x1360.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6-768x1088.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-6-1446x2048.jpg 1446w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1971" height="2500" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of a skull entwined with a plant" class="wp-image-474455" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new.jpg 1971w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new-640x812.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new-960x1218.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new-768x974.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new-1211x1536.jpg 1211w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-new-1615x2048.jpg 1615w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1971px) 100vw, 1971px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2833" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of two birds entwined" class="wp-image-474435" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3-640x907.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3-960x1360.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3-768x1088.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-3-1446x2048.jpg 1446w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1500" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-4.jpg" alt="two oracle cards on a black table" class="wp-image-474436" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-4.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-4-640x480.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-4-960x720.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-4-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-4-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2833" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of a spider and a flower" class="wp-image-474433" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1-640x907.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1-960x1360.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1-768x1088.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-1-1446x2048.jpg 1446w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2833" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2.jpg" alt="a drawing by Christina Mrozik of crabs" class="wp-image-474434" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2-640x907.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2-960x1360.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2-768x1088.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mrozik-2-1446x2048.jpg 1446w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/christina-mrozik-the-feelings-of-all-things/">Christina Mrozik Illustrates an &#8216;Emotional Ecosystem&#8217; Oracle Deck with Fantastical Forms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Leonora Carrington Biopic Traces the Surrealist Icon&#8217;s Life and Work</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/leonora-in-the-morning-light-carrington-film/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Grace Ebert]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 13:11:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[art history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leonora Carrington]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[surreal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474417</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-5.jpg" alt="A Leonora Carrington Biopic Traces the Surrealist Icon&#8217;s Life and Work" />"Don't you think it's dangerous to blur the distinction between abstraction and reality?"</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/leonora-in-the-morning-light-carrington-film/">A Leonora Carrington Biopic Traces the Surrealist Icon&#8217;s Life and Work</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-5.jpg" alt="A Leonora Carrington Biopic Traces the Surrealist Icon&#8217;s Life and Work" />


<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s dangerous to blur the distinction between abstraction and reality?&#8221; asks actress Olivia Vinall in her role as the Surrealist artist and writer <a href="https://www.moma.org/artists/993-leonora-carrington" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leonora Carrington</a>&nbsp;(1917-2011). The heady line is one of the standout statements in the new biopic documenting Carrington&#8217;s life and work.</p>



<p>Directed by Thor Klein and Lena Vurma and produced by <a href="https://www.modernfilms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Modern Films</a>, <em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMmW7-CBMn4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leonora in the Morning Light</a></em> opens in 1930s Paris, when the artist was enmeshed in an avant-garde community that included luminaries like Salvador Dalí and André Breton, along with her partner Max Ernst. When World War II begins, Carrington flees to Spain before eventually re-settling in Mexico, perhaps the location most associated with her work.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-6.jpg" alt="a white woman with dark curly hair painting" class="wp-image-474423" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-6.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-6-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-6-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-6-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<p>The film is based on the biographical novel by Elena Poniatowska and comes at a time when Carrington&#8217;s oeuvre is in the spotlight, particularly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/28/leonora-carrington-work-painted-during-psychiatric-confinement-to-go-on-show-for-first-time" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the fantastical work</a> made while she was confined to a psychiatric hospital in Spain which had been lost for 80 years.</p>



<p>Modern Films is also behind <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/04/hilma-af-klint-documentary/">the documentary</a> about pioneering artist Hilma af Klint, along with <em><a href="https://www.modernfilms.com/boomforreal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boom For Real</a>,</em> which chronicles Jean-Michel Basquiat&#8217;s teenage years. <em>Leonora in the Morning Light</em> is slated for release on May 29 in the U.K. and Ireland.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Leonora in the Morning Light | Official UK Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xMmW7-CBMn4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-1.jpg" alt="a white woman with dark curly hair looking at another woman smoking" class="wp-image-474418" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-1-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-1-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1427" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-2.jpg" alt="a white woman with dark curly hair painting with a white man looking at her" class="wp-image-474419" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-2-640x457.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-2-960x685.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-2-768x548.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-2-1536x1096.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-3.jpg" alt="a white woman with dark curly hair painting" class="wp-image-474420" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-3.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-3-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-3-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-3-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-4.jpg" alt="a white woman with dark curly hair standing between two white men" class="wp-image-474421" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-4.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-4-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-4-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/leonora-4-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/leonora-in-the-morning-light-carrington-film/">A Leonora Carrington Biopic Traces the Surrealist Icon&#8217;s Life and Work</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>&#8216;BlowUp Jubilee&#8217; Celebrates Inflatable Public Art in the Center of The Hague</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/blowup-jubilee-the-hague-public-inflatable-art-installations/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Mothes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inflatable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[installation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Netherlands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sculpture]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474390</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-4.jpg" alt="&#8216;BlowUp Jubilee&#8217; Celebrates Inflatable Public Art in the Center of The Hague" />Now in its sixth year, the open-air public art exhibition highlights 20 pieces from previous years.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/blowup-jubilee-the-hague-public-inflatable-art-installations/">&#8216;BlowUp Jubilee&#8217; Celebrates Inflatable Public Art in the Center of The Hague</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-4.jpg" alt="&#8216;BlowUp Jubilee&#8217; Celebrates Inflatable Public Art in the Center of The Hague" />


