Visual Interiority with Aleksandr Biruk
Aleksandr Biruk knows no boundaries when it comes to his work. Experimental and very open-minded, he pushes common conceptions of contemporary art into different creative outlets like music, spirituality, psychology, relationships, poetry, and sexuality.
Defying Genre with Will Tudor
Working across genre is one of the many challenges that Will Tudor is passionate about exploring. He is not only building his film and TV credits by picking versatile projects but is also pushing him to keep growing as an actor.
Jesse Aaronson and Franklin Bongjio on Waiting for Godot
In true Beckettian form, actors Jesse Aaronson and Franklin Bongjio spoke with me over the liminal space of Zoom, faces floating on screen as they talked about their roles in the ongoing Jamie Lloyd Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.
From Boulder Backyards to National Tours: Feast on The Dirty Turkeys
This untamed Boulder bred-band channels their primal energy at every show, no matter the size of the stage. From jumping off PA systems in Alaska to crowd-surfing mosh pits back home in Colorado, chaos and freedom fuel The Dirty Turkeys’ groundbreaking sound.
“Energy and Patience” – A Conversation With Author Jeff W. Bens About Style, Research, and Attention
Recently, I sat down with fiction author Jeff W. Bens, writer of the novels Albert, Himself and The Mighty Oak. We discussed his process, his connections to his characters and stories, and the importance of staying tuned into your gut and the world around you as an artist.
ART
Susan Freda: Rewiring the Sculpture
Eclectic and usually in the form of a dress, Susan Freda explores all types of media and how they can transform into beautiful works. Freda explores media like painting, metal, glass, crochet, knitting, and jewelry to create sculptures in the form of dresses, which are stationary and not wearable.
Mixing Art And Sound: Dylan Morris
Experimental and visually explosive, a variety of mediums map out Dylan Morris’ interests as a painter. His images pack a punch with the colors, textures, and patterns that he plays with. Morris combines different materials – visual narratives – like worn books and unwanted scraps of paper, sources from the corner store aisles.
Corinne Beardsley: The Companion
The Companion is a crude life-size foam puppet Corinne Beardsley performed with in her Brooklyn apartment during isolation in the first few months of Covid 2020. Through observational humor and parodying the theater of influence, The Companion was “thriving in uncertain times”.
Documenting Cityscapes with Erin Yueying Wang
As an atmospheric night-wanderer, Erin (Yueying) Wang shoots with deep attentiveness of city-life in conjunction with nature. Wang looks closely for a story each city wants to tell.
Earthlings: Corinne Beardsley and Sludge Thunder
Guest writer Bianca Giaever meets New York-based artists, Corinne Beardsley and Sludge Thunder, at their most recent exhibition, Earthlings.
Catherine Sullivan: Breaking Through and Forward
In a wide-ranging interview, celebrated artist/filmmaker Catherine Sullivan expounds on reanimating contested “fantasy” spaces on camera, being Mike Kelley’s student, and why a box of Kleenex matters.
Meet The Curators of the North Carolina Museum of Art
FRONTRUNNER is pleased to present a triple interview with the curators of the contemporary arts program at The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA).
A One On One With Leasho Johnson
Can you address your past without tearing apart at the seams? We ask Leasho Johnson if that process is creative, cathartic, or calamitous.
Muna Malik: A Fluid Migration
Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist Muna Malik talks about her first show in the UK, the agonizing weight of worry and dread felt in the studio, and the brilliance of commanding a window seat on every flight.
Walking The Line and Beyond: Julian Opie
FRONTRUNNER is proud to present a discussion with one of the pioneers of the New British Sculpture movement, internationally-renowned artist Julian Opie.
A Q&A With David Rimanelli
From our Inaugural Fall 2019 print issue, FRONTRUNNER is proud to present a special conversation with the elusive, celebrated art critic and theorist David Rimanelli.
Tearing The Veil, Part II. with Johan Grimonprez
It’s not every day that an artist interview veers into animal intelligence, eco-activism, and Carl Sagan. My first discussion with the Belgian artist/filmmaker was meant to be straightforward. It was anything but.
COLLEGE FEATURES
Georgetown, American, and George Washington University Musicians Play It Out At Battle of the Bands 2025
On an uncharacteristically warm evening on November 8th, fans from all over the District gathered in George Washington University’s Square 80, a small pocket park
Adapting to AI – An Interview with Columbia Film Producing Student Keito Ono
The most prominent innovation challenging the film industry today is the advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and Columbia University Creative Producing student Keito Ono is dedicating his time to building a framework to adjust to this inevitable future.
Filmmaker Lauren Kring’s bold style and deeply-human stories bring female-centered narratives to life
Filmmaker Lauren Kring aims to make films that are unapologetically female-driven, exploring both humor and emotional complexity through her narrative and creative style.
Inside the Abstract World of Saul Michael
Studio B at Goldsmiths, University of London, is drab. While the space is almost entirely devoid of color, there is one vibrant, chaotic corner of the studio that young artist Saul Michael calls home.
