As a journalism student that graduated college in 3.5 years, I never took the opportunity to enroll in art history lectures, drawing classes or music courses. I wanted to get a degree and get out of town as soon as possible.
Although I may not be an expert on the subject, I do appreciate talent in the visual arts, particularly after graduation. Over the years, I've managed to discern that I have an inclination towards modern art that doesn't shy away from its use of color. Whether it's abstract expressionism (like Willem de Kooning) or pop art (Warhol, of course), my eye tends to wander towards pieces with a bit of whimsy.
Naturally, when I stumbled across Malika Favre, an incredibly talented French illustrator based out of London, I was immediately intrigued. Her work is minimalistic and bold, as she tries to pare down the subjects to as few lines and colors as possible to portray the idea. While her pieces certainly have the "pop" I love so much, there's an underlying edginess in her work. I am particularly drawn to the Hide&Seek series, though I know her more sexually-charged illustrations get a lot of attention on the internet (naturally). I'm not the only one to have noticed her, of course -- she's been commissioned by the New Yorker and VH1, in addition to collaborating with Volcom on a limited-edition collection of clothing that I can't seem to get my hands on.
For more information on Malika, check out this interview with the artist.