<p>While the Dutch city of The Hague may be best known for the judicial arm of the United Nations, there&#8217;s a lot more to it than global peace and justice organizations. It&#8217;s home to some of Europe&#8217;s most esteemed art museums, such as the Mauritshuis, where you can visit Johannes Vermeer&#8217;s <em>Girl with a Pearl Earring. </em>Then there&#8217;s the immanently popular <a href="https://www.netherlands-tourism.com/madurodam-a-miniature-park-worth-visiting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madurodam</a>, a sprawling scale model of some of The Netherlands&#8217; most famous and historic palaces and public buildings. That, in turn, is located in the charming Scheveningen district, which boasts a wide, popular beach on the North Sea.</p>



<p>Madurodam, for one, is where you&#8217;ll find a handful of playful inflatable art installations as part of <em>BlowUp Jubilee</em>, an anniversary edition of The Hague&#8217;s popular <a href="https://denhaag.com/en/blowup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BlowUp Art</a> event. Now in its sixth year, the open-air public art exhibition curated by Mary Hessing brings together 20 pieces that interact with monuments and buildings in a celebration of heritage and access for all.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1288" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-10.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-474407" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-10.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-10-640x412.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-10-960x618.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-10-768x495.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-10-1536x989.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Eugenie Boon</figcaption></figure>



<p>For <em>BlowUp Jubilee, </em>artists whose work has been shown during the past five years have been invited back. In many cases, the sculptures are in new locations or configurations. Scale, color, and form interact in surprising ways as inflatable orbs, shell-like shapes, spikes, and more reimagine a variety of landmarks.</p>



<p>At Madurodam, size and scale are on particularly curious display, as what appears to be a giant pink chair in the middle of a fountain is actually quite small. Other works around town, however, celebrate historic architecture with genuinely monumental creations, such as <a href="/tags/steve-messam">Steve Messam</a>’s bulbous, green passageway installation or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eugenieboon.atelier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eugenie Boon</a>’s ode to her Caribbean heritage in a piece titled &#8220;koncha pa dilanti,&#8221; which refers to a board game played on the islands. You&#8217;ll also find a giant yellow donut by <a href="https://www.johnkormeling.nl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Körmeling</a>, a pink pavilion by <a href="https://shopsigridcalon.nl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sigrid Calon</a>, and a cosmic cafe concept by <a href="https://www.yamunaforzani.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yamuna Forzani</a>. </p>



<p><em>BlowUp Jubilee</em> continues through June 21. Learn more and plan your visit by checking out the event&#8217;s <a href="https://denhaag.com/en/blowup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>. You might also enjoy <em><a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/02/bubbletecture/">Bubbletecture</a>.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1500" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-7.jpg" alt="a tiny inflatable chair sculpture that looks enormous within a formal garden of a miniature city at Madurodam, The Hague" class="wp-image-474397" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-7-640x480.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-7-960x720.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-7-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-7-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An installation at Madurodam</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1426" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-9.jpg" alt="an inflatable, green, spiky tube installation around a sculpture in The Hague" class="wp-image-474399" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-9.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-9-640x456.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-9-960x684.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-9-768x548.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-9-1536x1095.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Steve Messam</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2322" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5.jpg" alt="a pink inflatable pavilion with a pointy roof in a park in The Hague" class="wp-image-474395" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5-640x743.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5-960x1115.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5-768x892.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5-1323x1536.jpg 1323w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-5-1764x2048.jpg 1764w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sigrid Calon</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-1.jpg" alt="inflatable sculptures loosely resembling branches or coral in a seafoam green color, installed in a park in The Hague" class="wp-image-474391" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-1-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-1-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Studio Meike Meijer</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1367" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-8.jpg" alt="an orange and pink inflatable installation wedged between two buildings in The Hague" class="wp-image-474398" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-8.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-8-640x437.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-8-960x656.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-8-768x525.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-8-1536x1050.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-2.jpg" alt="two inflatable sculptures in a park in The Hague" class="wp-image-474392" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-2-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-2-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Foreground: Raw Color</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1530" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-6.jpg" alt="a small spiked sculpture sits on the pointed tower roof of a model palace at the miniature tourist attraction Madurodam, The Hague" class="wp-image-474396" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-6.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-6-640x490.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-6-960x734.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-6-768x588.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/blowup-6-1536x1175.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A miniature installation by Steve Messam at Madurodam</figcaption></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/blowup-jubilee-the-hague-public-inflatable-art-installations/">&#8216;BlowUp Jubilee&#8217; Celebrates Inflatable Public Art in the Center of The Hague</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>Queer Figures Commune with Nature in J Carino&#8217;s Dynamic Paintings</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/artist-j-carino-queerness-nature-paintings/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Grace Ebert]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flowers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[identity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LGBTQ+]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[painting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plants]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474311</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-4.jpg" alt="Queer Figures Commune with Nature in J Carino&#8217;s Dynamic Paintings" />Blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes characterize J Carino's paintings, which question what we deem natural and innate.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/artist-j-carino-queerness-nature-paintings/">Queer Figures Commune with Nature in J Carino&#8217;s Dynamic Paintings</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-4.jpg" alt="Queer Figures Commune with Nature in J Carino&#8217;s Dynamic Paintings" />


