View allAll Photos Tagged CreativeExpression
I bought a packet of these coated peanuts, to take with me when I went on my retreat.
If you haven't tried them, you should...I can guarantee you'll get addicted and can't stop at one or two or three lol
This photo, I added texture to make it artistic!
Have a great night~day, my dear flickerinos! :)
Ok I wasn't going to post this but one of my contacts wanted to see it so I did...here it is Linny...thank you for encouraging me to post it.
I kinda feel embarressed to post it but I guess that's how we learn...and conquer our fears, of what people will think etc...
To get it to the point we're happy with it, we practice and practice and I can promise you, I'll be doing a lot of practising, I enjoy it too much to give up...too easily lol
This is my third painting...but...my second free hand one...I just painted whatever wanted to come out...
I hope I can inspire some of you to paint and then maybe you can show me your work.
Have a great day/night everyone :)
PS pick a heart and put your name on it! :)
This evocative mural, located at the intersection of Tiistikäntie and Pyyntitie in Matinkylä, Espoo, portrays a poignant scene: a young girl having her hair cut, with the remaining strands forming a heart shape. Situated near the end of Kala-Matti and in close proximity to the Iso Omena shopping center, this artwork adds depth to the urban landscape. While the specific meaning of the mural isn’t documented, its imagery suggests themes of love, loss, and resilience. Such public art enriches the community, sparking reflection and conversation among passersby.
This evocative mural, located at the intersection of Tiistikäntie and Pyyntitie in Matinkylä, Espoo, portrays a poignant scene: a young girl having her hair cut, with the remaining strands forming a heart shape. Situated near the end of Kala-Matti and in close proximity to the Iso Omena shopping center, this artwork adds depth to the urban landscape. While the specific meaning of the mural isn’t documented, its imagery suggests themes of love, loss, and resilience. Such public art enriches the community, sparking reflection and conversation among passersby.
Echoes of History ✨
This mixed-media piece blends a portrait with thought-provoking words like "History," "Honesty," and "Heritage" to reflect on the powerful themes of identity, resilience, and legacy. The stark contrast of black and white in the portrait, coupled with the torn, textured paper, evokes a sense of timeworn strength, while the handwritten words float like whispers from the past.
️ Medium: Ink and mixed media
📜 Concept: A tribute to the enduring spirit of history and the values that shape us
🌟 Art that tells a story through texture, form, and words.
Padmavat
was just an excuse
terrorize school buses
arson abuse ..the nation
watches dumbfounded
hardly amused ,
the supreme leader
is silent vote bank
politics sides he cant
choose ..both ways
we lose .around freedom
of creative expression
another noose ..
intolerance gives birth
to right wing goons
orchestrated dilemma
as the cow jumps over
the moon... far too soon
Two visitors stand in quiet contemplation before Robert Delaunay’s The Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars Gardens at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. Painted in Delaunay’s signature Orphist style, the piece bursts with vibrant greens, yellows, and earthy browns, capturing the dynamism and energy of early 20th-century Paris. Delaunay’s fascination with light and movement is evident in the sweeping curves and intersecting lines that echo the rhythmic pulse of the city and its iconic monument.
One visitor gestures animatedly toward the painting, perhaps highlighting Delaunay’s pioneering use of color theory to express the Eiffel Tower’s dynamic presence against the lush gardens below. The other visitor listens, umbrella in hand, fully engaged in this shared moment of artistic discovery. Their shadows stretch across the minimalist, polished gallery floor, grounding the scene in a human connection to art that transcends time and place.
The painting itself—a geometric tapestry of intersecting planes and bold shapes—epitomizes Delaunay’s revolutionary approach to abstraction, where color and form dance together to evoke the essence of modern life. Through this lens, the Eiffel Tower is not just an architectural marvel but a symbol of human ingenuity and the spirit of innovation that defined Paris in the early 1900s.
As a highlight of the Hirshhorn’s modern collection, Delaunay’s masterpiece invites visitors to reflect on the interplay of structure, color, and imagination. It serves as a testament to the museum’s dedication to fostering conversations around art’s ability to capture and transform our perceptions of the world.
