István Máriás’ artworks feature playful juxtapositions interspersed with uncanny hues and unsettling elements. Drawing on mysticism and romanticism, the Romanian artist utilizes diverse mediums and surfaces, including ceramic tiles. Read today’s feature to learn about István’s creative history and process, and why he prefers analog expression over the digital.

The Norma Festival is a critically acclaimed dance festival taking place on November 16-17 in Prague, Czech Republic, at the Studio Hrdinů theatre. Each year, the festival commissions at least one custom performance – in 2024, it’s a piece called “Bliss” by Czech visual and virtual artist NIVVA and Polish theatre and opera director Magda Szpecht. “Bliss” is a performance that “imagines the possibilities of the relationship between a virtual being and its human creator.” Using motion capture technology, it speculates about a future where digital beings may emerge with a sense of agency beyond human design. The Czech-Polish team created this project in co-production with Æfekt Productions, Komuna Warszawa and Pawiłon Poznan.

Alejandro Spano created the Clash universe as a place of curious exploration – be it of limitations, identities, or humanity. Over time, he has come to invite others to co-create this world, and that is where Itar Pas was born, and the universe hasn’t stopped expanding since. Delve into Alejandro’s world today to find out what Itar Pas is after, and how virtual worlds help express the previously unimaginable.

Hanneke Rozemuller’s digital illustrations turn the common into the extraordinary on her mission to infuse daily life with magic. Admitting her affinity for depicting heads as a way of exploring the belief systems of other people, the Dutch artist relies on her intuition to unpack what lies beneath and spin it her way. Read today’s interview to learn about her creative trajectory, process, and views on art in a digital world.

Ziyu Ma (Taro), a dedicated fashion design major, became known for her bold, multi-layered, expansive and sculptural silhouettes, often stemming from various metaphysical and evolutionary theories. Her collections draw on a striking diversity of sources of inspiration, from the film “Annihilation”, Superstring Theory, and ancient Chinese Yangshao Banpo culture to the enigmatic bond between humans and marine life. Enjoy an exceptionally in-depth interview with the artist below.

Angie Hoffmeister’s works intertwine the worlds of visual art and literature, and illustrate how genuine craftsmanship easily trumps today’s digitalism. Read today’s interview to learn about her creative process and artistic trajectory, alongside the flexibility and warm humanity the German artist shows in delivering her unique, moody artworks for both literary classics and booktok favorites.

In exploring the works of the greats, Martin Humpolák’s recent fashion collection reflects on romanticist themes from a contemporary perspective. Read today’s feature to learn how fashion can help you express something deeper about you, and why timeless ideas can never die.

You know what time it is – that delicious timeless interplay between solitude, melancholy, seasonal depression and self-reflection. Today, we're launching our third theme of 2024, FEELING BLUE. It will have everything to do with both the mood and the colour and we invite you in. Custom-made accompanying animation by Marek Mundok.

“We also played around with the idea of Hell as something that makes you do something involuntary endlessly, some kind of strange punishment.” As a special performance added to this year's Lunchmeat Festival, Canadian artists Louis-Philippe Demers and Bill Vorn introduced their singular project Inferno involving cybernetics, a human-machine performance, questions of relenting control, and “novice” participants from the audience. Enjoy an in-depth interview with the artists below.

Fling open the whimsical gates of Polka Dot Town! The black-and-white yet colourful collection by designer Noémi Špontáková is awash in layers of dots of various diameters and placements, resulting in a lovely tingling sensory chaos for the viewers. Noémi describes her individual looks as a set of collectables, each chosen and styled with a specific model in mind.

Honeylambs Mission is back! Our previous feature on Ernesto Stewart and his singular project became SWARM Mag's historically most viewed article. We caught up with the artist two years later to learn what's new in his sanctuary for disfigured and mutated plushies, inhabited by the souls of the deceased.

Bessa’s playful compositions reflect the joy that illustrating gives her. In the acclaimed artist’s words, reality is boring, and her exaggerated pieces show a way out: do what you love the best you can, and turn the everyday into play. Read today’s interview for a deep dive into her creative journey, how she settled on vector art, and even how she decided on her alter ego.

“I strive to celebrate cultural diversity in a world quick to discriminate.” Currently Paris-based fashion, textile and knitwear designer Sofia Castellon presents her candy-hued but confronting and space-claiming sculptural visions. Sofia talked to Swarm about finding her creative path, “navigating the complexities of cultural identity”, why is knitting and incredible medium for storytelling and why the designer envisions a fruitful future for one of the world's oldest thread crafts, and more.

Tina Hrevušova has mastered the art of finding beauty in the moments of abject transformation. In exploring evolution in all its forms and angles, the interdisciplinary artist finds the borders of the known and improvises on what lies on the other side. Read today’s interview to learn about her artistic journey, recent exhibition, and why she chooses images over words.

“Every job throws you into a vortex of the unexpected.” Prague-based creative photography duo SHOTBY.US introduces a new photo series called “Sips”. Featuring vibrant colours, abstract amoebic shapes and bits of sweets, the pictures feel like examining specimen samples from a psychedelic pond under a microscope.

This year marks the first year of Sanatorium Sonorum, a unique festival-residency for musicians and sound artists. Featuring site-specific performances, the event aims to not only present some of the most innovative experimental musicians, but also provide them with a space for healing and self-reflection. Read today’s exclusive interview with founder Natálie Pleváková and Thistle, one of the performing acts, to get a taste of what you can expect at the visionary event this August.

At first glance, Natálie Nepovímová's looks seem simplistic and stripped to the bone. The second glance, though, reveals sartorial mastery and clever structural and textural twists. Imbued with a touch of whimsy, these “working girl” variable and adjustable designs were created to not succumb to time.

Through a kaleidoscope of neon and flux, exiled artist Liza crafts comics defying tyranny and perception itself. Her work, shaped by face-blindness, asks: In a world of constant change, what truths can we recognize? With "Purple Empire," she paints rebellion in hues of human resilience. Read today’s feature to learn about her influences, creative process, and prosopagnosia.

Larissa Honsek is a creative director, 3D and clay artist, and author of the most adorable characters for kids and adults alike. In the interview with the creator below, we discuss how she keeps on being artistically amazed by her little daughter's “fresh brain”, her deep love of Berlin or how her multi-media style painstakingly emerged.

Alexmonhart's collection of six distinctive unisex perfumes is inspired by the multiple personalities within each of us. Each represents a different archetype, and each is represented by an ambassador embodying the depth and ambiguity of the perfumes. Learn about the Lexicon in today’s interview with Alexandra and Daniel, and find out what inspired the creative duo to create this sextet of unique scents.