<p>&#8220;Color, for me, is a heightened reality,&#8221; says <a href="https://www.jcarinoart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J Carino</a>. Through palettes rooted in a dynamic dance between earth and jewel tones, the artist renders lush scenes in which nude figures commune with nature. A sturdy back buttresses a fallen tree, chests and limbs peek through a summer meadow, and a muscular grip cradles a small mule amid a raging flood. Blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes characterize each composition, which question what we deem natural and innate.</p>



<p>The intimacies of queer life figure prominently in Carino&#8217;s work, which layers bodies and organic motifs into dense expanses. He employs a variety of source materials that range from renderings of live models and videos of himself to nature studies and plein air drawings in pastels, the latter of which often inform his color palettes. &#8220;Typically, my work begins with observation of nature. It might be a fallen tree, a particular animal or plant that I then make drawings of,&#8221; he adds.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2001" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of a nude figure with a small donkey in nature, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474319" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9-640x640.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9-960x960.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-9-1536x1536.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Flood&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<p>Researching the historical and cultural symbols associated with these organic forms follows, while allowing connections between objects and motifs to emerge spontaneously as he works. &#8220;I see patterns as a kind of personal language to symbolize larger concepts and themes that I can then weave together into different narratives,&#8221; the artist tells Colossal. &#8220;There is a collage-like aesthetic to my work that reflects these different pieces coming together.&#8221;</p>



<p>From biblical floods to determined donkeys to autumnal leaves, the elements that comprise Carino&#8217;s paintings touch on questions of desire, paradise, and queerness through human connection to the natural world. Even when disaster strikes, there&#8217;s an overwhelming sense of beauty and resilience, bolstered by both physical strength and deep bonds with one another. </p>



<p>Carino recently relocated to London, and he will start a master&#8217;s program at the Royal College of Art this fall. If you&#8217;re in Los Angeles, his work will be part of a group exhibition opening in early June at <a href="https://www.albertzbenda.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Albertz Benda</a>. Otherwise, find more on <a href="https://www.jcarinoart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his website</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/j.carino.art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1994" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of nude figures in a forested setting, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474320" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10-640x638.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10-960x957.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10-768x766.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-10-1536x1531.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;American Progress&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2135" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of a nude figure in nature, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474313" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2-640x683.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2-960x1025.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2-768x820.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2-1439x1536.jpg 1439w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-2-1919x2048.jpg 1919w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Tyrant&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2637" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of a nude figure in nature, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474316" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6-640x844.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6-960x1266.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6-768x1013.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6-1165x1536.jpg 1165w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-6-1553x2048.jpg 1553w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Carrying Beauty&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2984" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of a nude figure with a tree in nature, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474321" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11-640x955.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11-960x1432.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11-768x1146.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11-1029x1536.jpg 1029w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-11-1373x2048.jpg 1373w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Can&#8217;t Take the Roots&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2540" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of two men embracing in nature, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474317" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7-640x813.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7-960x1219.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7-768x975.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7-1209x1536.jpg 1209w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-7-1613x2048.jpg 1613w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Everything is Golden&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2004" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of nude figures in a forested water setting, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474318" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8-640x641.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8-960x962.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8-768x770.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-8-1533x1536.jpg 1533w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Eden&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2699" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3.jpg" alt="a painting by J Carino of nude figures in a lush meadow, rendered with blocks of color and gestural brushstrokes" class="wp-image-474314" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3-640x864.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3-960x1296.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3-768x1036.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3-1138x1536.jpg 1138w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/carino-3-1518x2048.jpg 1518w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;The Last Raven&#8221;</figcaption></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/artist-j-carino-queerness-nature-paintings/">Queer Figures Commune with Nature in J Carino&#8217;s Dynamic Paintings</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>In a Single Year, Ocean Census Scientists Discovered More than 1,100 New Marine Species</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/ocean-census-marine-science-wildlife-discoveries/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Mothes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 13:03:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Nature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coral]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ocean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ocean Census]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Schmidt Ocean Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474372</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-1.jpg" alt="In a Single Year, Ocean Census Scientists Discovered More than 1,100 New Marine Species" />According to the collaborative marine research initiative, up to 90 percent of ocean life remains a mystery.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/ocean-census-marine-science-wildlife-discoveries/">In a Single Year, Ocean Census Scientists Discovered More than 1,100 New Marine Species</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-1.jpg" alt="In a Single Year, Ocean Census Scientists Discovered More than 1,100 New Marine Species" />


<p>Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the earth, and yet there is so much we have yet to understand about these vast and biodiverse expanses. Even though we&#8217;ve recorded tens of thousands of marine creatures over the decades and scientists are discovering new species all the time, we&#8217;ve really only scratched the surface. According to The Nippon Foundation-Nekton <a href="https://oceancensus.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean Census</a>, up to 90 percent of ocean life remains a mystery.</p>



<p>A major <a href="/tags/ocean-census">collaborative program</a> involving <a href="/tags/schmidt-ocean-institute">Schmidt Ocean Institute</a> and many others, Ocean Census is accelerating the pace at which marine life is found and documented. Between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, alone, the initiative&#8217;s researchers officially discovered 1,121 new species through 13 expeditions and nine &#8220;species discovery workshops&#8221; involving leading scientists around the globe.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1481" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-9.jpeg" alt="a recently discovered carnivorous sea sponge with bulbous limbs" class="wp-image-474374" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-9.jpeg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-9-640x474.jpeg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-9-960x711.jpeg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-9-768x569.jpeg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-9-1536x1137.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Carnivorous &#8220;Death Ball&#8221; Sponge (Chondrocladia sp.), Phylum: Porifera. Taxonomist: Dr. Javier Francisco Cristobo Rodríguez. Image courtesy of ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute</figcaption></figure>



