Sara Macel


Texan photographer, Sara Macel worked for 2 years as an assistant to Magnum photographer, Bruce Davidson after completing a BFA in Photography & Imaging at New York University in 2003. Whilst studying she received the Tobias Award for the project, 'Kiss + Tell'. This is 'Car Door' from that series:

Her portfolio of photography from across the US is fantastic, with projects from burlesque to rodeo, Memphis to Florida, day and night. Her images are crisp and raw, they show a stark reality and are refreshingly honesty, yet her perspective always adds a bit of humour. I love this, 'Picture Wall, Graceland 2006' from the, 'Memphis to Nashville and back again' series:

Images copyright Sara Macel.
Full interview with Sara about her 'Nighttime' series can be read on Lost at E Minor.

Jeff Divine at Crane Kalman


This weekend I had the pleasure of going to see Jeff Divine's first UK exhibition, 'Surfing's Golden Age - The Seventies Kodachromes' at Crane Kalman, Brighton.

Lovers of Divine's work will not be disappointed, his well-known images are all there, I did notice though, that my favourite one (the above image), 'Peace, Buttons Kaluhiokalani, Velzyland, November 1974' had already sold out in the 30 x 40" print size! But my second favourite, 'San Onofre Parking Lot, 1988' (below) was still available at £1395 - now where did I put that 'Own Art' application form?

The images really do look great in the flesh, though I think they would look even better if they where even bigger - a little hard to display though I imagine.

The exhibition runs until the 31 August. They are also selling copies of Divine's book, 'Surfing Photographs from the Seventies Taken by Jeff Divine' which has in it images from the exhibition.

Images copyright Jeff Divine.
Prints available from Crane Kalman and M+B Gallery, California.

Martin Parr


It seems appropriate to kick off this blog with the photographer that sparked my interest in photography, Martin Parr.

Before I saw Parr's images for the first time I had never really given photography much consideration. I had dabbled in photography throughout art college and in my few years working as a junior designer had commissioned photography and chosen appropriate imagery for the projects I worked on, but it didn't really inspire me, not the way that graphics or print did. That was until I saw this image - it was fun and gaudy - I loved it!

Martin Parr was born in Surrey in 1952. He had an early interest in photography, that was encouraged by his Grandfather (an amateur photographer) and in 1970 he started studying Photography at Manchester Polytechnic.

Throughout his career Parr has exhibited world-wide, had over 30 books published, is a full member of the Magnum Photographic Corporation, and has work in many international art collections, including the V&A Museum and the Arts Council of Great Britain.

Parr seeks out the irony and humour in modern life, his images capture people from all walks of life in everyday situations, or focus on obscure objects in mundane environments - no staged sets or studios, just a man and his camera in the right place at the right time. The cheeky, charm and English eccentricity of his images never fails to make me smile.

Although famous for his photography Martin Parr is also known for his obscure collections of the kitsch, the boring and the surreal; postcards, photography books and 80's Tory memorabillia to name a few. His collections can already be seen in some of his books (Boring postcards, From our house to your house') and have been integrated with his work to create his current exhibition, 'Parrworld' at The Haus der Kunst in Munich.

'Parrworld' shows "photographs in dialogue with his own various collections, which include strange objects, odd postcards, photographs by international artists, as well as an extraordinary collection of photography books, for the first time. His fascination for the peculiar and his liking for the exception to the rule, for the unusual and the curious, colour his collections with an individual flair". The exhibition runs until the 17 August and is then set for an international tour - dates and venues yet to be released.

The two-volume book set, 'Parrworld: Objects and Postcards' will be available from 1 August, to accompany the exhibition and give an intriguing look at Parr's 25 year+ collections.

Images copyright Martin Parr.
Represented by Magnum Photos.

Hello and welcome to Art-O-mart

Art-O-Mart is (or soon will be) our online gallery and store, making art, design and photography affordable and accessible. With limited edition prints from established artists, designers & photographers alongside the work of fresh new talent, vintage posters and a selection of design/photography magazines, there definitely will be something for everyone.

With our blog, we aim to inspire and inform, with work & interviews from featured artists, the low down on must-see exhibitions and top tips on amazingly creative & well designed things to buy.