Photos: Extreme Plastic Surgery, The New, New Beauty According to Photographer Phillip Toledano

From Juxtapoz:

Photographer Phillip Toledano developed a body of work that focused on the extreme side of plastic surgery. Through traditional lighting techniques, Toledano highlights the contours of his physically altered subjects’ skin and focuses on the sculptural aspect of their modified bodies. Toledano explains, “I’m interested in what we define as beauty, when we choose to create it ourselves. 

George W. Bush, Artist in Chief! Check Out The Former President's Paintings of World Leaders

Former President George W. Bush had to find a way to unwind and get out of Commander in Chief mode after leaving office and two wars behind. Clearing brush and tending to his massive Texas ranch wasn't enough so the President turned to something less physical and more calming. He started to take painting lessons and began putting brush to canvas to share his newly acquired artistic skills. He's been busy ever since painting portraits of everything and everyone from the landscape of his ranch to Russian President Vladimir Putin. His many paintings are now on display at his Presidential library in Texas and people are talking about the President's skills as an artist, but don't call him that. Inspired by British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill who also took up painting when he left office, The former President hopes that world leaders will warm up to the portraits he painted of them.

 Russian president Vladimir Putin

Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

South Korean president Lee Myung-bak

French president Nicolas Sarkozy

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper

Hand Made Creations by Illustrator Niky Roehreke

Illustrator Niky Roehreke likes to use her hands. In fact she believes that our hands are the most powerful communication tools. Because of this, most, if not all of her work are all hand made. A graduate of the Central Saint Martin Graphic Design School in London Niky has been doing hand made creations since forever. Here are some of her creations for you to enjoy.

Kanye And The Pussy

Artist Marc Dennis was named one of Modern Painters' artist to watch. His creations are unique due to his odd pairings like this Kanye West with a Kitten painting (see full painting below). Check out some his work here.

Someone paid $575k for This Kissing Cops Painting

from Reuters:

Reuters reported that Kissing Coppers, his iconic picture of two kissing “British Bobbies,” sold at Fine Art Auctions Miami on Tuesday for $575,000, at the lower end of its estimate. Last week in London, Banksy’s sculpture Happy Shopper (2009) fetched £506,500 ($831,691) at Phillips’ Contemporary Art Evening Sale, more than twice its low estimate. According to artnet’s price database, this was the third most expensive Banksy work ever sold at auction (the current record is for his 2007 Keep it Spotless painting, which shows a maid pulling up a Damien Hirst-like spot painting like a curtain).

Photos: Check out these 10 Amazing Photos of New York City in the 1990s

One time New York City film student turned audiovisual producer for Louis Vuitton, Gregoire Alessandrini never left his camera at home while out and about in New York City back in the 90s. He was obsessed with capturing the city's architecture, landmarks and conditions at the time. For those of you who sometimes reminisce about the 90s, take a trip back in time when the economy was humming and unemployment was just under 4%.

All images by Gregoire Alessandrini

A Creepy, Artful Collaboration

In what looks like characters from a futuristic children of the corn movie, comes a very creepy collaboration between  photographer Roma Pashkovskiy and conceptual artist and Dina Lynnyk dubbed "CREEPY KIDS" 

Video: This is Awesome "Sign Painters"

Part of a series from Nowness, this video takes a look at the craft,skills and creativity of sign painters. This is talent!