<p>&#8220;With many species at risk of disappearing before they are even documented, we are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life,&#8221; says Dr. Michelle Taylor, who is Head of Science for Ocean Census. &#8220;Too many species remain in limbo for years because the process of formally describing them is too slow. We urgently need to change that&#8230;Every new species—whether a shark or a sponge—deepens our understanding of marine ecosystems and the benefits they provide for the planet.&#8221;</p>



<p>Explore hundreds more newly discovered species on the Ocean Census <a href="https://oceancensus.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2109" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7.jpg" alt="a composite photograph of two recently discovered sea cave shrimp" class="wp-image-474381" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7-640x675.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7-960x1012.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7-768x810.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7-1457x1536.jpg 1457w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-7-1942x2048.jpg 1942w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sea cave shrimp (Caridion sp.1), Phylum: Arthropoda. Taxonomist: Dr. Hossein Ashrafi. Image courtesy of The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Hossein Ashrafi</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-6.jpeg" alt="a recently discovered ribbon worm underwater" class="wp-image-474380" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-6.jpeg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-6-640x427.jpeg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-6-960x640.jpeg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-6-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-6-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ribbon worm (Drepanophoridae sp.), Phylum: Nemertea. Taxonomist: Dr. Svetlana Maslakova. Image courtesy of The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Gustav Paulay</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1322" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-4.jpg" alt="a recently discovered tiny goby fish called a dwarfgoby" class="wp-image-474378" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-4.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-4-640x423.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-4-960x635.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-4-768x508.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-4-1536x1015.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dwarfgoby (Eviota sp.), Phylum: Chordata. Taxonomist: Dr. Chris Goatley. Image courtesy of Chris Goatley/The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1125" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-8.jpeg" alt="a recently discovered sea creature known as a &quot;sea pen&quot; with orange ruffles" class="wp-image-474373" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-8.jpeg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-8-640x360.jpeg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-8-960x540.jpeg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-8-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-8-1536x864.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mystery Ridge Sea Pen (Ptilella sp. OCSS_1146), Phylum: Cnidaria. Taxonomist: Dr. Raissa Hogan. Image courtesy of Paul Satchell/The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Schmidt Ocean Institute</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1584" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-5.jpg" alt="a recently discovered &quot;glass castle&quot; worm underwater" class="wp-image-474379" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-5.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-5-640x507.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-5-960x760.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-5-768x608.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-5-1536x1217.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;Glass castle&#8221; worm (Dalhousiella yabukii), Phylum: Annelida. Taxonomist: Dr. Naoto Jimi. Image courtesy of The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/JAMSTEC</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2202" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2.jpg" alt="a recently discovered type of coral" class="wp-image-474376" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2-640x705.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2-960x1057.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2-768x846.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2-1395x1536.jpg 1395w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-2-1860x2048.jpg 1860w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nicella sp.1. Phylum: Cnidaria. Image courtesy of The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1431" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-3.jpg" alt="a recently discovered orange burrowing sea anemone" class="wp-image-474377" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-3.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-3-640x458.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-3-960x687.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-3-768x550.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ocean-census-3-1536x1099.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Burrowing Sea Anemone (Harenactis sp.), Phylum: Cnidaria. Taxonomist: Dr. Agustín Garese. Image courtesy of The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Agustín Garese</figcaption></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/ocean-census-marine-science-wildlife-discoveries/">In a Single Year, Ocean Census Scientists Discovered More than 1,100 New Marine Species</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/hugh-broughton-architects-james-lambert-tile-london-underground/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Mothes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illustration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[architecture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[train stations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transportation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474352</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-8.jpg" alt="Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles" />Hugh Broughton Architects incorporates designs by artist and illustrator James Lambert, who interprets the distinctive character of each location.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/hugh-broughton-architects-james-lambert-tile-london-underground/">Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-8.jpg" alt="Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles" />


<p>Home to some of London&#8217;s most iconic landmarks, the City of Westminster sees around 25 million of tourists every year. Add that number to residents and professionals who transit through central London daily, and we&#8217;re talking <em>lots </em>of people using the Underground, a.k.a. the Tube. Fortunately for travelers, eight stations are getting restroom upgrades with a big assist from <a href="https://hbarchitects.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hugh Broughton Architects</a>.</p>



<p>When the Victorians established the first <a href="https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/stories/transport/public-transport-victorian-london-underground" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underground train network</a> in the mid-to-late 1800s, they incorporated arched details and tile work that is preserved today, often augmented with contemporary nods to the city&#8217;s history and culture. Opened in 1863 along the Metropolitan Line, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Street_tube_station" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baker Street</a> is one of the oldest stations. In a design convention seen throughout the Underground, decorated tiles added later feature a silhouette of Sherlock Holmes—a tribute to the character’s fictional address on the station’s titular street.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="787" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-4.jpg" alt="the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London" class="wp-image-474356" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-4.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-4-640x252.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-4-960x378.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-4-768x302.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-4-1536x604.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<p>Tile designs are richly embedded throughout the system. An architect named <a href="https://londonist.com/london/transport/leslie-green-tube-stations-map" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leslie Green</a> is known for a slew of deep red tile facades on more than a dozen central stations. Some interiors are covered practically <a href="https://www.hesmith.co.uk/tiling-projects/transport/london-underground/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top to bottom</a> with the material, with the location names and &#8220;Way Out&#8221; signs made entirely from ceramic. Bethnal Green station features fantastic <a href="https://alondoninheritance.com/under-london/the-tiles-at-bethnal-green-underground-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relief tiles</a> of London icons, and a few years ago, a design student named <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2023/07/27/london-underground-waste-repurposed-into-tiles-tube-stations-design/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeffrey Miller</a> even repurposed the Tube&#8217;s own waste into Art Nouveau-style tiles modeled on historic versions.</p>



