Inherited Forms
 Willow treres, wildlife, and weirdness.
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Best of the Week  ✶  September 1, 2026
a sculpture by sungho bae of a mixed media head that appears like organs, tissues, and more
a sculpture by sungho bae of a mixed media head that appears like organs, tissues, and more

‘Handmade Utopia’ Relishes the Architecture of California’s Back-to-the-Land Movement

A new book by David Jacob Kramer with photos by Michael Schmelling—titled Handmade Utopia: Back-to-the-Land Architecture in Northern California—represents a counterculture that, though changed, is still alive and well.

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an embroidered pickle jar

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a ceramic head sculpture by en iwamura

September 2026 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

Every month, we share opportunities for artists and designers, including open calls, grants, fellowships, and residencies. Make sure you never miss out by joining our monthly Opportunities Newsletter.


Hayama Artist ResidencyFeatured
Launched in 2020, the Hayama Artist Residency offers visual artists from around the world a unique opportunity to spend four weeks in Japan for rest, reflection, and creative inspiration. Selected artists receive roundtrip airfare, a private bedroom, and an $800 stipend to cover meals and local transportation. We welcome applications from visual artists working in any medium and at any stage of their career. Applicants must be at least 21 years old. The residency runs June 1 to 30, 2027, and selected artists will be notified by December 15, 2026. There is a $95 application fee. For more information and to apply, please visit www.hayamaresidency.com
Deadline: September 30, 2026.


Summer $1,800 Innovate Grants for Art + PhotoFeatured
Innovate Grant awards two $1,800 grants each quarter to one visual artist and one photographer. In addition, 18 applicants will receive honorable mentions, be featured on the website, and join a growing community. International artists and photographers working in any medium are eligible. All applicants retain the right to the work they submit.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PDT on September 17, 2026.

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the book cover of bodega cats of new york

Mischievous Cats Rule in Minyoung Kim’s Affectionately Quirky Paintings

That tinge of mischief is something Minyoung Kim pulls through each work. “I want the painting to look visually inviting or polished at first glance, but as you stand there, you start noticing things that don’t quite add up—a reflection that’s wrong, an odd shape, an absurd gesture. That tiny moment of ‘Wait, what?’ is where the magic happens for me.”

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a sculpture of a giant junk drawer and numerous handmade objects in the lifelike shapes of scissors, candles, candy, sauce packets, and much more

Nosheen Iqbal Translates Islamic Ornament into Meticulous Wood-and-Thread Patterns

Taking inspiration from her Pakistani heritage and the immanently ornate forms of Islamic architecture and ornament, Nosheen Iqbal combines wood with textile-related media like fiber and beads.

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a passport spread illustrated with an image of a seated woman with a red bird on her lap and a sunflower with a face in the middle
a passport spread illustrated with an image of a seated woman with a red bird on her lap and a sunflower with a face in the middle

Björn Persson’s New Book Highlights the World’s Incredible and Endangered Wildlife

From the Tanzanian grasslands around Mount Kilimanjaro to the ever-evolving icy realm of Antarctica and beyond, Swedish photographer Björn Persson captures the majesty of the natural world and its wild denizens.

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a portrait by Suzanne Jongmans of a young boy wearing a velvet jacket, with a neck ruff made of plastic used to protect fruit, holding a green leaf

Pattern and Bold, Saturated Color Commingle in Ben Sledsens’ Rhythmic Paintings

In Ben Sledsens’ new body of work, An Apple for the Road, saturated fields of color meet methodical patterns constructed from grasses, leaves, brick, and more.

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