A vibrant piece of street art adorns a wall in Zaragoza, showcasing the creativity and expression of urban artists. This graffiti blends bold colors, intricate details, and a unique style, adding character to the city's streets and reflecting the dynamic spirit of modern art.
Sometimes,
there’s a warmth that wraps around us,
a feeling of being held,
not by arms alone
but by the presence of someone
who raised you,
watched you become.
This is the shape of protection,
the quiet strength of a mother’s love.
In this photo,
the breasts stand not for desire
but for care,
a symbol of giving,
of nurture without condition.
And now I wonder,
what does love look like for you?
Not just romance,
but the kind that shapes you,
heals you,
holds you steady.
Would you share it with me?
Step into a world of words at the Hirshhorn Museum, where this immersive, black-and-white text installation completely transforms the gallery space into a thought-provoking, visually striking experience. The artist’s dynamic brushwork covers every inch of the floor, walls, and even the ceiling with handwritten text, illustrations, and graffiti-like scrawls, all in stark black and white. Snippets of phrases, poetry, and protest statements intermingle, challenging visitors to consider questions of identity, politics, history, and the human condition.
Visitors are dwarfed by towering phrases that ask, “What is truth?” and “Who owns the future?”, while figures and animals emerge from the painted chaos, including a prominent black sculpture of a raven—a potent symbol of transformation and observation. At the center of the room, a bright yellow canoe pops against the monochrome backdrop, an unexpected dash of color that invites both curiosity and contemplation.
The installation’s scale and detail create a sense of total immersion, urging visitors to physically move through and around the words, reading, pondering, and engaging with the artist’s urgent message. Each visitor becomes part of the artwork itself, their shadows cast on the text-laden floor as they navigate the space.
This installation exemplifies contemporary art’s power to challenge perceptions and invite dialogue, transforming a museum into an interactive environment where language and imagery converge. It’s a place where every footstep lands on a phrase or thought, and every glance finds new questions to ponder.
The Hirshhorn Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution, continues to champion innovative, boundary-pushing contemporary art, and this installation stands as a testament to that mission. For those seeking an unforgettable, interactive experience that bridges text and visual art, this exhibit offers a unique journey through the written word’s raw energy and expressive power.
This mural, painted in 2016 by muralist Simone Star Weit, depicts a native Guatemalan woman with a geometric design that is influenced by traditional Guatemalan textiles. It pays homage to indigenous women artists the world over and, also, serves as a reminder to hold fast to the rich cultural history of the heavily Hispanic Mission District area of San Francisco.
This mural was photographed on a garage door at Balmy Alley located in the Mission District in San Francisco, California. In this block long alley one can view the most concentrated collection of murals and street art in San Francisco. The murals began in the mid-80's as an expression of artists' outrage over human rights and political abuses in Central America. Today the alley contains murals on a myriad of styles and subjects from human rights to local gentrification and Hurricane Katrina.
The artist Simone Star Weit has dedicated herself to a life of service, healing and creative expression. She has no formal art training and considers herself a modern "folk" artist. Simone also teaches yoga and somatic awareness techniques to incarcerated at-risk girls at juvenile hall in San Francisco while, at the same time, continuing to work towards her Masters degree in somatic counseling psychology.
Woman with striking red hair and bold makeup poses against a dramatic background under soft lighting
A woman with vibrant red hair and bold makeup stands confidently in a black and red outfit. Her striking features and the artistic background create a captivating scene.
"She Stands in the Circle"
The room bends toward her.
Not in fear.
Not in worship.
But in recognition—
as if it has been waiting for her
since the first brushstroke of its creation.
Her hair is a river of fire,
pouring over her shoulders,
catching the soft light
and turning it into something alive.
Black and red cling to her frame
like they were made for no one else—
armor and invitation,
danger and desire,
stitched into the same breath.
Behind her, the great circle rises—
moon, halo, omen—
its texture whispering of storms
and the quiet after.
She does not pose.
She occupies.
She does not smile.
She commands.
Every detail—
the cut of her jacket,
the red at her lips,
the stillness in her gaze—
is a sentence in a language
only the bold can speak.
And in that language,
she says without sound:
_I am here.
