On Nature's Beauty & Balance

Rhia Janta-Cooper

​"Nature is abundant in forms and beauty if only we venture to perceive it."
 
Rhia Janta-Cooper, a nature enthusiast devoted to art, shares her impressions on canvas, paper, and color. As a realist artist capturing the magic of her surroundings, she creates works that bring joy. Her paintings and series of drawings allow the viewer to get a glimpse of magnificent colors and inimitable balance that are found everywhere in the natural world. If you are looking for ways to brighten up your day, embrace nature and appreciate Rhia's renderings of it.
Connecting with Rhia Janta-Cooper is a treat. She is talented, open, and a self-described happy person. She possesses high levels of creativity and optimism and those are priceless attributes.  Rhia is always in good company and busy doing what she loves. Isn't that a life goal in itself? Rhia's work and lifestyle reflect the link between natural inspirations and true happiness. Enjoy our talk with the artist and check out her paintings and drawings. Better yet, purchase one for yourself and another for a loved one. 

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Flags Around the World

by Mike and Madeleine Bülow 

Today is as good a day for a virtual trip to Berlin to catch up with old HocTok friends, Mike & Madeleine Bülow. They are visual artists whose colorful works catch the viewers’ attention. Their recent project is titled Flags Around the World. Phase 1 is complete. More is to come because the world is vast and the colors are magical from every country that makes this world a wonderful place to call home. 
Flags Around the World  is more than just a play of colors and ideas as it is centered around the need for unity and collaboration for hope. That is what the world needs more than ever enduring such an extended time in isolation and with numerous limits on our daily activities. Instead of finding culprits, let’s find ways to make this world and this life a more enjoyable journey where everyone is acknowledged and represented.  

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Voice Our Values More Than Our Fears

Francesca Borgo

Francesca Borgo is a visual artist hailing from Trieste. She tells us that art gives her purpose and courage. That’s impressive to hear especially coming from someone like Francesca. Her accumulated professional experiences include a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and various jobs in the fields of psychology and later marketing. Francesca Borgo turned to art at a certain point in her life and she has never looked back.  
That begs the question, are the arts helping us during these trying times? How are you coping with everything at the moment? What are some lessons learned from these challenging days? 

Photo: courtesy of the artist
We are all struggling with these questions and more, but it is people like Francesca Borgo who help us find meaning through their work and conversations. Seek a calm state of mind and pin Francesca's words, “I love to think that this crisis will encourage us to give voice to our values much more than to our fears..."

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Patricia Vidal Delgado

The Filmmaker of ​"The Hood": How Do We Cope?

Patricia Vidal Delgado is a young and very passionate filmmaker. She is part of the artist community that makes the world a better place. Her work is sharp. She has a clear understanding of her surroundings and our shared realities. She is not shy to explore and learn. Patricia’s aim is to make films that are thought provoking, but also exciting and intense.
 
Lately, most of us feel like we have entered a hell hole of a phase and the light at the end of the tunnel seems to get farther as soon as we get a lick of good news. Well, don’t despair. We are not alone. We are in this together. The world has insightful creative minds like Patricia Vidal Delgado who are as nice in real life as when they get awards and recognitions. We expect to hear and see more from Patricia. We’ll be here to promote and cheer her on.

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Take Patricia Delgado’s advice and don’t forget that what really matters is the here and now because that is the only thing that is real.

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Connecting in today's world...

Mishka Kornai

Mishka Kornai is a talented filmmaker, interested in documentaries, fiction works, and experimental cinema. His singular fascination with how people connect to one another is what connects all projects Mishka takes on and completes in a splendid way that is uniquely his. For someone who grew up in Silicon Valley, his immersion in technology is understandable. But listening to Mishak’s views of the world, his choice to collaborate only with people who are passionate about what they do without paying attention to their awards, followers, or credits is pretty damn awesome. Mishka Kornai is an artist who makes really good work because he has clarity and a good soul.
Enjoy our conversation with Mishka. Watch his films. Support any artists whose works you value. Help us continue introducing you to amazing creators like Mishka Kornai. ​

