Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) Firenze expands its academic offerings with the Master of Arts in Interior and Furniture Design—Hacking Tradition: Reinventing Craftsmanship and Materials. This new program redefines the intersection of heritage and innovation, where traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary design. Aligned with IED’s sustainable textile focus, students learn to critically reinterpret cultural and material heritage through a sustainable lens, with design positioned as a transformative force that shapes environments while addressing social and ecological challenges.

This Master of Arts program equips students with the skills to “hack” tradition—decoding artisanal methods, rethinking materials, and innovating applications. By fostering a dialogue between past and future, craftsmanship becomes a space for reinvention. The curriculum integrates DesignXCommons, an ecological design philosophy focused on sustainability and resource regeneration. Rooted in Tuscany’s world-renowned manufacturing traditions—marble, textiles, furniture, jewelry, and leather—the program offers hands-on experience. Students engage in workshops, industry collaborations, and real-world projects, turning cultural contexts into design innovation.

It complements IED Firenze’s Master of Arts in Textile Design—Eco-Threads: Materials and Circularity, which explores sustainable materials, eco-design, and process innovation across fashion, interiors, and product design. Together, these programs position the school as a leader in sustainable design education. Set in Florence—where history, art, and fashion merge—IED Firenze offers a unique learning environment. From the grandeur of Ponte Vecchio to the heritage of Gucci and Ferragamo, the city itself becomes part of the curriculum. Housed in an architectural landmark, IED Firenze nurtures designers ready to challenge conventions, honor heritage, and shape the future of design.

To learn more, visit ied.edu/courses. 

Founded in 1966, IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) is an international network of higher education institutions specializing in design, fashion, visual arts, and communication. With campuses in Italy, Spain, and Brazil, IED fosters a multidisciplinary approach that blends creativity, craftsmanship, and technological innovation. Through hands-on training and strong industry connections, it prepares students to become forward-thinking professionals in the global design landscape.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Tradition Meets Innovation in Interior and Textile Design at IED Firenze appeared first on Colossal.

The online art marketplace Artfinder connects artists directly with over 100,000 customers around the world. Founded in 2011 and officially launched in 2013, we’re on a mission to make original art accessible and a viable career for artists. 

As we continue to expand in the United States, already our biggest customer market globally, we’re on the lookout for new U.S. artists to work with. 

Proud to be a certified B Corp, we’re committed to putting our values at the heart of what we do as we strive to meet the highest social, environmental, and transparency standards so we can leave a more positive impact on the environment and the art world. Our goal is for artists to be able to make a living from their art—and we want to enable our customers to not only discover pieces they connect with but to directly support artists to keep doing what they love. 

Artist bonuses 

New for 2025, we’ve just launched an annual bonus scheme for any artist earning over $26,500 a year on top of our existing commission structure. Designed to give additional income to artists joining Artfinder (on top of commission), the bonus will be tiered from 2% of annual earnings up to a maximum of 7%. 

How to apply?

It’s free to sell with us, with the option of monthly paid seller plans to reduce commission on sales. 

Apply to sell on Artfinder and write COLOSSAL at the top of the ‘about’ section to fast-track your application. 

To learn more and apply to sell, visit artfinder.com.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Join Artfinder: The Art Marketplace That Connects Artists With Buyers appeared first on Colossal.

Ready to take your practice and creativity to new heights? The Division of Continuing Education at the School of Visual Arts (SVACE) has the resources and expertise to help you go to the next level. 

With a diverse range of more than 200 courses and 10+ artist residency programs, you’ll find everything you need to achieve your goals and actualize your potential. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, explore new artistic avenues, or simply deepen your practice, our experienced faculty will provide the guidance and support you need to grow. 

Head to sva.edu/ce to explore our offerings and get started.

Artist Residency Programs & Intensives

Online and on-campus courses are available in:

• Animation
• Design and Advertising
• Film
• Fine Arts
• Illustration and Comics
• Interior Design
• Photography and Video
• Professional Development
• Visual and Critical Studies
• Visible Futures Lab
• Visual Narrative

Registration Details

Course Advice

If you need advice or have questions, please email ce@sva.edu to connect with one of our course advisors.

About the School of Visual Arts

School of Visual Arts (SVA) has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 35,000 alumni in 100 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world.

For more information, visit sva.edu/ce.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Take Your Creative Practice to the Next Level With SVA Continuing Education appeared first on Colossal.

The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, returns to Dallas Market Hall this May 15 to 18. The event will showcase a carefully selected lineup of 120 independent artists from around the world.

