Pablo Garcia Lopez (present)

Pablo Garcia Lopez of Madrid, Spain combines neuroscience and art to create some of the most unique works today. Lopez has an impressive resume as he holds a B.A. in Biology from the University Autonoma in Madrid, a PhD. in Neuroscience from the University Complutense of Madrid, and an MFA in sculpture from MICA. On his website, Lopez writes that he is "interested in making associations between both disciplines to popularize the discoveries related to the functioning of the brain, trying to create a more humanistic culture." One of his sculptures is titled "39 Brains Forming a Flower." In this piece, Lopez silkscreened paper. The piece is shown below. Here is a link to his personal website: http://pablogarcialopez.com/home.html

Christo (present) and Jeanne-Claude (1935-2009)

Christo, Bulgarian, and Jeanne-Claude, French, have created many works of environmental installation art together since 1994. Prior to that date, works were only credited to Christo. Since Jean-Claude passed away in 2009, Christo continues to create environmental installation art. They are well known for covering up well-known environmental and public areas for specific amounts of time so that people may appreciate that area when it is uncovered. They also place objects in areas for specific amounts of time. Below is their work called Surrounded Islands, Miami, FL (1980-1983). In this work, they wrapped 11 island in pink flamingo fabric. Here is a link to their personal website: http://www.christojeanneclaude.net

Taizo Yamamoto (present)

Taizo Yamamoto is a Bachelor of Architecture and has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree as well. He received his education from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He has also received a Piano Performer's Degree from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. This multi-talented artist also creates extremely detailed drawings. Most recently, Yamamoto's shopping cart drawings have been displayed at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver, Canada. From my own interpretation of Yamamoto's shopping cart drawings, I believe he is trying to send a political message about consumerism in contemporary, developed societies. Here is a link to his personal website: http://www.taizoyamamoto.com

Here is one of the twenty shopping cart drawings that Yamamoto has completed:

Escif (present)

Escif, a street artist, was born and lives and works out of Valencia, Spain. (His last name is unknown.) Escif describes his work as "contemporary mural painting." His inspirations are various paintings, comic books, daily life, and movies. He does his work to provoke thoughts from his viewers, not for the viewers to find his works aesthetically pleasing. Escif has gained a lot of fame in Spain for his artwork even though 90% of his paintings have been painted around the city without authorization on the walls of abandoned buildings. According to an interview he had with a worker from FatCap (www.fatcap.com), police rarely make him leave once he has started a new work. 

Escif's Flickr Page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/escif

Takashi Murakami (present)

Takashi Murakami was born in Tokyo and received his BFA, MFA, and PhD from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His work has been displayed all over the world. Murakami's work varies a great deal, as he is a multi-talented artist. His work ranges from paintings to pop art-resembling sculptures to giant inflatable balloons. Currently, Murakami's giant sculptures are being displayed at the Chateau de Versailles. 

Tribute website for Takashi Murakami: http://www.takashimurakami.com

More about Murakami's display at Versailles: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/news-/events/expositions/murakami-versailles-en

At the Chateau de Versailles: 

Adam Friedman (Present)

Adam Friedman was born in Nevada and attended the University of Oregon. He currently resides in Oakland, CA. In his personal statement, Friedman brings up the fact that in the roughly four billion year timeline that the earth has been here, humans have been a very small part of it. He mentions how the earth was here long before us and how it will be here long after us. He takes comfort in this and dismisses humanity's arrogance that we can simply destroy the earth or that there will be an apocalypse. Friedman uses acrylic paints, screen printing techniques, and collage on panel. In his works, Friedman compacts millions of years in time into a single moment-- one of his images. His works show that any damage humans may have made to the earth has long since been left behind. Mountains disappear, rocks bend and grow, and time is shown in a completely new way. In the words of Friedman, "I strive to present an era that defies human intervention in the landscape. An optimistic view of the natural world, post human presence." You may visit his personal website here: http://www.artbyadamfriedman.com

Patrick Winfield (Present)

Patrick Winfield grew up in upstate New York. He attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia and the City College of New York. His works consists of collage and polaroid composites. Winfield has grand fascination for nature and that is his main subject matter for his polaroid arrangements. Aside from his art, Winfield works professionally as a graphic designer. You may visit his personal website here: http://www.patrickwinfield.com/portfolio.html