<p>Hugh Broughton Architects&#8217; redesign continues this tradition, but it also serves the practical purpose of making these spaces safer, more inclusive, and more accessible. &#8220;There is a clear demand for public toilets across London, and many councils struggle with the costs surrounding maintenance and issues around antisocial behaviour,&#8221; says a statement. &#8220;To address this issue, the council is creating a series of inclusive facilities that demonstrate high-quality design and enshrine as much civic pride as the Victorians displayed when they first started looking at a proper sanitation system for the general public in the 19th century.&#8221;</p>



<p>The facilities at Victoria Embankment, Parliament Street, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Carnaby Street, Westminster Pier, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square are all getting vibrant makeovers. The tiles incorporate designs by artist and illustrator <a href="https://jameslambert.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Lambert</a>, who interprets the distinctive character of each location through historical motifs and iconography. Among numerous playful references, you&#8217;ll find patterns consisting of the King&#8217;s Guards in their iconically tall, black, furry helmets and a tribute to George John Vulliamy&#8217;s giant <a href="https://stuffaboutlondon.co.uk/stuff-about-london-blog/the-riddle-of-the-embankment-sphinx/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sphinxes</a> that guard Cleopatra&#8217;s Needle on the Embankment.</p>



<p>The restrooms are being refurbished in succession. Victoria Street opened in February 2025, followed by Parliament Street, and now Piccadilly Circus and Green Park. The next will be Carnaby Street and Westminster Bridge. Follow updates on the firm&#8217;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hba_london" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-9.jpg" alt="the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London" class="wp-image-474361" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-9.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-9-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-9-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-9-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1063" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-2.jpg" alt="the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London" class="wp-image-474354" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-2-640x340.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-2-960x510.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-2-768x408.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-2-1536x816.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-1.jpg" alt="the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London" class="wp-image-474353" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-1-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-1-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-6.jpg" alt="the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London" class="wp-image-474358" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-6.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-6-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-6-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-6-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-7.jpg" alt="the interior of a tube station bathroom design featuring colorful tiles in London" class="wp-image-474359" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-7-640x427.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-7-960x640.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/broughton-7-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/hugh-broughton-architects-james-lambert-tile-london-underground/">Eight London Underground Restrooms Get Vibrant Refurbs with Illustrated Tiles</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>Ava Roth Collaborates with Insects to Create &#8216;Kintsu-Bee&#8217; Ceramic Vessels</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/ava-roth-bees-honeycomb-ceramic-kintsugi-sculptures/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Mothes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:19:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Craft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ava Roth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ceramics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kintsugi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sculpture]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474333</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-9.jpg" alt="Ava Roth Collaborates with Insects to Create &#8216;Kintsu-Bee&#8217; Ceramic Vessels" />As bees build their hive, ceramics are mended in the spirit of a time-honored Japanese craft tradition.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/ava-roth-bees-honeycomb-ceramic-kintsugi-sculptures/">Ava Roth Collaborates with Insects to Create &#8216;Kintsu-Bee&#8217; Ceramic Vessels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-9.jpg" alt="Ava Roth Collaborates with Insects to Create &#8216;Kintsu-Bee&#8217; Ceramic Vessels" />


<p>In <a href="https://www.avaroth.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ava Roth</a>’s sculpture practice, a finished piece is the result of careful planning and tending, but the outcome can only be predicted so much. Whether creating wooden frameworks or organic embroideries, the artist <a href="/tags/ava-roth">leaves it to bees</a> to create the ultimate form.</p>



<p>Roth has long invited the honeycomb-building insects to play a role in her work, often adding wonderfully bulbous constructions that occasionally disrupt the artist&#8217;s carefully placed boundaries. Wooden pieces are mandala-like and take on the quality of low reliefs once the bees have done their part. Recently, she leapt into the three-dimensional realm via ceramics and a time-honored tradition of repair in her series <em>Kintsu-Bee.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2019" height="1758" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-5.jpg" alt="a ceramic plate that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb in the style of Japanese kintsugi" class="wp-image-474335" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-5.jpg 2019w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-5-640x557.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-5-960x836.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-5-768x669.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-5-1536x1337.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2019px) 100vw, 2019px" /></figure>



<p>The new body of work is a play on the Japanese word <em><a href="/tags/kintsugi">kintsugi</a>, </em>which describes a traditional method of repairing ceramics with metallic lacquer. The process embraces the nature of the breakage itself, mending the vessel yet highlighting the cracks as a way of embracing the object&#8217;s history rather than trying to camouflage it. In Roth&#8217;s iteration, bees are invited to reconstruct the missing parts, guided around forms to create the missing handle of a mug or fill in the fissures of a dinner plate.</p>