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I'm OK

Elizabeth Hobbs

Elizabeth Hobbs is an animated filmmaker based  in London. She has been creating films for over 20 years. She is also an associate lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and University of The Arts, London. Her films have been part of several international film festivals and they have earned well deserved attention. I'm Ok is the title of one of Elizabeth's recent films that won a BAFTA nomination in 2019. It is a well done animated short in which colorful animation is perfectly intertwined with music in a simple and effective way inviting us to explore a range of emotions in the face of heartbreak and trauma.
I'm Ok will certainly help you get introduced to the complex and impressive world of Elizabeth Hobbs. Watch more films by Elizabeth Hobbs. It will be an easy and gratifying experience. After all, the filmmaker's goal is to make her practice enjoyable by working on a relatively short project, exploring new materials, ...with room for being playful and making mistakes. I'm Ok in itself is a reassuring statement we want to hear more often. Watch the film and take care of yourself and everyone in your circle without forgetting to be empathetic and helpful to others when given a chance.  First, enjoy our conversation with Elizabeth Hobbs who talks about her work and her take on life right now.

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Lovebirds

Martin Garde Abildgaard

Lovebirds is the latest short film written and directed by Martin Garde Abildgaard. It’s always a treat to see Martin’s work. He never fails to present a clear vision that ties in a number of elements backing up vibrant ideas in the most evocative and aesthetically appealing manner. 
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Enjoy Lovebirds and binge watch Martin Garde Abildgaard’s works, and get inspired to add your own flavor to the positive vibes, attitude, and good work needed in the world. 

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Lovebirds by Martin Garde Abildgaard

Passages

Filiz Soyak

Filiz Soyak is an artist whose body of work in an exploration of the physical, emotional, logical, historical and everything human. She is a woman, a creator, a mother, a nurturer, a partner, a confidant, a friend and a beautiful soul. 
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Dwelling into Filiz Soyak’s art is an experience that leaves a mark. Everything made by and presented by Filiz is organic, unadorned, and essential. Filiz is someone who never tires exploring and observing. Her views on art, life, and the world are the best rebuttal of the loathsome offerings we cannot avoid in our busy world.

If you are searching for a spiritual guru who does not preach but lives and creates thoughtfully for the beauty in simplicity, then it’s your lucky day. Filiz Soyak is it. 
 
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Photo: Studio Breath Patterns 4

Suspect Terrain

Heide Fasnacht

Heide Fasnacht is the definition of fierceness. Making art that matters for 50+ years is not for the faint of heart. It takes talent and courage to seek and speak the truth. What she creates awakens the senses. At the same time, Heide dares us to think independently and to dig deep into our collective consciousness to evaluate everything from different perspectives. 
​Forget negativity, pursue your passions with pure energy and fiery dedication, same as Heide Fasnacth, and you will realize you are on a good path. Live, wander, and find means to feed your soul and mind. ​

Suspect Terrain
Heide Fasnacht is an inspiring artist with a long list of a well-deserved achievements. We look forward to seeing more of new projects she creates and shares with the world. 

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Love First

Karina Aguilera Skvirsky

Run or jog. Meditate. Observe. React by creating. Develop relationships. Connect dots. Connect people. Connect us all to our incredible ancestral journeys. Help us envision where we are headed to with every word we say, with every move we make, with every action we take. 
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​Karina Aguilera Skvirsky is an artist who does it all and never fails to get our attention. She works in (expanded) photography, video and performance art. She is always busy with representation in two continents and outreach beyond any visible or invisible borders. Karina believes that the definition of outrage should be linked to “making art that engages responds to the world today.” Her advice for the rest of us is to Stay in the present… Put Love First. 

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Photo: courtesy of the artist

Bear In Heaven - "Autumn"

Peter Burr & John Lee

Peter Burr is a Brooklyn artist, specializing in animation and installation. His work has been presented at venues across the world including Le Centre Pompidou, Paris; Reina Sofia National Museum, Madrid; and MoMA PS1, New York.

