General ArtVisual Art

She Was Making Art When Jay-Z Was Still in Diapers

By now, you’ve probably heard about the interaction between Jay-Z and an older woman on the subway who turned out to be artist Ellen Grossman. If you haven’t, here’s the really adorable video. She admits to not knowing who he is, despite his legion of fans following him onto the train. He admits that if she doesn’t know who he is, he must not be that famous, but he’ll get there someday.

What you might not know is that Ellen Grossman’s art is right up Mad Art Lab’s alley. Just take this blurb from her website:

These drawings and sculptures are a response to topographic maps, satellite photos, scanning electron microscope images, astronomy and the unfolding of intertwined relationships. They emphasize the sensuous aspects of water currents, land masses and the wind made visible.

Her pieces are pretty astounding. Check out a few:

1-12 Yearn metallic gel pen on black paper 2004
4-8 Proliferation of Voices 25”x 39” Aluminum gel pen ink on blue paper 2008
8-1 On The Permeability of De Fences, 23”x21”x13”, mesh, wire, wood, paint, 2008
9-3 Study For The Park Circle (side view), aluminum screening,wire, wood, paint 2004

You might be embarrassed to not know who Jay-Z is, Mrs. Grossman, but believe us — we’re embarrassed not to have known who you are.

Ashley Hamer

Ashley Hamer (aka Smashley) is a saxophonist and writer living in Chicago, where she performs regularly with the funk band FuzZz and jazz ensemble Big Band Boom. She also does standup comedy, sort of, sometimes. Her tenor saxophone's name is Ladybird.

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