Araignee

This is a recent piece from one of my favorite artists, Stephane Halleux. It’s quite a bit more sinister in nature than much of his work, so it fits nicely here. All of his work is meticulously crafted and reflects his interest in comics. His leather clad creations are often more whimsical than dark, but they all seem to share the feeling of man and machine combined. See more at www.stephanehalleux.com (helps if you read french).

Marco

I’ve always had an affinity for found object sculptures and Jessica Joslin’s are amazing. Using bones (real and replica) and antique ephemera, she creates a menagerie of zoological oddities. What’s the most incredible is the amount of expression that each creation conveys even though they are only bits of bone and metal. See the whole zoo at www.jessicajoslin.com.

Lies and Persuasion

I am completely and utterly amazed at the amount of detail that goes into each of Kris Kuksi’s macabre sculptures. Each one consist of hundreds if not thousands of pieces, all woven together to create a comprehensive and highly evocative image. Laced with metaphor and innuendo, each sculpture is a world unto itself. To see what I mean, visit his site where you can view the images in outstanding detail. http://kuksi.com.

It’s not everyday you come across an artist/taxidermist and Thanksgiving seemed the perfect day to share this one. Polly Morgan creates still lifes using deceased animals (this brings Monty Python’s dead parrot sketch to mind). By placing the animals in somewhat out-of-place situations, she forces the viewer to really look at the animal. Her still lifes range from slightly morbid to fairly humorous. And not to worry, all of the animals died of natural causes. See the rest of her unusual work at www.pollymorgan.co.uk/

Thimble Riggers

Creating intimate vignettes, Elizabeth McGrath draws viewers into a world of her own making. Filled with characters from the dark edges of her imagination, you’re pulled into the small venues and the stories that lie within, left to wander about and draw your own particular conclusions as to their meaning. Rich in detail and color, it’s a show you’re sure to enjoy. See  it all at www.elizabethmcgrath.com.

Caterpillar

Kevin Titzer’s creations fall somewhere between macabre and disturbing and whimsical and quirky, which for this blog, as the little bear said, is just right. They have a certain, twisted, folk art appeal that leaves you wondering what exactly Kevin was thinking when he created them, but you’re left on your own to formulate a story that goes with each wry character. See the whole cast at www.kevintitzer.com.

Ether or

Sienna

Michael deMeng is another of my all time favorite found object artists. His book The Secrets of Rusty Things is on my bookshelf. He takes what, at first glance, would appear to be a complete jumble of unrelated items and transforms them into totems, shrines and toys. I’ve always been fascinated with the re-purposing of discarded and unused objects and he is a master at it. As he says:

My work is about transformations.  It is about the transformation of the common into the sacred.  Discarded materials find new and unexpected uses in my work; they are reassembled and conjoined with unlikely components, a form of rebirth from the ashes into new life and new meaning. 

Check out the awesomeness at www.michaeldemeng.com.

Colleen Downs (aka Loopy Boopy) creates amazing dolls and doll head ornaments from polymer clay, acrylic, paint, pastels and vintage fabric. From zombies to ghosts to that most frightening of all apparitions, the clown, she meticulously fashions her pale creatures and sets them loose on the world through her etsy shop. She’s incredibly prolific and there’s something for everybody, at least everybody who’s looking for something a bit different when it comes to dolls. Also check out her blog at http://loopyboopy.blogspot.com.

Power Figure Doll Sculpture

Partially influenced by world art, pop culture and mythology, Shain Erin produces art dolls that evoke at once a primitve, sideshow aesthetic and a childlike innocence. Their withered heads and raglike bodies are carefully crafted from a variety of materials including found objects, fabric and paperclay. Shain then ages them using various techniques to give them the feeling of antiquity. If you’d like to have one of your very own (I know I would) visit Shain’s website at www.shainerin.com or his etsy shop.