John Michael Lee is an American television writer, producer, director, voice actor, and musician. He is best known for his work on the MTV2 comedy series Wonder Showzen and as a member of the rock band/art collective PFFR.

Autumn
Bear In Heaven is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band formed by Jon Philpot in 2003. The sound of the band incorporates influences from psychedelic music, electronic music and krautrock.

We had a conversation with Peter Burr & John Lee in remembrance of their collaboration with BEAR IN HEAVEN.

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Marco Mangani

The Man Behind the Music & Vernissage

"We are all the same, a very big crowd of differences but in the end we are all one."
These are the words of Marco Mangani, a man who wears many hats and does it all artfully and with distinction. Marco has co-composed the soundtracks for 'L’Attesa', a haunting melodrama, and 'Terra', a memorable short film, both directed by Piero Messina. Marco considers himself lucky to have found a brilliant collaborator in Piero Messina whose aesthetic sensitivity matches his. He is a cinema lover who loves a good challenge and never fears testing his limits. 

Although music is Marco Mangani’s first love, he is always creating some very impressive visual works with philosophical depth and plenty of room for conceptual interpretation, and he loves to share pieces of his rich inner world without worrying about categorizations or superficialities. 
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The Animated World 

Natalia Biegaj

Natalia Biegaj is an independent artist specializing in 2D animation. Her idols are old school Disney animators whose works are true masterpieces loved by children of all ages. Natalia is also inspired by some European animators who work with very limited budgets and simple tech tools but still manage to create magnificent animations that fare pretty well against big budgeted gems. When it comes to her own work, Natalia pours her heart and soul in creating traditional hand drawn frame by frame animation. 
It is a very time consuming process and it requires a lot of effort but this artist wouldn’t have it any other way. The reality of a freelance artist is about the freedom to express creative prowess. But it is also about hustling and managing administrative tasks as well as the financial and promotional aspects of work and so much more. Living in a big city like London, as in Natalia’s case, life is hectic and demanding but opportunities and rewards make it all worthwhile. At the end of the day, Natalia Biegaj keeps busy doing what she loves most, creating animations that make other people smile, think, and help them tackle their own challenges. ​

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Sailing A Sinking Sea

Olivia Wyatt

“We have to learn from all of these disappearing indigenous communities and ancient animistic and ancestral religions of the world,” are the words of Olivia Wyatt. She is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer based in Los Angeles. Olivia is fearless, courageous, and talented, with an inspiring love for life and people around the world. In her most recent work, Sailing a Sinking Sea she captures the beauty and knowledge of nomadic seafaring communities in Thailand and Myanmar.
​​Check out our in-depth conversation with Olivia Wyatt to learn more about this young filmmaker's daily struggles in the modern world and her dreams and plans for the future. 

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Selina Miles

Limitless

Selina Miles is an exciting filmmaker from Australia who travels the world to film magnetic street art and graffiti. She is also in love with music videos, documentary, and anything in between. Her works create amazing vibes with the vibrancy of raw colors and emotions.

Selina says she came into film very much by accident. Then one of her videos, “Limitless” came out and had two million views overnight. She was surprised. The rest of us were thrilled to see the world through her eyes and her camera.  

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Selina Miles would like to share a little happiness or beauty with the world. She certainly does a great job of it. The fact that she is a traveling artist by choice and determination makes her a real modern hero  whose superpower is to live life to the fullest and share the magic.  ​
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The Relentless Journey in the Name of Love

Martin Garde Abildgaard

Film director Martin Garde Abildgaard makes hauntingly beautiful works of art calling out to our common consciousness. Watching his films, documentaries, videos it feels as if you escape to other worldly, dreamlike realities. Yet, the successful young director believes art is most interesting when it speaks for itself without an official meaning attached to it. He seeks and succeeds in providing the viewers with an extraordinary experience encouraging them to attach their own meaning and opinions to his work.