I am whole.
I am the art you came to see._
Step into a mesmerizing world of words and symbolism with this immersive installation at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. At its heart, a glossy black sculpture of a crow-like creature commands attention, perched amidst a sea of hand-painted text and dynamic line work that covers every inch of the walls and floor. The stark black-and-white palette creates a powerful contrast, drawing viewers into the swirling chaos of poetic phrases, rhetorical questions, and cryptic messages that challenge, provoke, and invite reflection.
The artwork transforms the gallery into a multi-sensory experience that blurs the lines between literature, protest, and visual art. Words like “WHAT IS A WALL?” “THE PURPOSE OF PANIC?” and “SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES” leap out, demanding to be read, felt, and contemplated. The crow itself, with its glossy, almost liquid surface, embodies mystery and transformation—a symbol of resilience amid a maelstrom of human thought and experience.
The installation captures the raw power of language as art, where every brushstroke becomes a voice and every surface a platform for dialogue. Visitors become part of the narrative, their steps echoing through a space that is both visually and intellectually stimulating. This is not just an art exhibit; it’s a place where language comes alive, sparking conversations about identity, society, and the human condition.
The Hirshhorn Museum has always been at the forefront of contemporary art, and this installation exemplifies its commitment to showcasing bold, provocative work that pushes the boundaries of creativity. For visitors, it’s an unforgettable experience that lingers long after they leave the gallery, reminding them that art can challenge, inspire, and transform us all.
Nicholas Party’s Head (2018–2022) stands like a surreal sentinel at the Hirshhorn Museum, where it forms part of the Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection 1860–1960 exhibit. Though created well after the exhibit's chronological endpoint, Head was included as a contemporary “intellectual descendant” of the modernist movement. Bold, stylized, and gleaming with a pop-art polish, the sculpture features a towering red head with piercing green eyes, cobalt lips, and a glossed black coiffure. Set against a deep gray wall on a stark white pedestal, the piece exudes both simplicity and psychological intensity.
The Hirshhorn’s curators assembled Revolutions by combing through the museum's archives to identify artworks that capture the shift from traditional to modern art. While the exhibit is arranged roughly by decade, visitors experience it more like "wiggly streams of paint poured beside and atop each other." Party’s Head appears in this context as a visual jolt—a playful yet probing evolution of portraiture that nods to early 20th-century abstraction while anchoring viewers in contemporary materiality and color theory.
The artist’s signature use of large color blocks, dramatic shading, and cartoonish surrealism harmonizes perfectly with recurring themes of the show: abstract features, saturated hues, and experimental form. Though the exhibit predominantly showcases art from 1860–1960, Head cleverly bridges past and present. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it exemplifies the Hirshhorn’s mission to highlight “cream-of-the-crop” work from its collection while keeping the dialogue between generations of artists alive.
Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection 1860–1960 runs through April 20, 2025. It’s a must-see for fans of art history, modernism, and contemporary commentary.
Loie Hollowell’s Boob Wheel (2019), displayed at the Hirshhorn Museum, is a powerful and provocative work that explores the intersections of the human body, abstraction, and color in contemporary art. Measuring over six feet tall, this mesmerizing acrylic and oil on canvas painting commands attention with its bold, biomorphic shapes and rich, saturated hues.
The composition centers on a symmetrically divided figure that echoes the natural curves of the human body, particularly the female form, while simultaneously abstracting it into a cosmic, almost spiritual realm. The painting’s top half features a soft oval suggesting a head, set above a geometric swirl of forms reminiscent of a breast or a planetary orbit. The lower half unfolds into a hypnotic pattern of curvilinear forms, evocative of buttocks or a cosmic landscape, all grounded by a warm, radiant orange gradient that bridges the ethereal and the earthly.
Hollowell’s signature use of vibrant blues and oranges creates a dynamic contrast that draws viewers into the painting’s depths, while the interplay of smooth gradients and subtle textures gives the work an almost tactile quality. The strategic placement of small, bright red spheres adds an element of movement and energy, echoing both the feminine and the universal.