<p>&#8220;Mirroring the philosophy of <em>kintsugi</em>, the unique architecture of the comb acts both as a restorative measure and as a visual memory of the past,&#8221; says a statement. &#8220;When extracted, the delicacy and complexity of the composite objects—half human and half insect—tell a story not just of human violence but of the earth’s capacity for repair.&#8221;</p>



<p>See more on Roth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/avarothart/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2519" height="2577" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8.jpg" alt="a ceramic bowl that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb in the style of Japanese kintsugi" class="wp-image-474338" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8.jpg 2519w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8-640x655.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8-960x982.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8-768x786.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8-1501x1536.jpg 1501w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-8-2002x2048.jpg 2002w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2519px) 100vw, 2519px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="3018" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7.jpg" alt="a ceramic vase that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb in the style of Japanese kintsugi" class="wp-image-474337" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7.jpg 2560w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7-640x755.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7-960x1132.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7-768x905.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7-1303x1536.jpg 1303w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-7-1737x2048.jpg 1737w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="2615" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1.jpg" alt="a small ceramic vessel that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb in the style of Japanese kintsugi" class="wp-image-474340" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1.jpg 2560w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1-640x654.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1-960x981.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1-768x785.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1-1504x1536.jpg 1504w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-1-2005x2048.jpg 2005w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1736" height="1399" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-4.jpg" alt="a ceramic object that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb" class="wp-image-474334" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-4.jpg 1736w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-4-640x516.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-4-960x774.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-4-768x619.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-4-1536x1238.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1736px) 100vw, 1736px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1919" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-6.jpg" alt="a ceramic plate that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb in the style of Japanese kintsugi" class="wp-image-474336" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-6.jpg 1800w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-6-640x682.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-6-960x1023.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-6-768x819.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-6-1441x1536.jpg 1441w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1311" height="1106" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-2.jpg" alt="a ceramic mug that has been &quot;repaired&quot; with organically formed honeycomb in the style of Japanese kintsugi" class="wp-image-474341" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-2.jpg 1311w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-2-640x540.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-2-960x810.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roth-2-768x648.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1311px) 100vw, 1311px" /></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/ava-roth-bees-honeycomb-ceramic-kintsugi-sculptures/">Ava Roth Collaborates with Insects to Create &#8216;Kintsu-Bee&#8217; Ceramic Vessels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>Vibrant Miniature Dioramas by Shannon Taylor Burst from Vintage Compacts</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/shannon-taylor-miniature-watercolor-paper-dioramas/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kate Mothes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 10:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Craft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dioramas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[found objects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[miniature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mixed media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shannon Taylor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[watercolor]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474322</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-10.jpg" alt="Vibrant Miniature Dioramas by Shannon Taylor Burst from Vintage Compacts" />Nature and magic come alive in tiny watercolor scenes.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/shannon-taylor-miniature-watercolor-paper-dioramas/">Vibrant Miniature Dioramas by Shannon Taylor Burst from Vintage Compacts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-10.jpg" alt="Vibrant Miniature Dioramas by Shannon Taylor Burst from Vintage Compacts" />


<p>From dusky woodland scenes to fantastical landscapes populated by mythical creatures, <a href="https://shannondtaylor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shannon Taylor</a>’s vibrant dioramas spring to life inside vintage cosmetic compacts. Sourced from flea markets, vintage shops, friends, and anywhere else they might appear, the vessels themselves are often brimming with character, but they let on little about what <a href="/tags/shannon-taylor">resides inside</a>. Tiny mermaids, unicorns, and a range of flora and fauna made with watercolor on paper beckon us into a Polly Pocket-sized realm.</p>