Highlights include Everybody Draw Everybody, a group portrait swap hosted by Brian Butler; an interactive color-in mural created by John Paine; painted aura portraits by Mad Watson; and Blind Date with an Artwork, which dares visitors to buy artwork based solely on a text description.

At The Other Art Fair, visitors should expect the unexpected—especially when it comes to the artwork on offer, which ranges in price from under $100 to upwards of $5,000.

Here are just 10 of the many exciting artists to meet at the fair, whose work we think you’ll find particularly out-of-this-world:

1. Brighton artist Lexi Laine’s training as a freediver allows her to craft ethereal photographs of breathtaking underwater worlds.

2. Meticulously collaging fragments of distant locales she captures with her camera, London-based artist Nadia Attura creates uncanny beauty in her imagined landscapes.

3. After designing tour artwork and album covers, Los Angeles artist Briana Carman was inspired to create worlds using images from everyday life and travels abroad.

4. Natasha Kanevski, based near Austin, makes canvas-mounted ceramic sculptures that are evocative of organic forms, yet wholly unlike any found on Earth.

5. Dallas artist Kristin Ruscher aims to spark inspiration and a sense of interpersonal connection with her highly textured mixed-media paintings.

6. Christopher Brown is a Dallas-based artist whose Abstract Butterfly series showcases how he manipulates photography with the latest tech advances.

7. The dreamy, unpopulated vistas of Knoxville artist Karina Guerrero’s paintings exist somewhere between reality and the abstraction that ties her to her roots.

8. The paintings of Austin-based artist Malti B Lee are filled with otherworldly light and color-saturated flowers, juxtaposing their fragility with historic architecture.

9. If you took the drama, lighting, and opulence of the Baroque, and set it in outer space, you’d have something akin to Dallas artist Madison Gowin’s fantastical collages. 

10. Abigail Henthorne is a Little Rock-based artist whose fiber “drawings” explore floral bouquets while creating new, distorted forms by modulating pile height.

Grab your ticket at theotherartfair.com!

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Surreal, But Nice: 10 Artists Bringing Otherworldly Exuberance to The Other Art Fair Dallas appeared first on Colossal.

This Mother’s Day weekend, The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, returns to ZeroSpace in Brooklyn for its 15th local edition, running May 8 to 11. Known for putting independent artists front and center, the fair continues to challenge traditional art-world norms by offering direct access to 125 cutting-edge creators.

In the lead-up to this spring’s fair, we’re shining a light on the medium of drawing—a form that remains as immediate and intimate as ever. Whether through figurative studies, whimsical illustrations, or expressive linework, these five standout artists are using drawing to push boundaries and connect with viewers in fresh, personal ways.

Lauren Ly draws cozy, detail-rich interiors inspired by childhood nostalgia, literature, and imagined worlds filled with comfort and whimsy.

Trained in documentary photography, Steve Moors now crafts expressive digital prints that unite hand drawing, design, and photographic sensibility.

Andrea Cáceres is a NYC-based illustrator blending playful design with storytelling across brands, products, books—and her own pet brand.

NYC artist Ben Lenovitz transforms everyday pets into charming characters, a practice born from serendipity (and irony—he’s allergic!).

Shaped by West Coast roots and NYC energy, Charles Buckley creates nostalgic ink drawings inspired by found photos and memories. 

Beyond the artwork, The Other Art Fair offers a lively and immersive visitor experience. Featured artist and New York Times bestselling author Anna Marie Tendler invites guests to sit for a portrait within her richly styled photographic tableau—an extension of her celebrated series Rooms in the First House. Illustrator Joe Kraft brings a whimsical twist to art appreciation with an interactive scavenger hunt across the venue. Artist Kelli Kikcio will offer a curated selection of flash designs so you can take art home with you permanently in the form of a machine-free tattoo (Thursday and Friday only).

Each day at the fair offers fresh, hands-on experiences led by artists. Visitors can receive a complimentary fantasy hand-drawn illustration from Ben Lenovitz (Thursday only) and personalize their fashion with on-the-spot patch sewing by OOH Baby (Friday only). Over the weekend, take part in hands-on paper flower making with Summer Space Studio (Saturday and Sunday )—perfect for a Mother’s Day moment.

The fair turns up the energy with Friday Late, a special evening curated with Secret NYC. Featuring DJs, interactive installations, and local sips, it’s a vibrant snapshot of Brooklyn’s creative pulse.

Whether you’re an art collector, a curious newcomer, or simply seeking a creative escape, The Other Art Fair Brooklyn promises bold work, boundary-breaking talent, and a true celebration of artistic energy.