Displayed on a salmon-hued wall, Boob Wheel becomes part of the museum’s architectural space, inviting viewers to contemplate its forms from multiple perspectives. Hollowell’s work challenges traditional notions of femininity and representation, blending the intimate with the cosmic to create a painting that is both deeply personal and profoundly universal.
Selfoss, Iceland - July 8, 2023: Interesting heart mural with volcanic landscape, painted on the side of the building
This immersive photograph captures a vibrant sound installation by Brazilian artists OSGEMEOS, exhibited at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. Featuring dozens of handcrafted, painted speaker boxes transformed into expressive faces, this piece fuses street culture, music, and identity into a joyful, surreal environment.
Mounted on a pale pink wall, the sculptural forms seem to sing, speak, and listen all at once. Each speaker box is unique — painted in OSGEMEOS’s signature cartoon style with bold expressions, sleepy eyes, pursed lips, and wild lashes. The boxes are adorned with speaker cones, knobs, glitter, cassette decks, graffiti tags, and found materials. The result is a room that feels like it’s alive, buzzing with sound and personality.
At the center of the installation stands a yellow rolling sound system — a kind of anthropomorphic DJ booth, complete with vintage gramophone horns, sculpted limbs, and faces of its own. It’s a nod to Brazilian street sound systems and hip-hop culture, filtered through the artists’ dreamlike visual language. Playful and political, the work references the artists’ childhood in São Paulo, where music, graffiti, and invention shaped their worldview.
This installation brings to life OSGEMEOS’s commitment to transforming everyday objects into portals of expression. By turning speakers into faces, they humanize machines and animate the walls with a chorus of cultural references. The piece invites viewers to imagine a world where even objects speak, emote, and participate in community.
Exhibited at the Hirshhorn — one of the Smithsonian’s leading institutions for contemporary art — this installation marks a celebration of global street art on the museum stage. It blurs the boundaries between sound, sculpture, and painting, and asks: What does it mean to be seen, heard, or ignored?
This photograph captures the installation’s visual energy and immersive intent, highlighting the wild color palette, clever detailing, and irrepressible humor that define OSGEMEOS’s art. Whether you come for the visual feast or the sonic experimentation, this piece is an unforgettable moment of connection between audience, artwork, and artist.
Tucked into the culturally rich Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, this powerful piece of street art encapsulates the soul of San Francisco’s diverse history and enduring resilience. Located near the vibrant Bayview Commons Apartments on Third Street, the artwork draws inspiration from the legacy of Maya Angelou, with the words “I Rise” boldly emblazoned on the utility box. The message, a nod to Angelou's famous poem, reflects the strength and perseverance of the African American community in the Bayview neighborhood, which has historically been a hub of Black culture and activism in the city.
The painting depicts a confident, regal figure wearing a colorful headwrap, evoking both historical and contemporary themes of black pride and identity. This mural, like many others around Bayview, celebrates the community's rich history while promoting unity and empowerment. Street art has flourished in this area as a way to highlight social justice issues and honor local culture. The creative use of public spaces, from utility boxes to entire building walls, brings life to the streets while fostering a deep sense of community pride.
Bayview is not just known for its murals but also for its architectural significance, blending old industrial structures with new development. The neighborhood is a tapestry of artistic expression, with many other pieces nearby, making it a hidden gem for those seeking off-the-beaten-path art in San Francisco.
When you visit, take a moment to pause and absorb the strength behind the brushstrokes—this is more than just a mural; it’s a visual anthem of resilience, painted in the heart of a neighborhood that continues to rise.
Ann Pibal’s LDFSX (2008), on view at the Hirshhorn Museum, is a striking exploration of geometry, balance, and color theory that challenges our perception of space. Painted in acrylic on panel, this 45 x 60 inch work features a hypnotic network of orange and white lines intersecting across a black background, creating an intricate dance of form and rhythm that evokes both architecture and abstraction.
Pibal’s composition is built on a minimalist grid structure, where diagonal and horizontal lines intersect, overlap, and create dynamic shapes that seem to push and pull at the boundaries of the canvas. The bold orange lines exude a vibrant energy against the stark black, while the white lines add a sense of balance and structure, guiding the eye through the work’s shifting planes.
