Play,oftenperceivedasanactivityconfinedtochildhood,hastranscendeditsconventionalboundariestoemerge asaprominentmotifwithincontemporaryart.Inrecentyears,artistsworldwidehaveembracedtheconceptof playfulnessasameansofsubvertingartisticnorms,challengingsocietalconventions,andinvitingviewerstoengagewith theirworkonadeeperlevel.
Theincorporationofplayintoartisnotanovelconcept;throughouthistory,artistshaveutilizedplayfulelements toinfusetheircreationswithvitalityandspontaneity.FromthewhimsicalcharactersofHieronymusBosch's"The GardenofEarthlyDelights"tothesurreallandscapesofSalvadorDalí'sdreamscapes,playfulnesshaslongservedasa catalystforartisticinnovation.However,incontemporaryart,thenotionofplayhasundergoneaparadigmshift,evolving fromadecorativeembellishmenttoacentralthemethatinformstheconceptualframeworkofentireexhibitions.
Oneofthehallmarksofcontemporaryartisitsembraceofdiversemediaandforms,andplayfulnesspermeates thesecreativeexpressionsinmyriadways.ArtistssuchasSarahSipling,withhervibrantmixedmediacollagesthatarebuilt upandpartiallyrippedback,andNancyWalsh,withherreimaginedphotographythroughplayfuldigitalmanipulation, exudespontaneityandrevelintheprocessofcreation.EnneTesseandPDKleinemployunconventionalmaterialstocraft whimsicalsculptures.Throughexperimentationwithcolor,texture,andcomposition,theseartistsimbuetheirworkwith asenseofplayfulnessthatinvitesviewerstorevelinthesheerpleasureofartisticmedia.
Inadditiontoitsaestheticappeal,playincontemporaryartservesasapotenttoolforchallengingsocietalnorms andsubvertingexpectations.KelsiJameson,forinstance,employsplayfulimagerytoconfrontnotionsofmodern femininitybymixingcontemporaryandvintagemedia,blurringtheboundariesbetweenrealityandfantasyinher thought-provokingdigitalcollages. Similarly,JennyZoeCaseyadeptlyemploysadiversearrayofmediatocraftcollages thatencapsulateanethosofcare,symbolizingtheoftenoverlookedlaborthatsustainsfamiliesandsocieties.Throughher art,Caseyconfrontstheindifferenceofcapitaliststructures,sheddinglightontheessentialyetundervaluedcontributions thatupholdthefabricofourcivilization.
GenieGhim'sinnovativeseries,humorouslynamed"Flants,"mergesthehumanvisagewiththebotanicalworld inawhimsicaldisplayofcreativity.Thesepaintings,characterizedbytheirflatcomposition,vibranthues,andplayful undertones,redefinetheboundariesbetweennatureandhumanityinthespiritofAnthropomorphism
ThemanifestationofplaywithintherealmofnewmediafindsexemplaryrepresentationinPDKlein'sdigital drawing,characterizedbyacascadeoffinelinesinhuesofpurple,red,andorangeinanarrangementreminiscentofa curtainorveil.PlanetX'spiecetitled"OneLove"ingeniouslyemploysnewmediawithaplayfultouch,convertinga collectionofsimplisticimagesintoadynamic,high-energyanimation.Thisanimationisfurthertranslatedintoaflipbook format,cateringtoaudiencesofallageswithitswhimsicalcharmandengagingnarrativeofhumansolidarity.
Astheboundariesbetweenartandlifecontinuetoblur,thetransformativepowerofplayincontemporaryart servesasareminderoftheinherentjoyandcreativitythatresideswithinusall.
-RulaJonesBrock,2024 Gallery44&PrismPress
“With lumpy surfaces, frayed edges and folds, I attend to the importance of touch.”
-Jenny Zoe Casey
2023, $1,400 Purchase
Abating acrylic, adhesive, fabric, 19” x 13”
But Hard
acrylic, pastel, adhesive, canvas, 17” x 19.5” 2023, $1,600 Purchase
“Face
Plants - Flants
“Flants are colorful, whimsical surreal paintings.. Anamorphic creations transport the viewer to a world of the absurd where oddities take root in the conscience of floras' visage.”
-Genie Ghim
15 x 18 x .75 inches
2020 $800 Purchase
Flant Mustache Face Plants Collection Acrylic on Canvas
Flants 21
Face Plants Collection
Acrylic on Canvas
16 x 20 x .5 inches
2020 $1200 Purchase
“I explore cultural notions of modern femininity by mixing contemporary and vintage media. Weaving together
portraits with vibrant landscapes and interior design settings,
I
celebrate whimsy and joy, separate from the commodifying gaze that also follows the female experience.”
-Kelsi Jameson
"Pause. Open. Play." -P D Klein
Untitled (boom)
Construction (cardboard, polyester)
8” x 3” x 1.75” (framed 9" x 12") 2024, $900 Purchase
Untitled (play's the thing)
Digital print
20.5" x 20.5" framed 2024, $450 Purchase
“I reject assumed limitations in form. I rebel against conventional routes by reimagining the use of everyday items such as polypropylene rope, butcher twine and nylon zip ties.”
-Enne Tesse
Organ 1
Butcher
16"
2022 $3,000. Purchase
twine, nylon zip ties x 15" x 8"
Tail 2
Polypropylene rope, nylon zip ties
10" x 8" x 5”
2022 $3,000. Purchase
“Landscape is referenced in my work, with the horrors of history hidden within the overall beauty and physicality of a country and its ideals.”
-Sarah Sipling
Protest Print with Veins 3 Collage 34” x 44” 2021, $2400 Purchase
All of my images begin with a photograph, which serves as a starting point or inspiration. The process, which is different for every piece, may incorporate digital editing, paint and the use of various other software to modify and manipulate the image, as well as printmaking techniques, drawing, coloring by hand, and other super-secret transformative stuff.
-NancyWalsh
mixed media - photo & digital art
8" x 10", 2023
Open Edition $150 Purchase
Saucy Mask
Still Life with Rubber Chicken
mixed media - photo & digital art
8" x 10", 2024
Open Edition $150 Purchase
