When I get stuck in a creative rut, there are a few key artist pieces I turn to. Here are a small selection of my favorite art and an explanation of why they mean so much to me.
Almond Blossoms (1890)
Vincent Van Gogh
I don’t think I’ve met a single person that doesn’t like Van Gogh, and honestly, it makes sense. His work is universally appealing—elegant, simple, touching. While some of his other works, like Starry Night and Sunflowers are more popular, this one is my favorite. In fact, it has been my phone background for, well, forever. It makes me feel as though I’m sitting under a tree and watching the sky in springtime. What’s better than that?
Cloud Gate (2006)
Anish Kapoor
In cities, installation sculptures usually go one of two ways—entirely unnoticed or landmark status. Cloud Gate, also called The Bean, is an absolute icon of Chicago. I’ve visited this piece a few times and it never fails to impress. The mirrored shape warps the surrounding city, including the people. As you walk underneath, you can see your reflection transform in proximity and size. Frankly, it’s a landmark for good reason.
Swans Reflecting Elephants (1937)
Salvador Dali
Dali has long been one of my favorite artists since my family visited a museum dedicated to him in St. Petersburg, Florida when I was a child. Better known for The Persistence of Memory, Dali’s works are immediately identifiable. His unique style is completely unique and engaging. I could spend ages staring at each painting picking apart every detail and still not notice everything. For me, this painting is better if you haven’t seen the title first. I remember walking by a print shop at the mall growing up, you know, those ones that sell print of famous art like the Mona Lisa. This one was on display that day and it fascinated me—how could the swans also be elephants? I looked it up online later to confirm it was by who I thought it was. Dali—a visionary.
The Banquet (1958)
Rene Magritte
You know how moths are drawn to flames? That’s how I felt when I first saw this painting in the Art Institute of Chicago. It is in one of those rooms that are filled with sculptures and paintings of all different artists, but I remember turning a corner, seeing this, and just being captivated by it. It is unlike much of Magritte’s work which feature men with fruit for faces, and yet, it strikes that fine balance between real and fantasy.
Sunflower Seeds (2010)
Ai Weiwei
Upon first glance, this just looks like a room filled with sunflower seeds, yes? Not quite. This room, located within the Tate Modern, is massive. Each of these seeds, which are exactly the same shape and size as real sunflower seeds, are actually individually painted porcelain. All of them combined weigh almost two tons. This installation works directly against the idea of mass manufacturing, made even more prominent by Weiwei’s Chinese heritage. Even just a room filled with regular sunflower seeds would be incredible, but this just takes it beyond.
Running Fence (1976)
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Much like Weiwei’s sunflower seeds, this installation is one of my favorites due to its immeasurable scale. Unlike many fences that are solid and not very attractive, this “fence” of sorts is beautiful and moves with its surrounding environment. Instead of representing immovable boundaries, this immovable and short-lived fence represents the opposite.
The Artist is Present (2010)
Marina Abramović
Ahh, performance art. Installation and performance art is much more divisive than more traditional methods. As you have probably noticed from this list, I’m quite a fan of contemporary art. If you are a fan of performance art at all, you’ll know Abramovic’s name. She has been in the game for over forty years and is basically the grandmother of the medium. One of her most recent pieces, The Artist is Present, particularly struck me. The exhibition was a 736-hour and 30-minute static, silent piece, in which she sat immobile in the museum's atrium while spectators were invited to take turns sitting opposite her. People often tried to make her smile. Many shared deep secrets and troubles. Quite a few burst into tears. While I’m not planning on watching all 736 hours, this clip of her old artistic partner Ulay surprising her never fails to bring me to tears.
War Horse (2007)
Nick Stafford
As a theater fan, I couldn’t miss putting a play on this list. I saw this play with my mom on the West End while first visiting London in 2015. As a lifelong horse lover, I was apprehensive. I don’t like war stuff and I hate watching horses die—even fake ones. But this play exceeded my expectations entirely. The puppeteered horses are a wonder. They act like real horses with their ear flicks and tail swishes and, just, everything. Even the director of War Horse the film says he wished his real horses on-screen had as much emotion as the puppets do. One of them is on display in the Victoria & Albert museum. Rightfully so.
Paris Street; Rainy Day (1877)
Gustave Caillebotte
I love Impressionist paintings like many people do (see earlier Van Gogh) but this one always stands out to me. For one, it isn’t in the countryside or in nature like so many Impressionist paintings are. Don’t get me wrong, I love nature, but there is something striking about an urban painting. The setting highlights the skill of the artist—the wet cobblestones, the shine on the umbrellas, the dreary mist of the sky. I think it is just so unique for the style and time, and yet, somehow timeless.
Whistlejacket (1762)
George Stubbs
Another horse-related piece—are you surprised? There aren’t really any shortages of horses in paintings, especially pre-Industrial Revolution ones. However, most horses in paintings take a backseat to whatever else is going on like war or commerce which is a shame. Luckily, this piece puts the horse front and center with nothing to distract from its beauty. There isn’t even a background which I think really enhances the stunning detail of the coat and the tail and eyes. Also, it is life size so you can see every tiny detail as it would be in real life. *chef’s kiss*