Organ by Martin Garde Abildgaard
It is easy to be enamored with the films of Martin Garde Abilgaard who has won many prestigious awards such as the YDA-award for his art film “Hypoxia” last year in Cannes and  best Music Video of 2015 at Toronto Open World Film Festival.

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The Mouth Breathers Dance

Ryan Wurst

Ryan Wurst is a man of arts and letters. He is currently pursuing his PhD at CU Boulder in Intermedia, Writing, and Performance Art. His music, visual and performance art as well as his writings are a reflection of what this artist finds intriguing and humorous.

​As a visual artist, Ryan Wurst has had solo shows nationwide. His enigmatic and attention-grabbing work The Mouth Breathers explores his deep interests in digital art and 3D animation and art specifically. “Tech-stupidity is always intriguing to me,” the artist writes. It's fascinating to see how Ryan interprets it in his art works. 

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Mouth Breather Family

The Secret Behind La Rêve

Alexandra Levasseur

Alexandra Levasseur is a painter, illustrator, film maker, graphic designer and well rounded visual artist from Shawinigan, Queubec, based in Montreal.
In oils, acrylics, pencils or mixed media on wood, cardboard or canvas she pays homage to the mysterious beauty of forests, rivers and mesmerizing landscapes where she escapes to relax and find inspiration. Levasseur's soul travels in and out of dreams. Her mind strives for deeper understanding of complex theories in physics and astrophysics.
"Art reflects the mood, hopes, preoccupations and actions of humans from a particular time and place," she says. Gripping sensations and imagery is what Alexandra Levasseur achieves through her body of work. Enjoy!

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Jean Jullien

The Man behind the Image

Jean Jullien is a French graphic designer currently residing in London. His body of work is truly eclectic in nature including illustration, photography, video, costumes, installations, books, posters and clothing. It is also coherent and substantive with sly notes of humor. 

You have definitely seen the Peace for Paris image, his raw and instinctive drawing that united the world on November 13.
Jean Jullien tells us that he is always open to a good challenge and he doesn’t even flinch at failure and accidents, key to creative gymnastics, he loves practicing. The importance is not settling down in what you’re confident, but to embrace change, or at least, don’t be intimidated by it.

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None of That

Isabela Littger De Pinho, Anna Hinds Paddock, and Kriti Kaur

​Remember when you were fresh out of college with big dreams, maybe somewhat of a blurry vision of the future ahead, still eager and hungry for opportunities to showcase your talent. Well, here we have the best version of that portrait from those good ole’ days when things might not have been all that clear but it was still a super exciting and nerve wrecking time. 
Isabela Littger, Anna Paddock and Kriti Kaur are three young talented artists ready to make their mark in the real world. They are the masterminds and creative force behind 'None of That', an awesome animated short that has already gained attention and acclaim from all sides. These ladies have a long way to go and we’re so confident they’ll continue to make us proud. 

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Floating Flower Garden

teamLab 
teamLab is a collective of 400 people who are computer programmers, engineers, graphic designers, mathematicians, physicists, architects, etc.. All young at heart and many of them young in human years, too. This community of carefree geniuses makes art using technology as basic material. Yes, teamLab has its own one of a kind magician’s hat that never runs out of tricks because of scientific knowledge.

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The Wire

Elliot Lim

The Bay Area is bopping with excitement and we all know why. Countless numbers of talented people, laid back go getters, wine lovers, beer drinkers, and wholesome Yogis or gurus call it home and make it shine. We’re back from San Fran after a close up look at Elliot Lim’s portfolio. Elliot is a director, designer, and animator who just recently returned home to Bay Area after making the most of his experiences in NYC and Chicago. 
Watch Elliot Lim’s rendition of “The Wire” and get a glimpse of a cool artist who keeps it real and simple…

