Art News

7 Things To Know This Week In Art

#1: Details Weighs In on Buying Art Online

“Hot” by Hanna Ilczyszyn is featured in our New This Week collection

Details Magazine recently put together a list of the 6 best places to buy art online, lauding the easy and unfettered process of going the digital route as compared to the sometimes intimidating experience of purchasing from a brick-and-mortar gallery. We’re honored to be on this list, in good company.

As Jack Archer for Details explains:

Saatchi Art has a little bit of everything, but most interestingly, has a wide range of prices. So whether your budget is three figures or six, there’s art for you.

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Whether you’re new to buying art or a seasoned veteran, we’re here to help you each step of the way. Our curators can work with you one-on-one to help you find art you love, and our customer support team is on call throughout the white glove delivery process to ensure a seamless experience. To top if off, we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee so you can buy with confidence and leave the details to us.

New to buying art? Send us a note and let us know how we can help.

#2: Get #InspiredByEMOTION with Carly Rae Jepsen

“The Fall” by Deniz Hotamisligil

It’s like free falling to give your heart to someone. That’s what I see when I look at this painting. A brave free fall into the red. —Carly Rae Jepsen

Saatchi Art has partnered with multi-platinum Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen in curating a series of works inspired by her forthcoming album, E·MO·TION. This album exposes a more personal side of Jepsen, and the works in this special handpicked collection evoke the spirit of young love—moody and nostalgic, romantic and bittersweet.

Carly is inviting artists to create and upload their own work inspired by the album to Saatchi Art, where they will be considered for inclusion in her collection. For more details and to participate, visit the show page.

Click here to pre-order E·MO·TION.

See the artworks currently on view in #InspiredByEMOTION

#3: Design Pro Hayley Miner Explains How To Decorate With Ombré

“Purple Gradient” by Jing Jing

Love ombré? This week Saatchi Art’s Director of Art Advisory to the Trade Hayley Miner divulges her tips on how to incorporate the gradient effect in your home. Defined as the “gradual blending of one color hue into another,” ombré can be applied to everything from hair, a painting, drapes, walls and more. Add it to your home for a touch of romance and drama.

Discover all of Hayley’s tips on decorating with ombré.

For even more inspiration, see a collection of ombré-inspired works on Saatchi Art.

#4: Now in his 80s, Maurice Sapiro Hits His Artistic Stride

“A Flower In Her Hair” by Maurice Sapiro

Maurice Sapiro‘s luminous Turner-esque landscapes have garnered the Connecticut-based artist much attention on Saatchi Art and in the press, but his artistic talents extend far beyond landscapes; his Saatchi Art portfolio reveals portrait painting, photography and sculpture in his repertoire, as well.

Maurice’s powerful portraits have recently caught the eye of Danielle Krysa, aka the artist behind The Jealous Curator, who found herself enraptured by his meticulous use of color—such as an unexpected yellow smear of paint in an otherwise inky ground. A former music educator, Maurice has honed his artistic practice for over 60 years and says that hitting his artistic stride at 81 was “worth the wait.” Learn more about his inspiring story.

Visit The Jealous Curator to see Danielle’s picks of Maurice’s portraits.

Be sure to check out Maurice’s work available on Saatchi Art.

#5: Cai Guo­-Qiang’s Latest Pyrotechnic Project Illuminates the Chinese Sky

“Sky Ladder” burns bright above China’s Huiyu Island Harbour [Colossal]

This week artist Cai Guo-Qiang realized a childhood dream when he sent a huge, helium filled balloon into the sky above Huiyu Island Harbour in Quanzhou, China. The project, appropriately entitled “Sky Ladder,” was earlier attempted by the artist three times with unsatisfying results.

At dawn on Tuesday, Guo-Qiang ascended into the sky a white balloon filled with 6,200 cubic meters of helium, trailed by a ladder covered in fireworks and quick burning fuses. The results of which burned for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, enthralling onlookers below and worldwide.

Keep up with remarkable art happenings around the world by following Saatchi Art on Facebook and Instagram.

#6: Rebecca Wilson Shares her ‘Friday Five’ on Design Milk

Saatchi Art Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson, with a painting by Erin Morrison [Photo by Pierre Auroux for Malibu Magazine]

This week our Chief Curator and VP, Art Advisory Rebecca Wilson shared five things she can’t get enough of. Part of Design Milk‘s ‘Friday Five,’ this weekly series features 5 hand-picked items from influencers of all types. With her keen eye for art and design, it’s no wonder Design Milk came knocking.

Among her favorites is a painting by artist Erin Morrison (pictured above). As Rebecca says,

I first saw [Erin’s] work when she graduated from UCLA and love the way she combines paint, concrete, quilting, and both abstract and figurative elements. I haven’t been so excited by a new artist for some time. This work is over 7ft tall and is the second thing I look forward to seeing every morning.

Curious about the rest? See all of Rebecca’s selections on Design Milk.

#7: Anna Madia Featured on Booooooom

“The Dreamer” by Anna Madia

Anna Madia‘s portraits feel like intimate glimpses into her subjects’ lives, and her soft, expressive brushwork coupled with wistful body language reveal an underlying tension. As Anna explained in our One to Watch feature,

My actual subjects live in a sleepwalker’s universe, caught in a moment that lies between dreaming and waking. I’m interested in the hypnagogic hallucinations and the troubles of sleep, and I try to use some feminine symbols important from my childhood: the wool used in mattresses, hair, doilies, and so on…

We’re not the only ones charmed by Anna’s portraits—this week popular contemporary art blog Booooooom put the spotlight on Anna’s work.

See Anna on Booooooom.

Learn more about One-to-Watch Anna Madia, and take a peek at her works in progress on Saatchi Art.

What art happenings are you talking about this week?