Author: Visionary Artistry Magazine

Catfish and the Bottlemen: Keeping It Real

“Yes, I know that I'll never work out exactly how you're thinking/but let me know when I'm needed home.” That’s how Catfish and the Bottlemen open their hit song “Kathleen.” The video has garnered over 11 million views on YouTube and 84 million plays on Spotify since its release in 2014.

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Richard Brandão: Fragmented Perceptions

“With my work I seek [proximity] with the art lover, provoking inquiries with the use of strong cores and the geometric elements to support this sensory vision.” This is how Brazilian, minimalist artist, Richard Brandão describes his art in the biography on his website. The artist is based in Fortaleza - a city in the Northeastern region of Brazil. The autobiographical passage also explains his background in art, “I started painting in 1992 at the age of 12. Totally self-taught, I do not [follow] the rules, I follow my instincts based on my experiences and perceptions!” 

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Drag Queens: Faces of High Fashion

Typically, when we think of fashion icons some of the types of people that come to mind are supermodels, pop stars, actors, and even reality television stars. Today, many fashion designers are finding a new type of muse: drag queens. With the popularity of the Emmy winning television show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and the rising attendance of pride festivals all over the country, drag has never had a platform quite as large as it does today. Many famous drag performers have risen to the top of the fashion industry, modeling on catwalks, being the face of ad campaigns, and posing for high fashion magazines. Some of the most notable queens making waves in the industry today are Miss Fame, Violet Chachki, and Aquaria. 

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Chakshyn: Leave your Gender Norms at the Door

Gender norms are tough. We are raised and taught as children that certain clothing items are fair game, while others are off-limits for no reason other than being “too girly” or “too boyish.” The restrictive confines of gender are piled upon us from a young age in both subliminal and direct messaging that causes a justifiable amount of confusion for individuals in our society. But what if we didn’t have to choose? That’s why Ukranian fashion designers Dima Chayun and Anton Yakshyn launched their brand Chakshyn in 2015, a clothing line inspired by the glaring but often overlooked shared aspects of masculine and feminine clothing. 

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Lauren Jackson Harris: The Art Pusher

The word “no,” never phased her, and a closed-door never stopped her. She’s as sedulous as they come, and even though Lauren Jackson Harris has taken many hits, somehow she has managed to find her footing in an art world filled with “heavy weights.” Shadow-boxing her way through, embracing both traditional and non-traditional routes, in an effort to mold a rewarding career focusing on her love for the arts and giving back to the community.

You are unauthorized to view this page.

James Hautman: Put His Stamp on the Nation

In the acclaimed black comedy thriller Fargo (Coen, 1996), the ending scene tracks police officer “Marge Gunderson,” as she crawls into bed with her husband “Norm.” As they watch TV, Norm shares that his artwork won an appearance on the 3-cent stamp, but he remarks, “Hautman’s blue-winged teal got the 29-cent.” In that instance, Norm joined the scores of people who have lost art competitions to a Hautman Brother, three brothers from Minnesota who’ve garnered national recognition for their scenic artwork. 

You are unauthorized to view this page.