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Life on Canvas

Chow Chun Fai

Chow Chun Fai is a visual artist from Hong Kong. Cinema has been an early source of inspiration for him. Looking through his thought-provoking body of work, it is clear that the classics as well as reality with its complex scenery have served as starting points for Chow Chun Fai.  The depth of his viewpoints is asserted by the artist’s belief that ancestry plays a definitive role in providing us all with valuable knowledge. Maybe this is a way of understanding Chow Chun's ease when navigating in and out of various realms.
Currently, the man who has a keen eye and knows how to have a good laugh is currently struggling to follow his artistic muse for the sake of art. The political unrest in Hong Kong is what matters the most to Chow Chun Fai at this point in time. The artist is concerned. He joins protesters by day. He paints what he sees on the streets of Hong Kong by night. Chow Chun Fai wants the world to see what he feels and what he and others are experiencing during these difficult times in Hong Kong. Praying for a solution maybe is not enough. Witnessing history by also making a stand for what's right is certainly a noble cause for an artist and everyone else. ​

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Love Letter to Vienna

Kris Hofmann

Photo: courtesy of the artist
Kris Hofmann is a young, talented and very active artist from Vienna, Austria. For more than a decade she lives in London, where she gets inspired every day and tells stories passionately through her films and animations. She uses metaphors to share meaningful messages in various formats and movement. Her Love Letter to Vienna is told through a colorful set of hats. 

Pick a hat and stroll through the streets of this marvelous city to fall under the magic feelings it offers. Kris Hofmann will lead the way.

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Forever in Progress

Eleena Bakrie

Eleena Bakrie moved from the dreamy island of Borneo to the magnificent coastal city of Savannah, GA. The intent was to advance her passion for making short films and animation. One of her most eye catching works is the short film titled Santubong. It is Eleena’s retelling of a famed story from the local folklore of her childhood years. It is related to the glorious mountain of Santubog standing tall in the background all those years of her childhood. 
​​When things get challenging, the only thing to do is keep moving forward. That’s what Eleena is telling audiences with her version of Santubong. Elena knows that the world of film and animation is where she is in control of her experiences. It is where she knows how to translate her feelings into magic. That kind of magic is understood and shared by many other people.

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Resynthesis

Kevin McGloughlin

Don’t forget how precious and important the moments we share with one another truly are... This is a single powerful reminder among an array of prevailing feelings transmitted by the artistic output of Kevin McGloughlin, a young filmmaker hailing from Sligo, Ireland. ​
Speaking of Sligo, add it to your list of places to visit this year. Kevin didn’t miss the chance to confess his love for his hometown. He talks of Sligo’s and Ireland’s beautiful and inspirational landscape both urban and rural. He tells us about the rich culture and history he grew up with and the numerous artists of many kinds who inspire him and lots of others around the world. 
Real beauty has roots. It has depth. Sacrifice and hard work are what Kevin McGloughlin sees as necessary requirements to follow once calling and leaving a mark on this world. Read more about Kevin McGloughlin and what he shared with us. See snippets of his work and keep on moving, keep finding your voice, keep making your voice heard. 

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Heart & Art in Unison

Karni & Saul

We had the chance to connect with Karni from Karni & Saul. This is a fantastic duo who are always busy making film, animation, photography, illustration and lots more. Their body of work can be categorized as their self-coined genre called “casual fantasy”. They aim to create eye candy with meaning and heart. Take your pick and watch any of Karni & Saul’s creations. You will be impressed. 
Picture
- Sad Heart - An emotional journey of a woman along a sound wave. Music & Lyrics by Sivan Talmor Directed by Karni & Saul - Sulkybunny Production
The conversation with Karni includes bits of their story. It highlights their views about art and the world. It also has a list of names to check out over and over again. There are fancy awards and interesting plans that these really talented, good-hearted people have earned and are concentrated on and that you don't want to miss. There's also talk of valid day to day issues that even creators of visual pleasure projects cannot escape from. Keep exploring!

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Fall River

Pat Heywood & Jamil McGinnis

You have to love life. You have to find ways to love. You have to seek people who give you reasons to love a life that makes sense. This is why you have to watch Fall River. It’s a film full of heart. It got soul. It is truthful. It is reality. Unfiltered. Unretouched. Pure emotions. 
Pat Heywood & Jamil McGinnis, are the two young, talented film makers behind Fall River. Their visions are remarkable because their honesty and hope are genuine. 
Get a glimpse of what has attracted us to their work and support young artists like Pat and Jamil.

