Judy Jetson grew up and became a swinger: That’s the impression one might get the first time viewing a Shag painting. The artist Josh Agle—his nom de brosse comes from the SH in “Josh” and the “AG” in Agle—is known for his martini-clutching mod characters in swanky spaces rendered in saturated colors with a distinctive mid-century style. Lithe ladies in bobs and beehives and their cool-cat men lounge on boxy sofas and egg chairs, or sip tropical drinks in bars next to zombies and skeletons while bongo drummers and guitarists play on. 

At the young age of 12, the child prodigy has commissioned six-figure works of art and has garnered national and international acclaim for her colorful tributes to Marilyn Monroe.  Her artistic style has been compared to iconic abstract painters including Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and the Picasso. Her exhibitions have defined her as one of the most accomplished and recognized prodigies of our time.  Her original masterpieces have sold for tens of thousands of dollars, and have been acquired by several major art collectors.

One common reason to get a tattoo is to tell one’s story to the world through a visual representation of an important moment, person, or memory. Tattoo artist Ericksen Reed Linn of Heart and Soul states, “Most of my clients are interested in getting a tattoo to mark some milestone in their life.” Tattoos are a form of self-expression, except that they are so much more communal than traditional art. The tattooist and the client experience the creation of the piece simultaneously, and the person getting inked entrusts their personal story, not to mention part of their body, to the artist.  

One of four Scream paintings from Munch’s The Frieze of Life cycle, this version from 1895 is the now famous pastel-on-board that sold for a whopping $120 million (give or take a few cents) in 2012. The headline-making sale represented not just the most expensive art work ever to be sold at auction, but also the persistently positive reputation of The Scream itself. Despite its bleak, maddening subject matter-- Munch’s attempt at reaching the darkest depths of his own soul-- The Scream now  joins the ranks of paintings such as Starry Night and The Mona Lisa as some of the most appreciated, adored works in all of art history. 

Tavormina's dramatic images reflect the sumptuous detail of 17th century Old Master paintings.  Using a contemporary medium and a modern approach, her vibrant photographs of food and flora are reminiscent of Dutch, Spanish, and Italian still lifes of the Golden Age.  To create these luscious compositions, Tavormina collects “props”—such as butterflies, shells, dried flowers and ceramics—which evoke the still-life vernacular and imbue each tableau with allegorical meaning.

The movement has risen in popularity and sparked the interest of a broader public. But to those not active in the art scene, the term remains vague. In a first step to improve the understanding of urban art, one needs to look at where it originated: the movement started on the streets of urban environments where works were put up illegally, conveying messages the artists felt were otherwise not being heard by the masses. At this stage--when it can’t be sold or exhibited in a gallery--urban art is considered street art.

Seattle’s Mourning Market, a quarterly art show hosted in a city know for its rain and shadow, calls together those Pacific Northwestern artists who practice their own unique blend of the “dark arts.” Visitors to this experience could find one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from unseelie photography to vintage gothic posters and specially designed tarot card decks. With new artists joining the show every year, the variety of skill sets it brings together is both innovative and diverse.

The conflict in Syria, the latest and longest revolution to come from the Arab Spring, began in March 2011. As of January 2, at least 60,000 people have died from the conflict, the vast majority of which were civilians. For what is now approaching two years it has been a bloody, messy war, with no definitive front but instead scattershot clashes in Homs, Damascus, Aleppo, and countless other cities. All the while, photojournalists have fearlessly tried to tell the story of Syria. Journalists are risking their lives in the irrepressible hope that these photos, these images, will make a difference. 

In many people's experience, California consists of Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, and the highways that connect them. In reality, these urban centers make up only a fraction of the whole. According to the 2010 Census, geographically the state of California is more than 94 percent rural. Surprise Valley, Lost Hills, Raisin City, Mecca -- these are the communities that make up "the rest" of California. Photographer Lisa M. Hamilton  has delved into the collections of the California Historical Society to connect present-day stories with the past to create I See Beauty in This Life: A Photographer Looks at 100 Years of Rural California.

My senses are overrun – a foraging pendulum grasping the air. Begging for answers. Who constructed the pieces of this puzzle? India. I’m a visitor in this enigmatic southern village; an Oceanside town smothered by coconut trees and heavy rainfall. Broken dirt roads lie flooded. Men wearing dhotis drift by. Women walk in small packs, in silence, their solemn majesty reined beneath an ornate sari. I haven’t slept. The undulating energy of this country has found its way into my soul. And I don’t want to miss a beat.