2025-06-03 01:58:06
For Queensland-based artist Shane Drinkwater, self-imposed restrictions provide a key starting point for works he creates in ink, pen, acrylic, and collage—always in a square format measuring about 50 by 50 centimeters. Arrows, crosses, dots, and numbers build linear elements and patterns, while primary colors provide the foundation for the occasional green or gradient.
Drawing on a lifelong love for maps, ciphers, and astronomical charts, Drinkwater continues to explore the possibilities of fictional cosmic networks (previously). In some pieces, concentric circles resemble diagrams of the Solar System, while in others, references to comets or esoteric systems suggest the imaginary workings of atomic phenomena or alchemical experiments.
Drinkwater’s work was recently included in the book Elements: Chaos, Order and the Five Elemental Forces, published by Thames & Hudson. He is currently preparing work for art fairs this fall in Copenhagen and Paris, along with a group show at Gagné Contemporary in Toronto. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
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2025-06-03 01:10:33
What if an AI-led totalitarian regime banned analogue technology? What if we were forced to live underwater due to climate catastrophes? And what if our emotions were no longer private but visible to everyone?
These are just some of the provocative questions that fuel speculative design—a discipline that dares to imagine alternative futures by blending creativity with research. It challenges conventional thinking, moving beyond aesthetics and functionality to turn design into a powerful tool for critical reflection.
At IED Firenze, students of the Master’s in Graphic Design explored this forward-thinking approach in depth as part of their Research and Trend Forecasting course. Guided by professor and course coordinator Isabella Ahmadzadeh, they embraced the role of future thinkers, creating individual “what if” scenarios rooted in emerging trends.
Located in the heart of Florence, IED Firenze is a hub for innovation, culture, and creativity. It offers an international environment where students from around the world come together to push the boundaries of design. The school blends traditional Italian craftsmanship with contemporary visions, fostering bold experimentation across disciplines.
Each student developed a unique and thought-provoking premise—ranging from dystopian projections to critiques of current societal issues—as the conceptual foundation for a 32-page visual essay. These essays became immersive spaces for experimentation, where collage, personal artwork, typography, and AI-generated imagery converged to visualize speculative futures.
The result is a collection of visual narratives that go beyond showcasing design skills. They question the trajectory of our world, examine the cultural and technological shifts ahead, and ultimately remind us of the power of design—not just to reflect reality but to reimagine it.
To learn more about the Master’s Course in Graphic Design at IED Firenze, visit ied.edu.
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2025-06-02 22:58:54
Crumbling shingle roofs, peeling plywood, and fragmented framing characterize much of Seth Clark’s recent work, in which spheres or mounds of dilapidated houses serve as studies of texture, material, time, and neglect. In new work on view this week in his solo exhibition Passing Through at Paradigm Gallery + Studios, he’s made one mindful addition: limbs.
The Pittsburgh-based artist’s collaged paper paintings, pastel and ink transfer drawings, and sculptures reflect his interest in the chaotic aesthetic of collapsing houses. More recently, his jumbled compositions have sprouted legs, strolling or running and adding a sense of both urgency and playfulness to the architectural forms.
Drawing on daily observations and photographs, especially of Pittsburgh’s suburban row houses, Clark assembles references for window frames, siding, gables, roof lines, and more to emphasize various states of deterioration. Found materials and papers provide the paintings’ layered textures, which he then ages with ink washes, charcoal, graphite, pastel, and acrylic. His new works are dollhouse-like and a smidge brighter than in the past, with the addition of cheerful pinks, yellows, and purples to complement darker browns and grays.
Clark’s anthropomorphized constructions suggest the nature of inhabiting—something akin to the soul of a place in addition to its physical makeup. The artist “attributes this change to recently becoming a father and developing an urge to instill hope into crumbling houses and broken window panes,” the gallery says. “What was first a sobering reminder of mortality has now become a message of how, even in states of chaos and decay, there can still be enough joy found in dark places to pick up the pieces and create something new.”
Passing Through runs from June 6 to June 29 in Philadelphia. See more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
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2025-06-01 02:28:10
Academic research is notoriously niche and often opaque, but Dr. Ella Hawkins has found a crowd-pleasing way to share her studies. The Birmingham-based artist and design historian translates her interests in Shakespeare performance, costume, and material culture into edible replicas.
