Source Design You Trust  As an artist, Michael Mapes pushes the boundaries of traditional portraiture with his unique, deconstructed pieces. Based in New York, he combines elements of collage and sculpture to craft intricate works of art that are as thought-provoking as they are visually striking. More: Michael Mapes, Instagram h/t: theinspirationgrid Mapes draws inspiration…

Source Colossal   All images © Ross McSweeney More than one version of the Greek myth of Sisyphus chronicles the king’s slew of misdeeds on Earth, which amount to cheating death not once but twice. This earned him an infamous punishment from Hades, the god of death and ruler of the underworld, who sentenced the legendary…

Source Colossal   DRIFT’s “Shylight” (development 2006–2014), aluminum, polished stainless steel, silk, LEDs, robotics. On view at three special NYC Ballet Art Series performances in January and February 2023. All photos by Ossip van Duivenbode Dutch artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta are DRIFT, a multidisciplinary group that creates experiential sculptures, installations, and performances, uniting audiences…

Source Colossal   “Papilio ulysses,” pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, 22.7 x 22.7 centimeters. All images © Amahi Mori, shared with permission Through veins and hybridized beings, Japanese artist Amahi Mori connects life across the plant and animal kingdoms. Various circulatory systems blend together in seamless compositions with leafy greens emerging from a blue morpho…

Source Colossal   Detail of “The Tree in Me.” All images © Christian Verginer, shared with permission From large pieces of basswood, artist Christian Verginer carves figurative sculptures that meld the play and wonder of adolescence with the vitality of the natural world. Leafy branches grow like pigtails, a bird perches on the zipper of a hoodie, and…

Source Colossal   All images © Alicja Kozłowska, shared with permission In the ongoing series Embroidered Ordinaries, Alicja Kozlowska translates the mass production of Pop Art into tightly stitched sculptures. The Polish artist sews packages of Oreos and half-eaten cookies, rusted cans with peeled-back tops, and 12-packs of Coca-Cola at full scale, recreating the recognizable logos and designs of ubiquitous snacks…

Source Colossal   All images © Radhika Dhumal, shared with permission. Photographs by Arun Rameshan “This winged table marked the beginning of my flight as a furniture designer,” says Radhika Dhumal, whose playful coffee table titled “Elytra” features insectoid layers that extend outward from its center. Winning a 2019 ELLE DECO International Design Award and the…

Source Colossal   “Fighting Blue Throat Pike Blennys” by Mark Green, Honorable Mention Marine Life Behavior As they care for their unhatched babies, female octopuses refuse to eat, causing them to die of starvation before their young emerge from their eggs. Kat Zhou documented one of these marine mothers as she was in the process of such a…