Alexey Brodovitch was an twentieth century Russian/ American painter and photographer who was modern in his photography. Alexey Brodovitch was born in Oligotchi, Russian Empire in the year 1898.
His family was well off as his father was a doctor. Unfortunately his family had to flee their homeland to war and the upcoming Bolshevik revolution. Eventually the family would settle in Paris, France.
Brodovitch took a wife and found himself a job for the first time in life painting houses. He would take art classes and through his connections with other artists also earned money as the painter of ballet backgrounds. During this period he also would design textiles and jewelry.
The artist taught many well known modern artists keys to graphic design and advertising. In the United States most advertising art was very romantic in nature and linked to ideas from centuries past. Artists like Jessie Wilcox Smith were very popular. Brodovitch helped to usher in a modern era of American design that studied advertising examples that were popular in Europe, rather than the romantic realism.
Some of his students included famous photographers Diane Arbus and Richard Avedon.
In this clip a brief bio on Alexey Brodovitch with some examples of his work:
Alexey Brodovitch passed away in 1971.
Price range information: Works range from $5,000 to $50,000.
The artist was among the first to incorporate text and photos in magazine layouts. He was also an outstanding painter of landscapes in an abstract style. Add to his resume the many students who went on to have professional art careers and Brodovitch was a true master artist of the 20th century.
If you enjoy photographs and enjoy looking at photographs in sequences be sure and check out my post on Duane Michals. Michals uses photographs to tell short visual stories.
Kelly Robinson is a young Canadian artist representing the Nuxalk nation. Kelly Robinson was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada in the year 1981. The artist is a prolific carver and jewelry maker.
Kelly Robinson attended the Native Education College located in Vancouver, British Columbia where he studied jewelry making.
Price range information: Works range from $250 to $5,000. Small pendants and jewelry items can be found for a few hundred dollars. The wooden carved masks are on the upper end of his price range.
His family heritage reflects both the Nuxalk and Nuu-chah-nulth nations.
The artist was motivated and inspired to be an artist by his uncle, Alvin Mack, a world renown master carver and also a jewelry artist.
The artist is excited to be at the beginning of what looks to be a great artistic career. He is thankful for the help and knowledge that is available to him. A very gracious and humble artist whose best years are definitely ahead of him! He began as a painter, but now makes a lot of jewelry using the graphic design. It will be interesting to see what mediums he learns next!
This entry is post number 2,000! I look forward to the next 1,000 posts and hope we can continue learning a great deal.
William Kuhnley was born in Seattle, Washington in the year 1967 and represents the Nuu-chah-nulth nation. When he was a youngster the family moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Kuhnley works with jewelry and wood carver.
His parents owned and ran a business that dealt with salvaging cedar wood. Both parents of Kuhnley were also wood carvers. This was perfect for someone wanting to be a carver!
Kuhnley is part of Ditidaht tribe. The word means people of the mountains.
Kuhnley began carving professionally when he was 24 years old.
Kuhnley was able to be an apprentice to Haida artist Robert Davidson.
Price range information: Jewelry pieces can be found for $1,000 up to larger wood carvings which can reach $20,000.
Todd Couper is a Maori artist from New Zealand who creates remarkable wildlife carvings. Todd Couper was born in 1974. Couper produces carvings and jewelry.
For his artistic education Couper attended the Te Aute Boys College and also Waiariki Institute of Technology.
Couper is highly sought after for his works with birds. Couper has also done some great works with the whale as his subject.
Marcel Russ is a wonderful artist representing the Haida (Raven Clan). Marcel Russ was born in Queen Charlotte Islands in the year 1973. Other artists in his family include his father Ron Russ.
Russ works as a jewelry designer, sculptor of totem poles, and graphic designer, and printmaker.
The artist learned how to work with argillite from his father. He started working with this stone when he was 8 years old. He began to work with wood when he was 12 years of age.
The artist also has an uncle named Chris Russ who is also an artist. It runs in the family genes! Through out the Haida nation both sides of his families have been renowned for their work with argillite and wood carvings.
Price range information: Works range from $500 to $20,000.
In this clip a candid interview about giving back to your local community with Marcel Russ:
Dylan Thomas is a young Coast Salish artist born in the year 1980 on Valdes Island, Canada. The artist is young but very skilled at printmaking and also making jewelry.
Price range information: Works range from $150 to $2,000. This includes jewelry and prints.
The artist has been influenced by many other Northwest Coast artists featured here such as Susan Point and Robert Davidson.
In this clip Dylan Thomas talks about the “Mandala” shape that is used in Northwest Coast art, the shape/design is below.
Dylan Thomas began to exhibit his work in 2011.
What an exciting up and coming Northwest Coast artist!
Gideon Quaqjuaq is an Inuit artist born in the year 1941 from the Gjoa Haven, Nunavut Territory, Canada. The artist is very diverse producing jewelry and carvings. Inspired by the work of Charlie Igyuk, Gideon Quaqjuaq decided to forge an artistic path in 1969.
Was included in the exhibition titled Masterworks of the Canadian Arctic that took place from 1971 to 1973.
During his younger years lived in Taloyoak and Iqaluit located in Nunavut Territory.
Enjoys working with animals of the seam bears, and the occasional human figure.
Also works with Inuit stories and myths dealing with transformations of animals to people .
Works with the traditional Inuit materials including antlers, stone, and whalebone.
price range information: Works are small in scale and very affordable ranging from $500 to $2,000.
Chazz Mack is one of the youngest Northwest Coast artists born in Vancouver, British Columbia in the year 1990. His name in his language means likes to learn things. Was inspired to draw by his father. The artist is very diverse in his output making jewelry, prints, and carvings.
Began taking lessons from a professional artist at the age of 13 years of age. The professional was an artist named Alvin Mack, no relation. Alvin Mack also graduated from the Northwest Coast Art graduating at the top of his class. Alvin mack produced wonderful jewelry in addition to very large totem poles he first carved as a teenager.
Is currently attending college at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art located in Terrace, British Columbia.
price range information: Many works priced between $2,000 and $10,000.
Bill Reid is among the most famous Haida artists of all time. Bill Reid was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in the year 1920. His father was American and his mother a member of the Haida tribe. He learned to make jewelry from his grandfather, who had himself studied under a renown jewelry artist.
A brief biography about Bill Reid:
Bill Reid also attended the Ryerson Institute of Technology, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where he also learned how to make jewelry. He began his art career making jewelry and then progressed to large works in traditional Haida materials including red and yellow cedar.
Bill Reid passed away in 1998 at the age of 78 years old from problems due to Parkinson’s disease.
Reid gifted a large donation to Simon Fraser College upon his death. In this clip we view some of the collection:
Has had his artwork featured on the $20 Canadian bill.
The artist has works in many prominent locations around the world including the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Canadian National Museum in Ottawa, Canada.
Another brief interview with Bill Reid;
Bill Reid was also an activist of keeping people out of the rainforest.
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