Art

Renaissance Woman By Nicole Martinez | Photos by Michael McKinnis & Eve Soul Clever, inventive and undeniably expressive, Cleo Cartel is a vocal, visual and creative artist with passion and conviction. It is an ordinary Sunday, full of sunshine, and Cartel is casually sitting in her salon where she joyfully…

Krylon Dreams There seems to be an inherent marriage between the creation of art and the enforced destruction thereof by the powers that be. I mean, even John Lennon had an FBI file. So when local aerosol artist Paydirt7 first began his journey into the street-savvy world of writing on…

Bunny Business Lawrence Argent is a professor at the School of Art and Art History at the University of Denver. Though he has only paid one two-day visit to Sacramento, in 2011, he—and his long-eared accomplice—will leave an indelible mark on this city. And though Argent’s sculpture hasn’t even been…

It’s OK to Smile Go ahead and laugh. No, seriously—when it comes to her work, local artist Liv Moe intends to entertain. Drop all textbook philosophies and art-school vocabularies at the door, and prepare yourself to confront a hodge-podge of ordinary objects set against each other in such a way…

More Real Than Reality A slice of watermelon, a coffee pot, a steaming train; these things may mean nothing to you, but to the person on your left the same random objects could strike a nerve. In a good way. When abstract/surreal artist Fernando Duarte had his first Sacramento art…

Artist Kathy Blackburn is Thankful for the Here and Now It’s fashionable to say, “The 30 is the new 20,” but in the case of Kathy Blackburn, the oft muttered phrase may hold true. An instructional coach working for the Elk Grove Unified District by day, Blackburn also has a…

Local Artist Eli Trujillo Mixes it Up on the Palette A beautiful blonde plays with her dog in the park—wait, does that dog have a human face? A young couple takes in an art gallery pose for the camera—hold on, looks like the boyfriend has morphed into a gargoyle! Enter…

Skinner Foresees the Fall of Man with His Latest Exhibition Whether you’re a nerd, stoner or activist, Skinner’s art may speak to you. The Sacramento-based artist has had his work adorn local architecture ranging from the Sacramento City Skate Park to Big Brother Comics, and now with his upcoming show…

The Neon Mind of Vagas Hawk Animal instinct, electronic fury and a plethora of neon—Vagas Hawk is no stranger to color. She may be a stranger to most, however, being that her two art shows (at newcomer Thunderhorse Vintage and Old Soul at the Weatherstone) on June 14 were her…

The Twisted Imagination of Kevin Thayer Circus freaks, half naked cowgirls, and demented mutants. Meet Kevin Thayer, pin-up artist, graphic novel illustrator and self-proclaimed “cartoon geek.” He has been creating psychotic gems since early 2001, leaving his abstract paintings behind for monsters, zombies and pin-up girls. Influenced by his childhood…