Grab your tickets now to experience Brooklyn’s artistic energy firsthand.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Spotlight on Drawing: Discover Five Artists Ahead of The Other Art Fair Brooklyn appeared first on Colossal.

Applications for the 2026 Vilcek Foundation Prizes for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture and Fashion & Design are now open to immigrants under the age of 38. The Vilcek Foundation will award six $50,000 prizes to young immigrants who have demonstrated exceptional early-career achievements in the fields of Fashion & Design and Fashion & Culture. 

Fashion is a reflection of cultural shifts and serves as a powerful form of self-expression. From hair and clothing to jewelry and makeup, fashion trends speak volumes about a time and place in society. Immigrants enrich the fashion industry by contributing their unique traditions, perspectives, and styles. 

Through the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Fashion, the foundation aims to bring awareness to the many ways fashion—and the immigrants working in fashion-related fields—make our society better. 

“Winning [this prize] was an incredible honor and a deeply personal milestone,” says Siki Im, winner of the 2015 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion. “It recognized not only my creative journey but also the unique perspective I bring as an immigrant in the fashion industry. Today, as barriers seem more prevalent, the Vilcek Prize serves as a powerful reminder and mediator of who built and continues to push the United States forward—a nation shaped by the talent, creativity, and resilience of immigrants.”

The Vilcek Foundation has created two fashion categories to expand the number of awards given to immigrants in the arts and humanities. Immigrants 38 years of age or younger who work in the following fashion fields are encouraged to apply:

Fashion & Design

• Designers
• Environmental and Technology Designers 
• Material Innovation Experts
• Makeup Artists / Hair Stylists 

Fashion & Culture

• Writers and Researchers 
• Curators and Museum Professionals
• Stylists 
• Image Makers 

Applications will be accepted through June 9, 2025. 

To learn more and apply, visit vilcek.org.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Vilcek Foundation to Award $50,000 Prizes to Immigrants in Fashion Fields appeared first on Colossal.

The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, returns to Artifact Events in Ravenswood, Chicago, from March 27 to 30. This exciting event will feature over 115 independent artists showcasing fresh artwork and new talent.

Highlights include a portrait experience with artist and New York Times bestselling author Anna Marie Tendler, an interactive stamp scavenger hunt designed by Chicago-based artist Joe Kraft, and a new section dedicated to decorative ceramics, glass, metal, and wood art.

Ahead of the main event, we’re highlighting five categories of artists based on shared themes, offering a look at the diverse range of artistic practices at this year’s fair.

Award-Winning Photographers: Underwater, on the streets, courtside, or in nature — these photographers capture it all

• Lexi Laine, a U.K.-based underwater photographer, creates surreal, ethereal images influenced by baroque painting, fantasy, and environmental themes. 
• Finn O’Hara, from Canada, explores the relationship between urban, rural, and natural landscapes to inspire reflection on humanity’s connection to nature.

Empowered Female Figures: Bold representations of female main character energy

• Delphine Lebourgeois, a French artist, blends digital media, collage, and watercolors to explore feminism, power dynamics, and cultural references.
• Marisa Mu celebrates diversity, womanhood, and expression through therapeutic paintings, aiming for joy and positive change. She co-founded Tits & Co. in 2019 to amplify female-identifying artists.

Text-Heavy Work: Tongue and cheek work you can read into

• Patrick Skals, a Toronto-based conceptual artist, challenges perspectives on culture and mental health in his “In Other Words” series. Inspired by urban decay, he incorporates recycled paper to symbolize the immortality of ideas.  
• Terrence Payne explores community and identity through bold oil pastel drawings, blending humor and narrative into thought-provoking portraits.

Not for Your Walls: Art designed for shelves, desks, and tables

• Dara Schuman pushes the boundaries of ceramics, designing luxurious vases inspired by cityscapes with sharp edges and curves that modernize urban architecture.
• Paola Gracida creates gravity-defying clay sculptures that explore transformation and belonging.

Florals: Reimagining nature’s beauty

• Daria Eibert uses the iris flower as a self-portrait to explore emotion and transformation in vibrant colors. Her work blends introspection with rich artistic tradition.
• Flannery Thompson, a stained-glass artist from Chicago, modernizes traditional craftsmanship with nature-inspired designs that capture light and color.

See these artists and more at The Other Art Fair Chicago, March 27-30. 

Grab your tickets at theotherartfair.com!