<p>In addition to the inclusion of her work in <em><a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/common-waters-ocean-conservation-fundraiser-exhibition/">Common Waters</a> </em>at Arch Enemy Arts, Taylor is preparing for a solo exhibition titled <em>Minor Mending</em> at <a href="https://www.moderneden.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Modern Eden</a> in San Francisco, which opens on August 6. She also curated a show at the <a href="https://museumca.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oakland Museum of California</a> titled <em>Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic</em>, organized on behalf of <a href="https://fairyland.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children&#8217;s Fairyland</a>, where she is Director of Art and Restoration. The show continues through the end of the summer. See more on Taylor&#8217;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/magicmakerdreamweaver" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2150" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of a woman in a blue cloak, holding a rainbow, over a meadow of stars" class="wp-image-474330" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2-640x688.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2-960x1032.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2-768x826.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2-1429x1536.jpg 1429w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-2-1905x2048.jpg 1905w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1964" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-4.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of horses running through a field with the northern lights above" class="wp-image-474332" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-4.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-4-640x628.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-4-960x943.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-4-768x754.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-4-1536x1508.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1940" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-3.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact in the shape of Mayan heads in profile" class="wp-image-474331" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-3.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-3-640x621.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-3-960x931.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-3-768x745.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-3-1536x1490.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Exterior of the diorama shown above</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2184" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of snails and a rainbow-filled sky" class="wp-image-474325" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7-640x699.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7-960x1048.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7-768x839.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7-1407x1536.jpg 1407w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-7-1875x2048.jpg 1875w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2857" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6.jpg" alt="a sculptural cosmetic compact in the shape of a snail, photographed on a log outside" class="wp-image-474324" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6-640x914.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6-960x1371.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6-768x1097.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6-1075x1536.jpg 1075w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-6-1434x2048.jpg 1434w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Exterior of the diorama shown above</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2500" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of a large red cat-like creature and a number of shooting stars with prismatic tails" class="wp-image-474329" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1-640x800.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1-960x1200.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2737" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of a bat and red flowers" class="wp-image-474327" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9-640x876.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9-960x1314.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9-768x1051.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9-1122x1536.jpg 1122w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-9-1497x2048.jpg 1497w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2960" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of a unicorn made of flowers and its shadow or negative at the bottom in a field of flowers" class="wp-image-474326" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8-640x947.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8-960x1421.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8-768x1137.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8-1038x1536.jpg 1038w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-8-1384x2048.jpg 1384w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2500" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5.jpg" alt="a found cosmetic compact filled with a tiny watercolor diorama of a rainbow-filled sky being made in the studio" class="wp-image-474323" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5-640x800.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5-960x1200.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/taylor-5-1638x2048.jpg 1638w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A diorama in progress</figcaption></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/shannon-taylor-miniature-watercolor-paper-dioramas/">Vibrant Miniature Dioramas by Shannon Taylor Burst from Vintage Compacts</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Photographs that Shaped the Black Arts Movement in the Mid-20th Century</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/photography-black-arts-movement-exhibition/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Grace Ebert]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 15:07:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black and white]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[collage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[portraits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[street photography]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474292</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-6.jpg" alt="The Photographs that Shaped the Black Arts Movement in the Mid-20th Century" />'Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985' features works by more than 100 artists, journalists, organizers, and more.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/photography-black-arts-movement-exhibition/">The Photographs that Shaped the Black Arts Movement in the Mid-20th Century</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-6.jpg" alt="The Photographs that Shaped the Black Arts Movement in the Mid-20th Century" />


<p>Photography is often touted as the most democratic and accessible medium in the visual arts. Today, the majority of us carry phones equipped with powerful, easy-to-use cameras that capture our lives and the world around us, transforming each of us into a documentarian at a moment&#8217;s notice. This omnipresence shapes our understanding of art and culture and often serves as a critical tool for political and social change. </p>



<p>The same is true for a forthcoming exhibition at the <a href="https://www.msmuseumart.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mississippi Museum of Art</a>. <em>Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985</em> transports viewers to the mid-20th century, when the medium rose to prominence not only for artists but also for organizers, activists, and cultural icons. Featuring works by more than 100 photographers, the expansive exhibition ranges from editorial and commercial commissions to self-portraits and mixed-media social critiques. Many of the works push back against the state-sanctioned racism of the Jim Crow era and highlight the acts of protest that emerged from such discrimination.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1159" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-3.jpg" alt="a black and white photo of a crowd picketing" class="wp-image-474296" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-3.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-3-640x371.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-3-960x556.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-3-768x445.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-3-1536x890.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ernest Withers, I Am A Man, Sanitation Workers Strike, Memphis, Tennessee, March 28, 1968. Gelatin silver print, 7 ½ x 12 13/16 inches. Image © Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr., courtesy of the Withers Family Trust</figcaption></figure>



<p>Included is a graphic collage by Ralph Arnold titled &#8220;Above This Earth, Games, Games&#8221; that splices cut-outs of football matches with images of war and destruction. Taken that same year, 1968, was Ernest Withers&#8217;s captivating shot of Memphis sanitation workers picketing following <a href="https://toledomuseum.org/collection/art-minute/art-minute-ernest-c-withers-i-am-a-man-from-the-portfolio-i-am-a-man" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the death of two employees</a>. Creating a visual wall of signs declaring &#8220;I Am A Man,&#8221; the strikers in suits and hats demand both better working conditions and dignity and respect.</p>



<p>Cultural touchstones like the enigmatic musician and philosopher Sun Ra also appear. In a dynamic, black-and-white photo by Ming Smith, the jazz leader spins in front of the band, his glittering garb appearing like a halo of brilliant sparks.</p>



<p>Exhibition curators contextualize the show in a quote from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Bond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julian Bond</a>, a civil rights leader who helped establish the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee: “Pictures told, for those who could not see themselves, of the strength and beauty of the people, of the hostility and anger of the opposition, and of the promise of a world free of racism.”</p>



