Art Held In Contemp Vol 12: Ray Caesar

For each new installment I'll spotlight an artist from painters to sculptors and street artists whose work reflects the ever-evolving world of contemporary art. This week we delve into the surreal world of Ray Caesar....

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'Art Held in Contemp' Volume 10 by Briana Melendez

For each new installment I'll spotlight an artist from painters to sculptors and street artists whose work reflects the ever-evolving world of contemporary art. Without further ado I present you to Camilla d'Errico..........

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'Art Held in Contemp.' Volume 9 by Briana Melendez

 I've always been a visually stimulated individual. As a kid I was always mesmerized by the vibrant colors in nature & much to my parent's dismay the metal radiators in our home quickly became works of abstract art as I was entranced by the melting of my 64 colors of Crayola. The MOMA is by far my favorite museum in all of NYC. I can never get enough of the smooth perfection in marble and the vibrant colors of early 19th century paintings. As much as I love all these beautiful representations of creativity I could never feel connected completely. They are products of bygone eras that while I can admire I could never fully feel a part. That all changed a few years back. I picked up this art magazine called 'Juxtapoz' & BAM! It hit me like a Batman punch. There were images I understood, images I could relate to. Artwork that made sense & represented me. Knowing that 'my' art was alive & kicking has sent me on a quest to look for artist & works of art in which we all can see a little bit of ourselves. With each new installment I'll be aiming to do just that. Sit back & enjoy the ride, I know I have been.

artist Ryan McGinley

There are no words that can describe the pictorial works of Ryan McGinley. While this New Jersey native started in 1998 just documenting his day to day existence and friends, his eye & talent quickly lent itself to eventually creating the 'staged' images and portraits that are expressed in his later work. The vibrancy of color and impression either jumps at you or slowly drags you into the subject and you are taken there quite willingly.   

'Alex (Hurricane)'

'Amanda (Green Blow-Up)'

***Please click 'READ MORE' below for more explosive photography***
 (Some of the images after the jump contain NUDITY & are NSFW!)

'Art Held in Contemp.' Volume 8 by Briana Melendez

 I've always been a visually stimulated individual. As a kid I was always mesmerized by the vibrant colors in nature & much to my parent's dismay the metal radiators in our home quickly became works of abstract art as I was entranced by the melting of my 64 colors of Crayola. The MOMA is by far my favorite museum in all of NYC. I can never get enough of the smooth perfection in marble and the vibrant colors of early 19th century paintings. As much as I love all these beautiful representations of creativity I could never feel connected completely. They are products of bygone eras that while I can admire I could never fully feel a part. That all changed a few years back. I picked up this art magazine called 'Juxtapoz' & BAM! It hit me like a Batman punch. There were images I understood, images I could relate to. Artwork that made sense & represented me. Knowing that 'my' art was alive & kicking has sent me on a quest to look for artist & works of art in which we all can see a little bit of ourselves. With each new installment I'll be aiming to do just that. Sit back & enjoy the ride, I know I have been.

Amy Sol has been stalking my dreams.......OK she really hasn't but, if you were to take a look at her work you would definitely be getting a peep into my subconscious. With her use of muted colors and fanciful characters Sol creates imagery that is as delicate as wisps of smoke. After viewing her pieces, I can't help but feel all soft and squishy like a Gund. Check out her blog for to see the thoughts behind her process and some really cool side projects.

'The Last Mermaid'

'Give Me A Name Bastian' (collaboration w/Greg Craola Simkins)

 ***Click READ MORE below for much more of Sol's art***

'Art Held in Contemp.' Volume 7 by Briana Melendez

 I've always been a visually stimulated individual. As a kid I was always mesmerized by the vibrant colors in nature & much to my parent's dismay the metal radiators in our home quickly became works of abstract art as I was entranced by the melting of my 64 colors of Crayola. The MOMA is by far my favorite museum in all of NYC. I can never get enough of the smooth perfection in marble and the vibrant colors of early 19th century paintings. As much as I love all these beautiful representations of creativity I could never feel connected completely. They are products of bygone eras that while I can admire I could never fully feel a part. That all changed a few years back. I picked up this art magazine called 'Juxtapoz' & BAM! It hit me like a Batman punch. There were images I understood, images I could relate to. Artwork that made sense & represented me. Knowing that 'my' art was alive & kicking has sent me on a quest to look for artist & works of art in which we all can see a little bit of ourselves. With each new installment I'll be aiming to do just that. Sit back & enjoy the ride, I know I have been.

If you grew up in NYC during the 70's & 80's you were able to experience first hand the birth of the modern graffiti movement. Soon this inner-city artistic fever spread world wide and, in the early 90's, it infected 18 year old Vanessa Castex in Toulouse, France. At first it was just hanging out with friends as they tagged their monikers across the city but, young Miss Castex decided to put her art school training to work. Soon sensual 'dolls' were popping up all over the walls in Toulouse and Miss Van was born. As the years have passed Miss Van has taken her sultry, flirtatious beauties and evolved them into deeper, darker emotional expressions of herself. The coquettish looks of her early street paintings have become raw, cultured energy that shows how an 18 year old  street artist has matured into an artistic force in her adulthood.

***Click 'READ MORE' below for more of Miss Van's work!***