Hawkins bakes batches of cookies that she tops with royal icing. Decorating takes a scholarly turn, as she uses tiny paintbrushes and a mini projector to help trace imagery of William Morris’ ornate floral motifs or coastal scenes from English delftware. Rendering a design on a single cookie can take anywhere between two and four hours, depending on the complexity. Unsurprisingly, minuscule calligraphy and portraits are most demanding.
Hawkins first merged baking and her research about a decade ago while studying undergraduate costume design at the University of Warwick. She decided to bake cupcakes based on Shakespeare productions that her class examined. “It felt like a fun way to look back at all the different design styles we’d covered through the year,” she tells Colossal, adding:
I carried on decorating cakes and cookies based on costume design through my PhD (mainly as goodies to give out during talks, or as gifts for designers that I interviewed), then branched out and spent lots of time doing cookie versions of other artefacts to keep busy during the pandemic.
She has since published an academic book on the topic and is a senior lecturer at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. But she also continues to translate artifacts and prized objects held within museum collections into delicious canvases.
There’s a set made in collaboration with Milton’s Cottage, a museum in the country house where John Milton finished his epic Paradise Lost. Anchored by a delicately crosshatched portrait evoking that of the frontispiece, the collection contains typographic titles and signs that appear straight from a 17th-century book.
Hawkins ventures farther back in history to ancient Greece with a collection of pottery sherds inspired by objects within the Ashmolean Museum. With a bowed surface to mimic a vessel’s curvature, the irregular shapes feature fragments of various motifs and figures to which she applied a sgraffito technique, a Renaissance method of scratching a surface to reveal the layer below.
The weathered appearance is the result of blotting a base of pale brown-grey before using a scribe tool to scratch and crack the royal icing coating the surface. She then lined these etchings with a mix of vodka and black food coloring to mimic dirt and wear. (It’s worth taking a look at this process video.)
Other than a select few preserved for talks and events, Hawkins assures us that the rest of her cookies are eaten. Find more of her work on her website and Instagram.
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2025-05-31 02:32:31
Every month, we share opportunities for artists and designers, including open calls, grants, fellowships, and residencies. Make sure you never miss out by joining our monthly Opportunities Newsletter.
Spring $1,800 Innovate Grants for Art + PhotoFeatured
Innovate Grant awards two $1,800 grants each quarter to one visual artist and one photographer. In addition, twelve applicants will receive honorable mentions, be featured on the website, and join a growing community. International artists and photographers working in any medium are eligible.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PST on June 26, 2025.
Open Calls
Artadia Awards (San Francisco Bay area)
Artists receive unrestricted funds of $15,000, and honoraria will also be provided to finalists.
Deadline: June 1, 2025.
Artville Public Art Open Call (U.S.)
Artists are welcome to submit proposals for temporary, site-specific public art projects to be showcased throughout Nashville during the Artville festival weekend, September 26 to 28, 2025. Selected artists will be invited to accept a grant to bring their creative visions to life, plus the chance for a cash prize. Total cash prizes equal $10,000.
Deadline: June 4, 2025.
Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition (International)
This online-only competition is open to all women artists working in watercolor on paper, synthetic paper, watercolor board, Yupo, or other two-dimensional surfaces. Awards range from $2,500 to $150. There is a $35 entry fee.
Deadline: June 8, 2025.
2026 Creative Promise Prize in Fashion (U.S.)
The Vilcek Foundation will award six $50,000 prizes to young immigrants working in fashion curation, material innovation, makeup, hair, writing, curation, styling, design, and photography. Read more on Colossal.
Deadline: June 9, 2025.
Art Renewal Center Salon Competition (International)
Dedicated to 21st-century realism, this competition offers $130,000+ in cash awards. Categories include figurative, portraiture, landscape, sculpture, and more. There is a $93 entry fee.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PST on June 12, 2025.
Weather Photographer of the Year (International)
Hosted by the Royal Meteorological Society, this competition showcases the world’s most striking weather and climate photographs and raises awareness about the environmental issues putting our planet at risk. Open to photographers of all ages and abilities, the contest offers a £5,000 cash prize.
Deadline: June 19, 2025.
