The Best of the New at Art Basel Miami Beach

Valeska Soares, You and I, 2011.  Courtesy of Eleven Rivington

No party coverage here, let's focus on emerging artists instead. Read my top picks for best emerging art at the 2011 Art Basel Miami Beach, NADA and PULSE, featured on the Huffington Post.

The Debut of My Huffington Post Blog, Beyond the White Cube

I am thrilled to announce that I have been invited to blog for the Huffington Post. To read my debut entry and follow my column, please click here.

My first feature is on the talented young painter Stephanie Pryor

The Art Newspaper Feature

Glenn Kaino and five other emerging LA artists featured in The Art Newspaper in an article by yours truly...

Please click here to read

OPEN PLATFORM Panel at Art Platform - Los Angeles

ART MIDDLE EAST Presents: How Have International Initiatives Affected Contemporary Middle Eastern Art? Part II

Biennials, museum acquisitions and exhibitions, artist prizes, and public and 
private art commissions by institutions around the world have put a spotlight on Contemporary art from the Middle East. Nazy Nazhand, Founder of ART MIDDLE EAST, presents a discussion on the impact of these initiatives and how they 
have reinterpreted and reframed our perception of Middle Eastern art. Continue Story.

Vanity Fair & The Art of Elysium

On February 23, 2011, The Art of Elysium continued its partnership with Vanity Fair and hosted its 4th annual artist and celebrity-studded Pieces of Heaven Art Auction. The auction is part of the magazine's Campaign Hollywood Oscar-week celebrations. And what a celebration it was! Continue Story.

The Big Picture: Shepard Fairey + Mark Mothersbaugh

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with Shepard Fairey and Mark Mothersbaugh on the exhibition The Big Picture at Shepard's gallery, Subliminal Projects.  As curator of the exhibition, I worked closely with both artists in developing a theme and selecting work that examined the use of scale in their art and in their creative process.  

Mark, DEVO frontman and pop culture icon, had been looking for a suitable venue in which to showcase his fine art. Continue Story.

Death of a Disco Dancer

In January 2011, I curated The Art of Elysium's booth at the Los Angeles Art Show, featuring work by British artist Russell Young.  In summer 2010, when Russell and I began meeting to discuss the show, he was in the final stages of recovery following a string of life-threatening illnesses.  In February 2010, he was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, pneumonia, ARDS and was in an 8-day induced coma. Continue Story.

A Very Special Collaboration

I recently collaborated on an extraordinary project with renowned artist Anthony James.  On January 16, 2011 at The Art of Elysium's HEAVEN gala, we unveiled HEAVEN, a 46-part series in which Anthony spelled out the word HEAVEN in neon lights.  Simple, beautiful and poignant, this word symbolizes the charitable work and philanthropic efforts of The Art of Elysium's volunteers and supporters. Continue Story.

In the Press...

The Women of Women: The Female Form featured in Daily Candy's Weekend Guide.

Exhibition

Please join me for the opening of my latest curatorial project, gallery exhibition The Women of Women: The Female Form at Culver City's Taylor De Cordoba.   The opening reception will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010 from 6 to 8pm.  The show features original work by Susan Anderson, Kimberly Brooks, Alika Cooper, Roya Falahi, Danielle Mourning, Kristen Schiele and Jessica Shokrian.

Click here to view the press release