Icy and Sot

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Icy & Sot On Their Global Perspective of Producing Socially Engaged Artwork

In November, our senior editor Laura Staugaitis met multidisciplinary artists Icy and Sot at their studio in Queens. The Iranian-born brothers use their platform to raise awareness about social issues. NB The conversation was with both siblings; because the duo work and think very closely and collaboratively—often finishing each other’s sentences—the interview responses reflect their unified voice. Laura: Have you been working collaboratively your whole lives, before you are who you are now? Or was there a point at which you decided, “let’s try working together and see how this goes”? Icy + Sot: At the very beginning as artists,…

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Art Colossal

Interview: Step Inside the World of Activist-Artist Brothers Icy + Sot

Icy + Sot (previously) have worked since their youth drawing attention to social justice issues in their artwork both on the streets and in fine art galleries. Through their multi-disciplinary practice, the Iranian-born brothers explore issues of censorship, refugee crises, and economic inequality. We recently visited Icy + Sot in their Queens, NY studio to learn more about their artistic practice as well as the personal experiences that inspire their prolific output. This exclusive conversation is part of our new Interview series, available to Colossal Members. Learn more and join here.

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Art

Hundreds Join Artist JR to Create a Collaborative Portrait in Protest of Iran’s Restrictions of Women

In less than a week, the U.N. will decide whether to bar Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini, who was arrested by the nation's “morality police” for not covering her hair properly and later died in custody. To advocate for the country's removal ahead of the vote, an ongoing campaign titled Women Life Freedom is staging installations across from U.N. headquarters as…

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Art

Awash in Color, Alice Pasquini’s Murals Exude Hope and Affection

For Alice Pasquini, painting outside among pedestrians, cars, and the milieu of local life is an inherent component of her practice. The artist begins each mural by studying the intended wall and its physical qualities. Material, paint color, and various markings and damages offer indications about the area's history and people, she says, and form a well-worn, culturally situated canvas. She then renders large-scale pieces of affectionate couples, children, and figures with extraordinarily kind and welcoming faces, expressions that contrast the largely subversive and politically charged messages…

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Art

Home MuralFest: 67 Artists Simultaneously Painted Murals in Their Homes and Gardens While Quarantined

Similar to other muralists, Copenhagen-based artist Jacoba Niepoort was preparing for a busy period full of travel and public projects when COVID-19 canceled all of her plans. "I had been dreaming of methods for connecting individual, like-minded creatives who share common dreams within this multi-layered/directional world of art in the public space," she tells Colossal. "When quarantine hit, I wanted to use the spaces we were in to create parallel individual works." Niepoort connected with Axel Void (previously), a Miami-based…

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Art Colossal

Mother & Child Vol. II Raises over $15,000 to Support Separated Immigrant Families

A heartfelt thanks to the 60+ contributing artists and hundreds of attendees all helped make Mother & Child Vol. II a huge success. The benefit gallery show, which we co-produced with Sugarlift, has raised over $15,000 and counting. 100% of proceeds will be split between three non-profits who provide direct aid and legal support to separated children and families at the U.S./Mexico Border. We are proud to help further the causes of Kids in Need of Defense, The Young Center, and The Florence Project, and couldn't have done it without the…

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