The Top 8 Most Unusual Pieces Of Art Found At SOFA

The Sculpture Objects Function Art and Design Expo, or SOFA for short, took place this past weekend at Chicago’s Navy Pier. The Expo is currently Chicago’s longest-running annual exhibit. Thousands of artists and galleries from around the world come to show their latest creations. Here are some of the more unusual and unique pieces of art that The Culture Trip found.

Apex Predator

These stilettos are the work of Mariana Fantich and Dominic Young, two artists based out of East London. The stilettos, along with other shoes and sculptures, are part of their latest series entitled Darwinian Voodoo. Fantich and Young drew inspiration from the contradiction of mixing Darwin’s theory of evolution with voodoo and other supernatural practices.

From afar, these necklaces look as though they are made out of freshly picked flowers and leaves; however, they are actually made out of rubber. Dutch artist Annemieke Broenink has been creating these necklaces since 2004 and is heavily inspired by the traditional lace necklaces and neck pieces that were worn in the 17th century.

Lion

This taxidermy lion’s head is part of a series entitled Urban Heard. Chicago-based artist Courtney Timmermans made this and the rest of the taxidermy heads featured in the series entirely out of air rifle BB gun pellets. The use of this uncommon medium gives the heads a pixelated look when viewed up close.

Wild Flower Directional

Glass artist Preston Singletary and ceramics artist Harlan Reano teamed up to create these figurines based on Cochiti figures that were around during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Singletary and Reano intentionally made the figures have a superhero like quality to them, as comic book heroes inspired them.

Paper + Air

These seven inflatable pieces of furniture are part of the Paper + Air series created by students at Pratt Institute. The goal of this series was to create several pieces of furniture that could easily be transported, set up and evolve depending on the environment in which the furniture was placed.

Honky Tonk Woman, Macho Macho Man

Donna Rosenthal makes dresses out of an uncommon medium — text. Magazines, comic books, atlases and newspapers are just a small portion of what she uses to craft mini apparel. Through her art, Rosenthal says she examines gender roles, social positions, and cultural norms.

Recycled Paper Jewelry

Janna Syvänoja is the artist behind these beautiful and delicate pieces of jewelry. Syvänoja layers paper from books, maps, catalogues and dictionaries together one by one to form intricate shapes. The paper is then mounted on a metal wire to keep its form.

Turquoise Diner

Glass takes the form of intricate architectural structures in this series by New Mexico-based artist Emily Brock. Brock uses different kiln glass techniques to create intricate glass sculptures featuring diners, libraries, and coffee shops — all common places that people visit on a daily basis.
By Benita Gingerella

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.