Installed on a vivid orange wall, the painting’s chromatic tension extends into the gallery itself, blurring the line between artwork and environment. The interplay between the painting’s internal geometry and its external setting enhances its immersive quality, inviting viewers to engage with the piece both visually and physically.
LDFSX embodies Pibal’s distinctive approach to painting, where precision meets spontaneity and order meets complexity. The work reflects her interest in modernist ideals while embracing contemporary design sensibilities. Visitors at the Hirshhorn are encouraged to lose themselves in the painting’s rhythmic interplay of lines, discovering new angles and perspectives with each step.
This installation exemplifies the Hirshhorn Museum’s commitment to presenting innovative contemporary art that invites reflection, conversation, and delight in the power of form and color.
Inside the Hirshhorn Museum’s curved corridors, a breathtaking swirl of color and texture transforms an ordinary white wall into a dynamic, sculptural tapestry. Layers upon layers of paint and mixed media slice through the space like the strata of an ancient canyon, revealing a vibrant spectrum: crimson reds, sunlit yellows, oceanic blues, and earthy browns all colliding in a rhythmic cacophony.
This installation—part painting, part sculpture—embodies the tension between art as surface and art as environment. The artist (Mark Bradford, known for his large-scale, collage-like work) uses found materials, paper, and rope embedded into thick acrylic layers to create these textured topographies that recall maps, urban streetscapes, or the scars of time itself. The resulting effect invites viewers to walk alongside, lean in, and get lost in the cracks and crevices, discovering hidden details that emerge with every step.
The visual complexity of the installation mirrors Washington, D.C.’s own layered history. The museum’s circular architecture frames this contemporary piece, giving it a sense of perpetual motion—like a time capsule caught in flux. The experience is both intimate and monumental, pulling you in with its tactile presence while simultaneously enveloping you in the grand narrative of modern art.
A few museum visitors drift along the edge of the installation, their silhouettes dwarfed by the scale of the work. Their presence emphasizes the human dimension within this sea of materiality. The interplay of shadows and light from the overhead spotlights accentuates the tactile richness, transforming the wall into a living, breathing surface.
For visitors, this installation is more than a viewing experience—it’s a sensory journey that fuses color, history, and place, embodying the pulse of the Hirshhorn Museum and contemporary art in the nation’s capital.
An eye-opening exhibition called A World In Common: Contemporary African Photography opens at Tate Modern. Bringing together thirty-six artists from different generations and countries to celebrate the dynamic photography across the African continent. The exhibition opens on 6th July and until 14 January 2024 at Tate Modern.
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All photographs © Andrew Lalchan
Piano Hands series....
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- - - www.musicforpeople.org
- - - Non-profit organization dedicated to creative expression for everyone through music improvisation.
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San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is renowned for its eclectic mix of counterculture history, vibrant street art, and unique local businesses. A prime example of this cultural tapestry is the Central Haight Market street art. The mural, which brightens the facade of an otherwise understated building, captures the essence of Haight-Ashbury’s free-spirited and diverse community. The artwork features bold, colorful depictions that blend local landmarks with imaginative characters, making it a must-see for visitors and locals alike.
The mural is split into sections, each offering a unique narrative that speaks to the heart of San Francisco’s alternative culture. One section showcases the iconic Golden Gate Bridge alongside the phrase “Love is Our Tribe,” a nod to the inclusive and welcoming atmosphere of the Haight. Another section features two quirky, otherworldly characters, perhaps a playful reminder of the neighborhood’s storied past as a haven for non-conformists and dreamers. The final segment depicts a towering evergreen tree, symbolizing both growth and the enduring connection to nature that many San Franciscans cherish.
This street art isn’t just about visual appeal—it also serves as a historical marker, reflecting the neighborhood’s ongoing evolution while staying true to its roots. The building itself, a classic San Francisco Victorian, adds an additional layer of charm and significance to the artwork. The juxtaposition of this historic architecture with contemporary street art encapsulates the unique blend of old and new that defines Haight-Ashbury.
Whether you're a fan of urban art or simply exploring the neighborhood, the Central Haight Market mural is a striking piece of public art that embodies the spirit of San Francisco’s most bohemian district.