Pick Me Up Selects – Zim & Zou.
There is one major problem with a trip to Pick Me Up contemporary graphic art fair: the vast choice of amazing artwork. Where then does one start when writing a review, or making a purchase for the wall? From what I hear most people come away with far more than they planned to, so make sure you set yourself a realistic budget before you go in. You have been warned…
Pick Me Up Selects – Zeloot.
The ground floor entrance is this year devoted to Pick Me Up Selects, the work of up and coming artists who have been chosen by a group of industry insiders, including Camilla Parsons of Outline Editions, John O’Reilly of Varoom Magazine and Angharad Lewis of Grafik Magazine. I was delighted by this year’s selection, which seemed more diverse and truly representative of little known artists than has been true in previous years. Here’s my highlights: some new discoveries as well as old favourites!
First up are some stunning neon and metallic papercut artworks by a duo: Zim & Zou, who are Lucie Thomas of the UK and Thibault Zimmerman, now working together in Nancy, France.
It was great to see work that has a distinct if not overt fashion illustration flavour: Riikka Sormunen‘s background in fashion design is evident in her intricate narrative pictures of elegantly dressed women.
Similarly Nikki Pilkington combines fine pencil drawn figures with colourful collaged details.
Opposite this are pictures by Tim McDonagh, a graduate of the University of Westminster whom I raved about when I discovered him at his graduate show in 2010. I am not sure how his mind works but as this detail shows it must be a complicated place.
Next up, another familiar face. The New York based illustrator Yoko Furusho features in my first book Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration, and her beautiful work is looking as uniquely fantastic as ever.
Sarah Maycock is another artist who I spotted at the Kingston University graduate show last year: I even own my very own screenprinted version of her fox! #luckyme
Matthew the Horse is the zany pseudonym of a graduate from Bath Spa University. He is inspired by language and feelings and his very yellow collection of images is based around jobs and identities. I especially like the hyacinth bulbs and a curious monkey.
There is definitely a strain of 80s inspired illustration coming through at the moment – Finnish designer Sac Magique is one example…
as is Swedish designer Martin Nicolausson, who veers ever more towards the surreal.
I was also most taken with psychedelic work by Dutch designer Zeloot that has a distinct 60s flavour in both colour and content. She likes designing within the limitations of silk screenprinting.
Kristjana S Williams is the creative director of Beyond the Valley so you may well already be familiar with her magical landscapes created out of collage and metallic elements.
Australian illustrator Sarah Beeston studied at Falmouth College of Arts before settling in London, where she became preoccupied with politics and perversities of popular culture. She is creating live portraits at Pick Me Up every day!
S for Shells by Yuko Michishita is a beautiful example of handdrawn typography, a swirl of intricate pen lines.
And then it’s on upstairs, where a host of collectives have been invited to display their wares in the long gallery space… find out who to catch in my next instalment…. in the meantime check out my listings for recommended workshops and talks.
Categories ,2012, ,60s, ,80s, ,Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration, ,Angharad Lewis, ,Bath Spa University, ,Beyond the Valley, ,Camilla Parsons, ,Falmouth College of Arts, ,Fashion Illustration, ,Grafik magazine, ,illustration, ,John O’Reilly, ,Kingston University, ,Kristjana S Williams, ,Lucie Thomas, ,Martin Nicolausson, ,Matthew the Horse, ,Niki Pilkington, ,Outline Editions, ,Papercraft, ,Pick Me Up London, ,Pick Me Up Selects, ,review, ,Riikka Sormunen, ,Sac Magique, ,Sarah Beeston, ,Thibault Zimmerman, ,Tim McDonagh, ,Type, ,University of Westminster, ,Varoom Magazine, ,Yoko Furusho, ,Yuko Michishita, ,Zeloot, ,Zim & Zou
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