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article 5 Artwork Themes to Explore at The Other Art Fair Chicago appeared first on Colossal.

Get your fix of extraordinary art at The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, from February 20 to 23. The beloved artist-centric fair is returning to Los Angeles for its 13th edition, coinciding with L.A. Art Week for the first time. Adding to the excitement, the event will be hosted at a new venue on the east side of town: 2800 Casitas Avenue in the vibrant Atwater Village.
Get your tickets now for the four-day art experience that’s anything but predictable.

This spring edition will feature an eclectic roster of 140 independent artists at the forefront of contemporary art. Highlights include a new monumental mural depicting the 1968 East L.A. Student Walkouts by celebrated artist Judy Baca; stylized portrait sessions by artist Anna Marie Tendler, inspired by her photo series and New York Times bestselling memoir; and larger-than-life projects by local talents including Misha Libertee, Mary Lai, and Feia Studio’s Thomas Martinez Pilnik and Jake Cavallo.

The Other Art Fair promises to be a feast not just for the eyes, but also for the ears, tastebuds, and soul. Secret Circus LA and DJ Salty will set the tone for a celebratory Opening Night, while DJ Phatrick will bring the vibe for the lively Friday Late party, for which the fair will be donating 100% of ticket proceeds to L.A. fire relief efforts and hosting the after party for Art Week’s “East Side Day.” 

Here are five must-see artists, including four Angelenos, handpicked by Global Fair Director Nicole Garton:

Kiara Aileen Machado explores themes of identity, femininity, and migration through her vibrant paintings. Her work reflects on how physical and cultural boundaries shape communities.

Jess Lin creates captivating pieces blending her California, Singaporean, and Taiwanese roots. Her art juxtaposes nostalgia with whimsy, and reality with imagination, offering a unique sense of belonging.

Mark Rebennack mesmerizes with wave-like patterns drawn to the length of a single breath. His hypnotic compositions celebrate imperfection and the art of pure mark-making.

Sculptor Nick Lopez transforms his observations of contemporary life into striking visual forms that span from the familiar to the abstract. 

Anna Shipulina crafts hand-built ceramics that mirror the fluidity of nature and the human body. Her unglazed pieces radiate raw elegance, tactile beauty, and a serene earth-toned palette.

See work by all these artists and more at The Other Art Fair’s Los Angeles edition, on view from February 20 to 23. 

Grab your tickets for an unforgettable weekend at theotherartfair.com.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article 5 Must-See Artists at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles This February appeared first on Colossal.

Elizaveta Porodina is a renowned photographer and artist based in Munich, Germany, whose work often features surreal, symbolic narratives, blending fashion, fine art, and documentary influences. Her background in clinical psychology shapes her work with the complexities of the human experience, using photography as a medium for exploring the subconscious mind.

Working in a diverse range of styles from dark, cinematic portraits to vibrant, dreamlike compositions, Porodina’s photography invites the viewer to embark on a journey through time and space, drawing them into deep, sometimes ambiguous, worlds. With a keen eye for cinematic compositions and a profound connection to the emotional power of imagery, she continues to push the boundaries of modern photography in her 2024-25 collaboration with New York City Ballet.

Porodina’s work will be on view at three special New York City Ballet Art Series performances on January 24, 31, and February 8 eve. The evenings will include a ballet performance, viewing of the installation, and a post-performance afterparty where all tickets are priced at $54 (including fees).

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit nycballet.com/artseries.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article New York City Ballet Art Series Presents Elizaveta Porodina appeared first on Colossal.

Ready to take your practice and creativity to new heights? SVACE has the resources and expertise to help you go to the next level.

With a diverse range of more than 200 courses and 10+ artist residency programs, you’ll find everything you need to achieve your goals and actualize your potential. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, explore new artistic avenues, or simply deepen your practice, our experienced faculty will provide the guidance and support you need to grow.

Head to sva.edu/ce to explore our offerings and get started.

Artist Residency Programs & Intensives

Online and on-campus courses are available in:

• Animation
• Design and Advertising
• Film
• Fine Arts
• Illustration and Comics
• Interior Design
• Photography and Video
• Professional Development
• Visual and Critical Studies
• Visible Futures Lab
• Visual Narrative

Registration Details

Course Advice
If you need advice or have questions, please email ce@sva.edu to connect with one of our course advisors.

About the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers, and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum, and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility.

Comprising 6,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 35,000 alumni in 100 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the college please visit sva.edu.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Elevate Your Creative Practice with SVA Continuing Education Courses, Workshops, and Residency Programs appeared first on Colossal.