AAP Magazine #49 B&W Photography Open Call (International)
The contest is open to any interpretation of black-and-white photography. Winners will receive $1,000 and their winning image(s) or full portfolio published in AAP Magazine, vol. 49, There is a $35 entry fee for the first three images, plus $5 for each additional image.
Deadline: June 24, 2025.
Midwest Open (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota)
The Midwest Open is Woman Made Gallery’s annual exhibition highlighting women and nonbinary artists living in the Midwest. All media and subject matter are eligible, and cash prizes range from $100 to $300. There is a $35 submission fee.
Deadline: June 28, 2025.
Nest Heritage Craft Prize (Texas)
Makers, artists, and crafters are eligible to submit works that demonstrate technical mastery and a connection to cultural tradition through a singular, one-of-a-kind handcrafted piece. The winner will receive $25,000, and four finalists will also receive grant funding.
Deadline: June 30, 2025.
16th Epson International Pano Awards (International)
This panoramic photography contest is open for entries and offering more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. There is an $18 entry fee.
Deadline: July 21, 2025.
Grants
Art Fluent Evolution Grant (International)
Art Fluent awards a $1,000 grant to one visual artist each cycle. The unrestricted funds may be applied toward any expense to enhance the artist’s ability to create work. There is a $35 entry fee.
Deadline: June 6, 2025.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) Get Ready Grants (U.S.)
Get Ready Grants provide craft artists with up to $1,000 for activities to safeguard their studios, protect their practices, and prepare for emergencies. Priority is given to applicants who have been underrepresented in the craft community, including BIPOC and folk/traditional artists.
Deadline: June 10, 2025.
Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist Grants (Australia)
Two funding rounds annually are open to individual artists working across disciplines who can apply for grants of up to AUD $15,000. This round funds travel or projects that commence after September 19, 2025.
Deadline: June 17, 2025.
Grants for Artists’ Progress (Washington State)
This program offers 65 unrestricted grants of $1,500 for artists working in all disciplines across Washington State.
Deadline: June 23, 2025.
Queer | Art Illuminations Grant (U.S.)
This $10,000 grant is designed to highlight an existing body of work by a Black trans woman visual artist. Four finalists will also receive $1,250.
Deadline: July 2, 2025.
Liu Shiming Art Foundation’s Artist Grants (International)
Each year, the Liu Shiming Art Foundation selects up to five artists to receive a $5,000 grant. Visual artists working for at least two years (but not more than 10) are invited to apply for a grant in support of a current or new project.
Deadline: August 21, 2025.
Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Grant 2025 (International)
Vital Impacts offers one $20,000 grant to an established environmental photographer, along with six $5,000 grants to emerging photographers from around the world. These funds are specifically earmarked for the development of documentary projects focusing on environmental stories.
Deadline: September 15, 2025.
The Adolf and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant (International)
This program provides one-time financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs resulted from an unforeseen catastrophic incident and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Awardees typically receive $5,000, up to $15,000.
Deadline: Rolling.
Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund (Ukraine)
This fund commissions visual artists to create company projects on a rolling basis. Awardees will receive between $500 and $5,000.
Deadline: Rolling.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (International)
The foundation welcomes applications from painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper, including printmakers. Grants are intended for one year and range up to $50,000. The artist’s circumstances determine the size of the grant, and professional exhibition history will be considered.
Deadline: Rolling.
Residencies, Fellowships, & More
The Farm Margaret River Residency (International)
This five- to eight-week residency is geared toward site-responsive projects and engagement with the land. Residents receive a $7,500 stipend, studio space, accommodations, and travel assistance.
Deadline: 5 p.m. AWST on June 2, 2025.
Wassaic Project 2026 Residency Program (International)
Wassaic Project is accepting proposals for the 2026 summer and winter residencies. Artists receive a semi-private studio space; private room in a shared house (the Family program receives a private house); access to a wood shop, print shop, and kiln; staff support; and programming such as our visiting artist program, artist talks, studio visits, open studios, artist presentations, etc. The residency fee is $900, and fellowships are available. There is a $25 entry fee.
Deadline: June 2, 2025.
Headlands Center for the Art Artist-in-Residence (International)
Residencies of four to ten weeks include studio space, chef-prepared meals, housing, travel, and living expenses. Artists selected for this program are at all career stages and work in all media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and nonfiction writing, poetry, dance, music, interdisciplinary, social practice, arts professions, and architecture. There is a $45 application fee.
