Visual Harvest: Part Two
A fresh batch of visual findings that'll make you do a second glance.
Welcome to Visual Harvest, an ongoing series where I share artists, images, and cultural snippets that have captivated me in one way or another. I often find that my eyes wander to visuals that make me lean into a world of surrealism, combined with a bit of a strange and unpolished mood.
So many visuals clamor for our attention daily. Today, I’m sharing three undeniably talented creatives who create tension in their work and who have been lingering around in my head for quite some time. They hit all the right notes, and these days I have an appetite for imagery that oozes differentiation and a level of human creativity that will blow you away.
Visual Harvest Findings:
1. A Moroccan Fashion House rooted in identity and heritage.
2. A Painter who creates dreamy, layered compositions.
3. A Fashion Creative Director who creates concepts full of cultural fusion and surrealism.
Visual Harvest: Part One
Gather round’ friends. I’ve been busy collecting and curating things found on the corners of the internet that ignite my spirit. I’m developing a new series called Visual Harvest, encompassing snippets of creative and cultural discoveries. This is very much a
1. Maisonartc.
If you haven’t heard of fashion house Maisonartc., based in Marrakech, Morocco, I’m about to put you on. Woven into their value system: heritage, culture, individuality, and authenticity, and it’s evident across their craftsmanship and artistry. This isn’t a brand attempting to be ‘different’, but rather it’s deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, seeping with veracity and richness. Their sheer use of colour alone is nothing short of inspiring and energizing, which is then paired with the most delicious prints and fabrics—the cherry on top. They push imagery to the limits. The clothes and styling do the talking, but it’s the way that they tell their story that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
What I love about them is that they are the furthest thing from ‘cookie cutter’ or plastering another celebrity's face to be a brand ambassador. Their casting is sublime; the posing and styling should be a masterclass in itself because it is top-tier, my friends. I could go on and on, but I’ll leave it at that. I implore you to check them out, and I guarantee you, too, will become infatuated with their work. Maisonartc. is the epitome of building a strong identity, and I love to see an African brand celebrated getting the flowers they so deserve.
2. Melissa Ríos
From Costa Rica but Mexico City-based Artist, Melissa Ríos, is another creative whose work has elevated my creative perspective and unlocked new territory. Her paintings, as she said in her own words, incorporate “feminist, literary, and surrealist understandings of reality and its representation.” With a background in architecture and design, she later transitioned into painting and has since made an impressive mark in the art world.
There is a refreshing fluidity to her work—an effortless ability to seamlessly layer morphed faces, textures, landscapes, and body parts overlapping each other creates a compelling collage composition that makes me want to linger. I love the sharp edges and fragmented forms intertwining. Each component feels like it belongs. There is a beautiful cohesiveness to her paintings. The openings in her work feel like portals, and it makes me want to physically step into her world and lose myself. Melissa’s paintings remix identities, places, dreams, abstract shapes, and surrealism that make you pause and reflect. Her colour pairings are also a divine, visual treat that I’d like to indulge in.
3. Ahmed Rashwan
A name that hardly requires an introduction and whose work you’ve most likely encountered, Ahmed Rashwan is the founder of 1602 Studio and a Fashion Creative Director. His riveting body of work brings cultural symbolism to the forefront, and he truly gives a masterclass in arresting visuals. The way each image plays with proportion, perspective, and identity, all anchored in a narrative that feels something out of a fairytale book. The stories are bold, brave, and risky, weaving in a playful use of props, leaving the viewer spellbound. His work embodies immense creativity with a hyperreal world overflowing with distortion, disproportionate objects, and self-expression. Whether it be an oversized Arabic dallah, an image scattered over 24 sheets of paper, or hair styling as the star of the show, Ahmed’s creative imprint is evident and loud.
“Make people touch and taste and know. Make people feel! feel! feel!” — Octavia E. Butler
And that wraps up part two of Visual Harvest! In a world that often feels so polished and pristine, I gravitate to an image that leans into a bit of discomfort or tension, most likely saturated in colour with an avant-garde approach. But hey, that’s just me. What do you think? Leave any thoughts you have in the comments below!
Art Prints—For Your Walls
Instagram—it’s bare bones right now, but I’m thinking of reviving it.
XX,
Dominique
Such a great curation!