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Semele

Myrsini Aristidou

Myrsini Aristidou is a filmmaker, writer, producer, and a free spirit, a doer, a good soul who doesn’t miss a beat wherever she makes her home. Her recent film, Aria, premiered at the 74th Venice Biennale. Semele, another of her works that premiered in 2015,  won several international awards, including the Berlinale Short Film Special Prize. Myrsini tells us that the initial spark of conception for all her films happens through a glimpse of a moment remembered or lived from her own experiences. 
Seeing herself as a citizen of the world rather than choosing a country to live in, speaks of her ability to connect with audiences everywhere.
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In addition to filmmaking, Myrsini is involved in development work focusing on children’s education especially in underserved communities and areas of the world. She is a co-founder of the Sagapo Children's Foundation, providing the necessary tools and environment for societies and communities to become self-sufficient.

Myrsini Aristidou is an artist whose love for art fuels her passions and her love of life feeds her art. She sees knowledge as the key to freedom and a state of mind that overcomes all obstacles.

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Sparky

Dian Liang

Dian Liang is an animator and illustrator who creates really cool work. Sparky is one of her most recent animated video that has received plenty of attention in many film festivals. Dian knows how to present refreshing views on matters of life. Simplicity and authenticity are part of her vernacular. Her desire to create started as a journey to escape her surrounding reality. Then through her experiences, she learned how to adapt various color palettes of immediate milieus to her work and her outlook on life.

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Imagined Realities

Alaba Onajin

Alaba Onajin is an illustrator and a comic book artist from Nigeria. His art draws from the surrounding beauty that inspires his and struggles and hardships he witnesses and in some cases faces and overcomes. When you hear Alaba talk about 2019 being a good and busy year for him, you can’t help feeling good and hopeful. People with his kind of vision and talent should be busy sharing their stories, inspiring others, connecting the dots and leaving a mark that helps humanity.
Alaba is one of the artists chosen for the Women in African History Project by UNESCO. The mission of the project is to educate children in Africa and also the world about the brave women who have helped shaped the progress and growth of the continent. What better choice than a young artist who has passion, vision, and tenacity to keep doing what he loves and forget about the nay sayers and negative energy of any kind.

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Amplifying Beauty in Colors and Passion

Alessio Bruno

“Make life as pop as possible,” that’s Alessio Bruno’s mantra. He is the artist behind “Popfaces” the reinvented portraits and photographs of celebrities he adores. It is through social media that this passionate young artist found his audience. Alessio credits Diane Pernet, a journalist, photographer, fashion critic and blogger with being the first to promote his art. She had noticed his Popface reinvention of her portrait and loved it. Ms. Pernet reached out to him and asked to use his art at an exhibition in Paris at the launch of her perfume. All the attention he received opened many doors. He has already collaborated with fashion designers, cinematographers, and magazines. Alessio certainly has enjoyed all the positive feedback and comments from the likes of Alicia Keys and Naomi Campbell among others. Expressing himself freely has enabled Alessio Bruno to find out how much the world appreciates his talent.

And to think that it all started as a game, as an escape from his daily routine and day job. We are looking forward to see more of Alessio Bruno and his PopArt for years to come. 

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Backstage Pass with Jaemi Loeb (Summer 2015)

The Conductor’s View 

Manchester - a cool destination. Not an obvious tourist retreat (maybe for the best). Still a great city within striking distance of Yorkshire and all of Northern England while only a two-hour train ride from London. It is filled with good restaurants, exciting nightlife, museums, great shopping. Most importantly, visit Manchester for the live music reaching high and above as far as the eye can see.

Get to know Jaemi Loeb and enjoy together her EuroTrip to:
Manchester - England 
​Florence, Rome, Vatican - Italy

Photo: courtesy of the artist