“The Invisible Slap of Reality” – An Interview with Columbia Film Student Kam Vazir
What is more powerful than a story? Stories shape and mold our perspectives and have the power to change our lives. Columbia film student Kamyar
Filmmaker Taylor Shults on bringing unique twists to off-beat comedy
Taylor Shults, University of Georgia alumna and media professional, has valuable experience across documentary, television, educational, and digital content.
From Ballet to Ballads: Ava Carter Does it All
Ava Carter comes from a musical family. Her father, frontman of the indie pop Americana band “The Looking”, and her younger sister Vella are both musical, and she credits them as her biggest inspirations. Some of her first interactions with live music were her and her sister sneaking into New York City clubs at eight or nine years old to watch their dad play.
Exploring surrealism and nostalgia with filmmaker Conner Bessman
Conner Bessman, a student filmmaker at the University of Georgia and drummer for the scramz band Hamburg, aims to make films that “create reactions within people that are undiscernable [and] unexplainable through words.”
Breaking Small Town Barriers: How Frogs in Milk is Healing the Delaware Music Scene by Simply Being Themselves
Sitting down with Frogs in Milk, I couldn’t ignore the love these guys had for each other. That love along with Led Zeppelin posters and records saturated the room.
On capturing female identity and the college experience with filmmaker Brianna Barros
Brianna Barros, an M.F.A student at the University of Georgia, strives to tell “female-centered” stories through film.
Filmmaker Sanaa Wright writes and directs “Hamartia,” a dark academia inspired by Donna Tart’s novel “The Secret History.”
Sanaa Wright, a student filmmaker at the University of Georgia, wrote and directed a twenty-five minute short-film called “Hamartia,” which amassed over 23,000 views after being posted on Youtube for just two weeks.
Shannon Jacob on Directing the “Voices of Imani” Gospel Choir at Boston College
Voices of Imani is the only chorus on BC’s campus which emphasizes music of the black religious experience.
FILM
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Student: 10 Famous Directors and their Early Works
Student films are often overlooked as amateur, receiving little to no attention, even within the film community, but these short films often allow young directors to showcase their abilities before they have the financing for feature-length projects.
Unveiling JFK: The Ruth Paine Perspective
Explore JFK’s assassination through Ruth Paine’s lens in ‘The Assassination & Mrs. Paine.’ FRONTRUNNER discusses truth amid disinformation.
Keeping It Real with Giacomo Faenza
As I’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly more important for me to understand the methods, processes, and systems of organization involved in bringing something
Emanuela Tomassetti on Why We Must Remember
In this hard hitting documentary, the people of Latin America recall years of political repression and “random disappearances” done by right-wing dictatorships in various countries during the 70s and 80s.
Sweet Revenge: June Squibb and Josh Margolin on ‘Thelma’
At 93, she landed her first feature leading role and is nowhere near done. June Squibb and director Josh Margolin introduce us to ‘Thelma.’
Behind The Camera With Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen steps behind the camera for his second directorial outing for a bold, unflinching Western called The Dead Don’t Hurt.
Yali Topol Margalith: The FRONTRUNNER Interview
People may recognise her for being Topol’s granddaughter, but Yali Topol Margalith is, in fact, much more than her grandfather’s legacy.
Jeffrey Schwarz Tackles the AIDS Crisis in Commitment To Life
Mastering the art of documentary filmmaking takes a lot of falling down and getting back up. Yet, director Jeffrey Schwarz has made a name for himself in the genre for shedding light onto untold histories.
Ready For A Close-Up With Paul Rhys
Our Film Editor speaks with Welsh actor Paul Rhys on his triple-film run with featured roles in Saltburn, Napoleon and Men Up.
FRONTRUNNER Meets Cinematographer Magdalena Górka
FRONTRUNNER meets cinematographer Magdalena Górka, whose credits include ‘The Fablemans’, ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ and ‘Doom Patrol’.
“The Most Overhyped Human Emotion”: Signe Baumane on My Love Affair With Marriage
Signe Baumane calls romantic love, “the most overhyped human emotion.” Her latest film, My Love Affair With Marriage, also concerns itself with love, but takes
Alexander Abaturov on Paradise
Every summer, the front pages of newspapers around the world are filled with images of wildfires. Burning through millions of acres of land a year,
MUSIC
Shapeshifting Sound: Huck N’ Pray and the Art of Iguana Rock
What started as spontaneous dorm room jams and late-night sessions in a church attic has evolved into one of Boulder’s most talked-about artists.
Deep Bleak: Shaping East London’s Alternative Scene
I met the duo at a lovely, quaint spot in Dalston, London called Jack’s Cafe. Walking in felt like being transported back to the mid-2000s. The air was colored by the constant humming and static noise of the old fridge in the back.
Sounds and Faces of the Emerging Music Festival
At 5:20 pm on a Saturday afternoon, I arrive at The Emerging Music Festival, a free concert in New York City’s Bryant Park showcasing small, distinctive, and innovative artists in front of a few hundred New Yorkers on picnic blankets.
Farinas: A beachy, laid back vibe and infectiously soulful voice
Farinas, a rising star in the hip-hop R&B world known for his beachy, laid back vibes and infectiously soulful voice does a little bit of everything.
