Categories / Art and Photography, Design and Interiors, Food and Drink, Homeware

Shinzi Katoh retro lunchboxes

Shinzi_lunch

We will be drawing out the winners of our Shinzi Katoh tote bag competition later this week, but in the meantime, enjoy some new designs from the company – the Shinzi Katoh lunchboxes.

Just six of the designs shown here (out of the 13 currently available), all featuring those distinctive retro illustrations, along with a doubler catch on the side for security and pull-out containers. There’s also a choice of single or double boxes – should you be preparing food for two (or feeling particularly hungry one day).

Prices start at a very reasonable £9,95 and stock is likely to be limited.

Find out more at the Shizi Katoh website

Categories / Art and Photography

Swifty’s pop art with a twist

Swifty_pop

Regular readers will know that Swifty recently re-designed the Modculture site, but is perhaps better known for the likes of the Talkin’ Loud, Blue Note and Mo Wax labels as well as the Straight No Chaser magazine (amongst many other projects and designs). He’s an artist too – producing his very own Swifty-style pop art.

And if you want to invest in his art, you can pick it up at this weekend’s Art Car Boot Sale in London, where you’ll find etchings likes the Green Shield above, as well as the silkscreen prints like the Organic Swifties Tomato Soup can amongst many other works. Look out for the Scrawl Collective Camp.

The Art Car Boot Fair is a great place to pick up work from new and established artists in a ‘car boot’ environment, with loads of family entertainment, food, a farmers market, plenty of surprises and all the haggling you would expect. It takes place on Sunday 8th June from midday to 6pm at 146 Brick Lane, London E1. Admission is £3.

Find out more at the Art Car Boot Fair website

Categories / Art and Photography, Travel

“Last Stop” Routemaster Photography exhibition at London Transport Museum

LaststopleftDevotees of the decommissioned Routemaster bus may be interested in the current photography exhibition at the London Transport Museum. "Last Stop" is the first solo exhibition by Ralf Obergfell. Although German-born Obergfell found himself drawn to London ever since he first saw a Routemaster on television and this exhibition is his tribute to its design, drivers and passengers.

The exhibition is accompanied by a series of special events, of particular note is the talk on Thursday 5 June, entitled Pop Goes the Routemaster, given by Travis Elborough, author of the book “The Bus We Loved”. Last Stop runs until 27 July.

Further information can be found on the London Transport Museum’s website.

Categories / Art and Photography, Design and Interiors

Ettore Sottsass Olivetti Valentine poster

Valentine
We missed the exhibition last year, but the poster celebrating the work of designer Ettore Sottsass is something you shouldn’t pass up.

The Olivetti Valentine poster celebrates one of the designer’s crowning glories – the  Olivetti Valentine. The Valentine was designed in 1969, a space age take on the traditional typewriter created for the home rather than the office.

The poster features that machine in a bold red and white colour scheme, along with the same font used on the original machine. It’s limited edition, produced exclusively for the Design Museum and matt printed on Munken Lynx paper. But best of all, it’s cheap – just £8.

Find out more at the Design Museum website

Categories / Art and Photography

Mitch O’Connell tattoo-inspired retro art

Mitch

Whether it’s as a retro-inspired artist or an old school tattoo artist, you really should check out the work of Mitch O’Connell.

Everything from mainstream magazines and comic books through to tattoo designs and caricatures are in his portfolio – all of which you can discover on his website. And indeed buy from his site – like the giclee prints above.

Just two examples from many above – all printed in seven colours using archival inks (for longer life), each signed and numbered by the artist. To the left is Hell On Wheels, inspired by cult movie star Tura Satana, which is an edition of 40 and Rock ‘n’ Roll Angel, part of an edition of just 20. You can pick them up for $110 each, which is around £55. If you want more, a book of tattoo designs called (unsurprisingly) Mitch O’Connell Tattoos is also available.

Find out more at the Mitch O’Connell website

And thanks to Colleen for flagging the artist up.

Categories / Art and Photography, Design and Interiors

Deckchair Dreams offers Sir Peter Blake Deckchair

Blake_deckchair
It’s coming up to a holiday weekend – which means the weather is certainly to be bad. But when the sun returns, this Sir Peter Blake Deckchair from Deckchair Dreams will make a stylish addition to your garden.

It’s one of of a series of seats by artists/celebrities, all limited edition and with a proportion of the proceeds going to the Royal Parks Foundation. Each deckchair has a solid merpauh wood frame and a quality canvas, this one printed with a typically pop art design from Blake.

Don’t expect it to be around forever, with prices at £83 plus postage.

Find out more at the Deckchair Dreams website