Tala Madani’s visual archive
A way for the artist to both experiment with potential compositions and quickly record an idea during a moment of inspiration, Tala Madani’s sketchbooks serve as a visual archive of her paintings—those already realized as well as possible future works.
“It’s good to catch them, if you’re in the space where ideas are flowing,” says the artist. “It’s the most immediate record of a thinking process, isn’t it?”
Deepen your connection to Art21
Still from a recent artist talk. Photo courtesy of the artist.
In the Studio with Pope.L
‘The Friendliest Black Artist in America,’ Pope.L, discusses humor, management, and performance.
All answers provided by Pope.L are formatted as directed by the artist.
“I AM DRAWN TO HUMOR BY ITS WAFT, ITS SCENT, IT’S INTOXICATION. ITS WET, ITS GASEOUS CRITICALITY,” says the artist. “FOR ME, IF THE HUMOR IS TO WORK IT HAS TO BE FUNNY FOR ME FIRST, THEN GOD KNOWS WHAT IT MIGHT BE FOR OTHERS SECOND.”
Mariah Robertson in her New York studio, 2014. Production still from the New York Close Up film, “Mariah Robertson’s Chemical Reactions.” © Art21, Inc. 2014.
Playlist: Starting from Sketches
The transformation from idea to realized work can hinge on how an artist captures that moment of inspiration. For the artists in this playlist, sketchwork lends a hand.
Experiment with photographic chemistry with Mariah Robertson, forge abstract graffiti with Eddie Martinez, and merge nature and comic reality with Walton Ford in our Starting from Sketches playlist.
IMAGE: Mariah Robertson in her New York studio. Production still from the New York Close Up film, “Mariah Robertson’s Chemical Reactions.” © Art21, Inc. 2014.
Event: Laylah Ali artist talk
Join us from anywhere on Thursday, January 27, at 1:00 p.m. ET for a special presentation with artist Laylah Ali.
In celebration of the new Explore area of Art21.org, Art21 will host public programs around the themes, mediums, and narratives collected by Art21 staff. This installment draws inspiration from the artists featured in our “World Building” collection.
A Q&A will follow the presentation with Ali.
The program is free and will take place via Zoom.
Upcoming workshops for educators
Join Art21 for two virtual teacher workshops being offered this month.
In “Art Break,” a special online artmaking workshop today Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. ET, watch an Art21 film, consider a prompt from Art21’s Educators’ Guides, and create art. Please note this workshop will occur in the Zoom meeting format. Registration is free, but space is limited.
On Saturday, January 22, 2022, join Art21 at 1:00 p.m. ET for the latest installment in a series of virtual teacher workshops presented in collaboration with SFMOMA. “Environmental Impacts,” will look at artists that explore the relationships between people and the environment, as well as raise awareness about our role in the climate crisis. Registration is free, but space is limited.
Visit our education calendar for a list of upcoming workshops for educators.