Gatlin: The Two Sides of a Woman in Love
Formerly just-a-girl-with-her-guitar-esque singer-songwriter, Gatlin, also known as Gatlin Thornton, has dropped all of her filters in an upcoming double single release that nakedly presents all
Blending Grit and Grace in Americana With Leah Tash
Leah Tash, a New York-artist born and raised, blends together country, blues, folk, and rock and roll, and emerges as a contemporary Americana artist.
From High School Gigs to Viral Hits. Meet The Beaches
With their infectious blend of pop, rock, alternative rock and new-wave, The Beaches have been playing together for over a decade.
Akira Galaxy: Destined for Dream Pop
Destined to become a celestial dream pop artist by her birth name, Akira Galaxy transcends the boundaries of conventional soundscapes.
The Band Down Under: Ocean Alley
Life can be a monotonous cycle of bleak days and nights. Ocean Alley brings people down to Earth, connecting with what makes them feel alive.
The Moss: Music From the Heart
Bred in Hawaii and based in Utah, The Moss blends their island roots with an alternative rock groove to form their distinctive sound.
Getting to Know IRONTOM
Brimming with irony and peculiarity, California-native band, IRONTOM, pays homage to the strange side of life.
The Sound of Summer: Sun Room
Bursting with energy, ready to soak up the summer and leave the worries of “real life” behind. This is what listening to Sun Room is like.
CULTURE
The Playlist Economy: How Music Discovery Became Its Own Industry
Music promotion can feel nebulous and inaccessible, especially for independent artists. Everything feels like it’s controlled by a black box we will never truly have
The Cover Song Renaissance
In an oversaturated digital ecosystem, cover songs are not just tributes. They’re tools of discovery. For emerging artists, they offer an entry point into audiences already primed to listen.
The Zine Underground: Analog Media Never Died
For all the talk about analog media making a comeback, the truth is that it never really went anywhere. The analog underground has always been
Celebrate Chicago Fashion Week with Qualia’s Runway Collection
Welcoming its second annual Fashion Week, Chicago invites various creatives and designers to showcase their work from October 9th through the 19th. All around the city, event showcases, runways, and shopping collectives pop up to take over the week in a fashionable blaze of clothing celebration and community.
Love The Mamas & the Papas? Take a Listen to These Artists.
Their infectious melodies meandered through stories of gentle California sunshine, while being a part of the movement of social and political counterculture.
Love Bob Dylan? Take a Listen to These Singer-Songwriters.
Bob Dylan is often called the greatest songwriter in history. Whether or not that is an evaluation that can be made, there is no question regarding the influence of his music on the hearts and minds of generations, into the counterculture movements of the 60s, and the craft of song for songwriters everywhere.
DESIGN
Fin Simonetti’s Magical Thinking
Fin Simonetti works in sculpture and stained glass. She received her BFA from the Ontario College of Art and Design and has exhibited internationally at Matthew Brown (Los Angeles), Cooper Cole (Toronto), and MoMA PS1.
Where Design Meets High Fashion: Carl Gerges
As an architect, photographer, composer, and member of the giant Lebanese rock band Mashrou’ Leila, Carl Gerges can be deemed a true multi-hyphenate. His latest venture tests the waters of high fashion.
Eco-Sustainable Techno-Poetry: Daan Roosegaarde
Daan Roosegaarde’s projects are aimed at the future and the sustainability of the individual. Thanks to technology, every work Roosegaarde creates is visual and immersive poetry.
Calen Knauf’s Case for Specialization
Industrial designer Calen Knauf won the Rising Star Award at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2017 and has collaborated with companies including Stüssy and Tetra.
Maria Cristina Didero and the Golden Age of Design: Design Miami
The art and design storm that looms over Miami for the first full weekend in December wrapped up, ushering out a big crowd and millions of dollars with it. Under her guidance, curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero’s Design Miami/ fairs had an overarching theme of The Golden Age.
Careful Curation with Éditions 8888
Born in Montréal, a city notorious for its counterculture, Éditions 8888 nestles itself between the disciplines of postmodernism, brutalism, punk, sci-fi … we could go
EVENT INTERVIEWS
Robin Hauck, Founder and Editor of Misstropolis
What is your relationship to art? I’m a writer and an advocate. I have an art journal based in Boston called Misstropolis and I write
Angel Luo, Fashion Designer
Tell us about your approach to fashion design. I just graduated from Uni, so my design taste skews more abstract. I tend to like more
Lisa E. Smith, Director at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
What kind of artwork does Tanya Bonakdar Gallery spotlight? We represent about 40 contemporary artists working in all different kinds of mediums. We have some
Premda Wunderle, Creative Director
Tell us about your look today. I have a mix of some vintage pieces and some Ralph Lauren pieces that I’m wearing. The shoes are
AV Marc, Art/Design/Fashion Collector
Tell us about your outfit today. What inspires you to get dressed every day? Today, it’s a mix of vintage and modern pieces. I just
Alex Noerpel, Broadway Set Builder
Tell us about your outfit because you have an amazing two-piece situation going on here. I actually had this outfit made in India. I was