The Desirably Disturbing Digital Art of Ray Caesar. A Look at over 30 of his Works.

above: Ray Caesar, Self-Examination, 2011

I always like to feature an artist whose work has a sort of Goth or macabre style around this time of year, in honor of Halloween. This year, it's digital artist Ray Caesar.



above: Ray Caesar, Pollux, 2005 and Castor, 2005

In a similar genre as fellow contemporary artists Natalie Shau, Mark Ryden Nataly (Kukula) Abramovitch, and Marion Peck, Ray Caesar's digitally created portraits feature a grotesque elegance.


above: Ray Caesar, La Chasse, 2011

Humans and animals that are part insect or arthropod and narratives that imply, illustrate or foretell disaster are executed in an illustrative and delicate manner. Below are many of his works, which are created using 3D modeling computer programs, and studies from the past few years.

Home Coming, 2011:

Home Coming, detail:

Queen on Flies, Companion:

A Familial Affectation:

Ebb Tide:

Fly Trap (study):

Eternity:

Eris:

Kitten (study):

Kitten:

Ancient Memory:

Decent:

Day Break:

Calamity:

Second Sight:

The Widow's Tea Party:

The Angel of Innocent Things:

Monday's Child:

Monday's Child, detail:

Revelation:

Impromptu:

Harvest:

Metatron (studies):

Metatron:

detail:

The Burden of Her Memory:

Side Saddle:

Wallflowers:

Sleeping (study):


His most recent work and his first solo exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery, "A Dangerous Inclination," just opened Oct 22.



Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
T: 310-287-2340 T: 323-363-9338
Open Tuesday - Saturday, Noon to 6:00pm

Arrested Motion has a revealing interview with the artist about his works in the Corey Helford show here.


About the artist:

above image courtesy of Jonathan LeVine Gallery

Ray Caesar was born in 1958 in London. At an early age, his family moved to Toronto, Canada, where he currently resides. From 1977—80 he attended Ontario College of Art, followed by 17 years from 1980—96 working in the art & photography department of the Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto, documenting disturbing cases of child abuse, surgical reconstruction, psychology, and animal research. Coupled with inspiration from surrealists Kahlo and Dali, Caesar’s experiences at the hospital continue to influence his artwork. His haunting imagery is created digitally using 3D modeling software called Maya, mastered while working in digital animation for television and film industries from 1998—2001. In 1999, Caesar received a Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Special Effects in a series. For more information about the artist, please visit www.raycaesar.com

Several of Ray's enchanting images are available as Ultrachrome prints. For prices on singles and prints, contact belinda@galleryhouse.ca

Ray Caesar's artwork, prints and books can be found and purchased at the following galleries:
Gallery House
Corey Helford Gallery
Richard Goodall Gallery
Vered Gallery
Jonathan LeVine Gallery
Dorothy Circus Gallery

More Contemporary Artists Interpret The Iconic Playboy Bunny in Playboy Redux II.

above: detail from Vincent Cacciotti's reinterpretation of the Playboy Bunny

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the world famous Playboy Club and the Playboy Bunny, artists reinterpreted the sexy icon in Playboy Redux II, an exhibit featuring the work of over 20 of today's contemporary artists.

The Seventh Artist Edition Yo-Yo Is Illustrated By Travis Lampe

The seventh in an on-going series of Artist Edition Yo-Yos, this latest hardwood yo-yo features original artwork by Chicago artist, Travis Lampe.

The unadorned yo-yos themselves are a work of art. Made in the United States and turned from a single piece of Hard Rock Maple, they are made in the traditional fashion of yo-yos from the 1920s. While most modern yo-yos are made of high-impact plastic or aircraft-grade aluminum, these wooden yo-yos are meant to evoke a simpler time in American history. The yo-yo is the second-oldest toy in the world and still one of the most popular; it’s with this heritage in mind that these wooden yo-yos were chosen.

Other Yo-yos in the series featured the work of, amongst others, Brian Morris:

and Jeremiah Ketner:


This Artist Edition Yo-Yo will be $15 each, limited to 30 pieces worldwide, and will never be manufactured again. One side is laser-engraved with original art by the selected artist, while the other side is engraved with the artist’s signature and the Steve Brown Gallery logo.



The goal of this series, as expressed by Steve Brown Gallery, is to provide people with a work of art that is meant to be part of their everyday life. It is their hope that this yo-yo provides you with simple pleasure for years to come.



Yo-yos manufactured and engraved by Arizona-based YoYo Factory.


You can find other Travis Lampe originals for sale here.

Benjamin Lacombe's Beautifully Illustrated Pop-Up Book, Once Upon A Time.

above: spread from Little Red Riding Hood, illustration by Benjamin Lacombe

Il Était Une Fois (Once Upon A Time), is a beautiful pop-up book which features eight classic fairy tales; Alice In Wonderland, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, Madame Butterfly and Thumbelina rendered in splendid 3D illustrations/paintings by the handsome and talented french illustrator Benjamin Lacombe with paper pop-up construction design by Jose Pons.


above: detail from Madame Butterfly illustration by Benjamin Lacombe

The book was first published November 2009 in France by Seuil Jeunesse, then recently published in Spain by Edelvives and soon to be published in Italy. The book is not available in English- at least not yet.

Below is a spectacularly produced promotional video (truly as beautful as the book itself) for the book by Romain Berthou and Laurent Covet from B&C Wall , a Paris collective of directors, character designers and CG animators.



The cover and some images from the book:









Here are some of his background illustrations or the book before the mechanics and 3D pop up parts were added.

Sleeping Beauty:

Alice in Wonderland:


About the artist (from his site):

Benjamin was born in Paris in 1982.
In 2001, he attended the ƒcole Nationale SupŽrieure des Arts DŽcoratifs of Paris (ENSAD) where he pursued his artistic education. In addition to his studies, he worked as an advertising and animated movie artist before completing his first comic series at the age of 19, along with a few other illustrated books.

His final project "Cherry and Olive", which he has both written and illustrated, became his first children’s book and was published by Les ƒditions du Seuil in March 2006. The following year, it was released by Walker Books (USA) and nominated one of the top 10 children’s books for the year 2007 in the U.S.A. by the prestigious weekly news magazine Time.

Since then, Benjamin has written and illustrated numerous books. He has notably worked with Albin Michel, Barefoot Books (USA), Edelvives (Spain), Hemingway Korea (Korea), Milan, MaxMilo, Sarbacane, Soleil, Walker Books (USA) and of course Le Seuil Jeunesse, the publishing house which has issued most of his books.

Benjamin exhibits his work on a regular basis. Among others, it has been displayed in the following art galleries: Ad Hoc Art (New York),L’art de rien (Paris), Dorothy Circus (Rome), Maruzen (Tokyo), etc...

Benjamin lives and works in Paris with his dog Virgile, often found hiding among the pages of his books.

Benjamin Lacombe