Deadline: June 2, 2025.
Banff Centre Artist in Residence – Winter 2026 (International)
Individual and duo visual artists at any stage of their career are eligible for this residency, which offers focus in a supportive learning environment. During five weeks, participants are encouraged to self-direct their research and time and cultivate new directions. Studio space is provided.
Deadline: June 11, 2025.
Prairie Ronde Artist Residency (International)
These five- to six-week residencies offer a $2,000 stipend, $500 travel grant, and housing to artists interested in interacting with the former Lee Paper Company mill in Vicksburg, Michigan. There is a $25 application fee.
Deadline: June 15, 2025.
Stove Works Residency (International)
This program invites eight residents for one to three months. Six studios are designed for artists who require significant space in their practice, while the other two are for writers, curators, and academics. There is a $30 application fee.
Deadline: June 15, 2025.
Women’s Studio Workshop (International)
WSW is accepting applications for two programs: A studio residency open to artists working in intaglio, letterpress, papermaking, screenprinting, darkroom photography, or ceramics; and an education residency for artists interested in working with local students. Both tracks offer studio space and housing.
Deadline: June 15, 2025.
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture (U.S.)
Artists, ecological scientists, and scholars wanting to explore connections to nature, land conservation, historic preservation, agriculture, and community building are invited to apply for this program. Studio space, accommodations, a $200 per week stipend, and more are provided.
Deadline: 5 p.m. PST on June 20, 2025.
Peters Valley School of Craft Residency (International)
This program is open to artists working in blacksmithing, ceramics, fibers, jewelry and fine metals, wood, and printmaking. Residents spend two weeks or one month in fully equipped studios, receive a $500 or $1,000 stipend, and are offered housing. There is a $10 application fee.
Deadline: July 1, 2025.
Penland School of Craft (International)
Professional craft artists at pivotal moments in their creative practices or careers are eligible for one-year project residencies or three-year career transition residencies. Housing and studio space are provided.
Deadline: July 2, 2025.
The Kyoto Retreat (International)
Artists, curators, and writers are eligible for this four-week retreat in Kyoto for research, exploration, and inspiration. Chosen applicants receive a round-trip flight, a private bedroom, and $800 to supplement meals and local transportation.
Deadline: July 15, 2025.
If you’d like to list an opportunity, please contact [email protected].
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article June 2025 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists appeared first on Colossal.
2025-05-30 22:30:36
“We believe in the power of stories to tickle senses and shift perceptions,” says Marshmallow Laser Feast, an experiential artist collective merging art, extended reality (XR), and film into large-scale, immersive exhibitions.
MLF’s latest work, Of the Oak, situates a monumental, six-meter-tall, double-sided video of the titular tree in London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The piece focuses on the garden’s Lucombe oak, portraying a “digital double” using real-world data.
MLF collaborated with researchers from Kew to create a vibrant, scientific rendering, blending advanced technologies with artistic imagery. The team stitched together thousands of images, used LiDAR to map the tree’s form with laser pulses, CT-scanned soil samples, employed ground-penetrating radar to trace the root system, and recorded a series of 24-hour soundtracks.
“Of the Oak is a celebration for the oak tree as a living monument of vital ecological relationships and species interdependence,” MLF says. “It is an invitation to witness the oak as a keystone in the web of life, majestic and unassuming, stretching its branches skyward and its roots deep into the soil, embodying both quiet strength and boundless generosity.”
Visitors can access a stunning digital field guide on their phones or via desktop from anywhere, featuring a series of meditations that “tune into the invisible bond between humans and trees.” The app also includes an interactive species guide highlighting the diverse range of birds, insects, fungi, and other inhabitants that rely on oak trees for survival.
Of the Oak continues at Kew through September 28. Marshmallow Laser Feast is also currently presenting an immersive, seven-room exhibition titled YOU:MATTER at the National Science and Media Museum as part of Bradford 2025 U.K. City of Culture. See more projects on the collective’s website.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article In ‘Of the Oak,’ a Magnificent Tree at Kew Gardens Gets an Immersive ‘Digital Double’ appeared first on Colossal.