<p><em>Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985</em> is on view from July 25 to November 8 in Jackson.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2000" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7.jpg" alt="a collage with fields of color and cutout figures preaching, playing football, at war, and more" class="wp-image-474300" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7-640x640.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7-960x960.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-7-1536x1536.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ralph Arnold, Above This Earth, Games, Games, 1968, collage and acrylic on canvas, 45 x 45 inches. Image courtesy of Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, Chicago</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1399" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-1.jpeg" alt="a black and white photo of the musician in a space costume" class="wp-image-474302" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-1.jpeg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-1-640x448.jpeg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-1-960x672.jpeg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-1-768x537.jpeg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-1-1536x1074.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ming Smith, Sun Ra Space II, New York, New York, 1978, gelatin silver print, 6 x 8 13/16 inches. Image © Ming Smith</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2010" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4.jpg" alt="a portrait of a young Black woman with a sculptural silver necklace" class="wp-image-474297" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4-640x643.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4-960x965.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4-768x772.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-4-1528x1536.jpg 1528w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kwame Brathwaite, Untitled (Portrait of Manasie Ree Horn with Reels as Necklace), c. 1970, inkjet print, 29 ½ x 29 ½ inches. Image © Kwame Brathwaite</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="3030" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5.jpg" alt="a black and white photo of a photographer capturing a young Black girl looking into a shop window" class="wp-image-474298" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5-640x970.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5-960x1454.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5-768x1164.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5-1014x1536.jpg 1014w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-5-1352x2048.jpg 1352w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Doris Derby, Member of Southern Media photographing a young girl, Farish Street, Jackson, Mississippi, 1968, gelatin silver print, 12 7/8 x 8 5/8 inches. Image © Doris A. Derby</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1462" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-2.jpg" alt="a photo of a stylish couple walking along a street with their backs to the photographer" class="wp-image-474295" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-2.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-2-640x468.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-2-960x702.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-2-768x561.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-2-1536x1123.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Horace Ové, Walking Proud, Notting Hill Carnival, c. 1972, inkjet print, 34 x 24 inches. Image © Sir Horace Ové</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="3118" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8.jpg" alt="a photo of a photographer capturing himself in a mirror while wearing a red sweater" class="wp-image-474301" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8-640x998.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8-960x1497.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8-768x1197.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8-985x1536.jpg 985w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bam-8-1314x2048.jpg 1314w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Barkley L. Hendricks, Self-Portrait with Red Sweater, 1980 (printed 2023), chromogenic print. Image © Barkley L. Hendricks, courtesy of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York</figcaption></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/photography-black-arts-movement-exhibition/">The Photographs that Shaped the Black Arts Movement in the Mid-20th Century</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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		<title>130+ Artists Illuminate the Vast Creative Possibilities of the Nightlight</title>
		<link>https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/dudd-lite-artist-nightlights/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Grace Ebert]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 21:10:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[light]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sculpture]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thisiscolossal.com/?p=474275</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd.jpg" alt="130+ Artists Illuminate the Vast Creative Possibilities of the Nightlight" />130+ artists, 130+ distinctive takes on the household staple.</p>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/dudd-lite-artist-nightlights/">130+ Artists Illuminate the Vast Creative Possibilities of the Nightlight</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd.jpg" alt="130+ Artists Illuminate the Vast Creative Possibilities of the Nightlight" />


<p>Artists iterating on a seemingly mundane object is one of our favorite exhibition concepts. <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/01/couriers-of-hope/">Vintage envelopes</a>, <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/06/nucleus-portland-salut/">coasters</a>, and <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/11/general-strike-matchbox-show-chicago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">matchboxes</a> are just a fraction of the items galleries have offered as unique canvases for small works, and now, we can add nighlights to that list.</p>



<p>On view through June 26, <em>DUDD LITE</em> is a collaboration between the design collective <a href="https://www.duddhaus.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dudd Haus</a> and the gallery <a href="https://www.thefutureperfect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Future Perfect</a>. Curated through an open call that garnered nearly 400 submissions, the playful exhibition presents more than 130 artist-designed nightlights made from stained glass, wood, seashells, ceramic, cotton, and more. The small works hover between sculpture and functional object, each reflecting a distinctive sensibility and approach to a household staple. See all designs on <a href="https://www.thefutureperfect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Future Perfect website</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1440" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-6.jpg" alt="a sculptural wood bouquet night light" class="wp-image-474279" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-6.jpg 1440w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-6-640x640.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-6-960x960.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-6-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-6-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">James Burial, &#8220;Doom n’ Bloom&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1600" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-4.jpg" alt="an orange curvy night light" class="wp-image-474284" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-4.jpg 1440w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-4-640x711.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-4-960x1067.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-4-768x853.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-4-1382x1536.jpg 1382w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Normalcy, &#8220;Extension Cord Germination&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2486" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11.jpg" alt="a night light of legs and sea shells" class="wp-image-474277" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11-640x796.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11-960x1193.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11-768x955.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11-1236x1536.jpg 1236w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-11-1648x2048.jpg 1648w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chris Wolston, &#8220;Legs for Days&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1600" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-3.jpg" alt="a stained glass night light" class="wp-image-474283" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-3.jpg 1440w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-3-640x711.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-3-960x1067.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-3-768x853.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-3-1382x1536.jpg 1382w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nicholas Holmes, &#8220;Fire Light&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1214" height="1214" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-2.jpg" alt="a woven nightlight" class="wp-image-474282" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-2.jpg 1214w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-2-640x640.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-2-960x960.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-2-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1214px) 100vw, 1214px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mark Dineen, &#8220;Rite Lite&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1792" height="2400" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13.jpg" alt="a red inflatable tube man night light" class="wp-image-474278" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13.jpg 1792w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13-640x857.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13-960x1286.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13-768x1029.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13-1147x1536.jpg 1147w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-13-1529x2048.jpg 1529w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mikei Huang, &#8220;Wavy Night Dancer&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2629" src="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1.jpg" alt="an installation view of rows of night lights" class="wp-image-474281" srcset="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1-640x841.jpg 640w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1-960x1262.jpg 960w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1-768x1010.jpg 768w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1-1169x1536.jpg 1169w, https://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/dudd-1-1558x2048.jpg 1558w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/members">Colossal Member</a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/05/dudd-lite-artist-nightlights/">130+ Artists Illuminate the Vast Creative Possibilities of the Nightlight</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com">Colossal</a>.</p>
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