Courtney Blackann
When you take a drunk and a slightly paranoid individual and send them running into a fun house where an evil clown awaits, you come out with New York's new premier artist Wyatt Mills' stark and intriguing works of art.
Honest and a bit surreal, Mills creates shockingly blunt paintings on canvas. As a 22-year-old painter who lives in Los Angeles, he emerges on darker issues plaguing society. But don't be fooled, Mills still takes to the sunny beaches and loves surfing, eating out and music. His canvases are merely a creative reflection of what exists around us all. He attempts to expose our fears and utmost anxieties. He accomplishes this feat by finding his own creative voice through anger, frustration, fear and lots of observation.
As a young artist illustrating such deep issues, it would appear Mills' insights are way beyond his years. "I forgot who said it, but I once read ‘anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity," he told online art forum platinumcheese.com. As creativity goes, Mills' art proves to be ever flowing and full of statements.
With nudity, caked makeup faces, bold lines of nightmarish realities and pleomorphic images, the up and coming artist poses a challenge to society's standards. In a very confrontational way, Mills opens the door to questions of everyday values. What sets his work apart from other artists is his inhibitions. From looking at the work, you'll know within seconds if you're offended, inspired or creeped out. He claims that his honesty is important.
Cross your straight shooter best friend, a little wild and surreptitious in nature, although nurturing a keen sense of intuition, and someone who is usually spot on, with the outward appearance of a clunky, beardy beast of a man with a sense of humor and imagination. The result? You get out-of-the-box rapper/chef Action Bronson.
"I am a f**king fat white boy. I have to be able to rap. I don't have the look. I don't have the typical slim dude, fancy boy look. That's not me. I have to be able to rap, there's no other choice or I get eaten alive," the outspoken artist said to online music source xxlmag.com.
Truthfully, when you glance over Action Bronson, you ask yourself which genre he fits into. The New Yorker from Flushing Queens is a bit of a misfit in the ultimate sense of the word. He's unapologetic and stubborn with a sense of loyalty and fresh ideas. Born to an Albanian father and Jewish mother, he inspires a new avenue for rappers.
The 21st century has marked some of the most heightened technological advancements. Who would have thought that Facebook would lead to quick international communication? Or that the "selfie" would actually become a part of everyday language? Through social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook have created a world of photography for the everyday person. Though unprofessional and mainly edited using filters, people are constantly communicating through the lens of their iPhone, making human connections that exemplify what relationships can become.
For one man, American photographer Steve McCurry, this is exactly what the evolution of photojournalism is about. Born in 1950, McCurry has documented over 30 years of evolving photography, clinging to people-centered art. The connections, the emotions and the words that are silently projected from his work are eloquently depicted in years of travel and experience.
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