SuperRare is pleased to present The Space Between, a group exhibition presented by Hildabroom Management, Colonna Contemporary Gallery, and SuperRare, opens on November 8th outside Philadelphia, PA, bringing together eleven pioneering artists who are reshaping the boundaries of digital and physical art.
This exhibitions features the work of 11 artists exploring the delicate balance between individuality and collective impact, as they navigate the evolving digital art landscape. In this exhibition, the artists blur the boundaries between the digital and the tangible featuring works both digitally and physically native. Their work suggests that the relationship between these two mediums is not one of opposition but of mutual enhancement, creating a dialogue that enriches both types of their work. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of art innovation, these artists remind us of a fundamental truth: the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. They stand as individuals, each with their own distinct voice, yet they move in unison toward a shared goal. In their hands, the future of art is both a collective endeavor and a personal journey—one where digital and physical realms are not separate worlds, but integrated experiences.
Where: Colonna Contemporary Gallery
4 Louella Court, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
When: November 8, 2024
Contributing artists
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Alex Kittoe, Bhare, Bojan, Cat Russell, Hazed, Kaeli VanFossen, Manfredi Caraciollo, Mediolanum, Nevin Johnson, RAM, and Tony Wallstrom.
Curatorial Statement:
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In the art world, the concept of the "Hive Mind" has long been a metaphor for collective action and shared vision—a fusion of creativity that builds towards a common goal. The work of the 10 featured artists in this exhibition explore the delicate balance between individuality and collective impact, as they navigate the evolving digital art landscape, forging connections between the digital and physical realms and finding their place within it. Much like a hive of bees, we can view these artists as part of a larger, interconnected network, where each contributes their unique perspective to create something greater than just the sum of its parts. The hive, often regarded as a symbol of communal effort, reveals both the power of collaboration and the danger of conformity. In this space, digital art can be likened to the dynamic energy of a beehive—where ideas are free flowing and new trends emerge, constantly being shaped and reshaped by the buzzing interaction of its members. The ease by which ideas are shared, information is exchanged, and comparisons are made it's often easy to become distracted or misguided.
However, the important challenge here lies in exploring and in the ushering of what we are referring as the Hive Mind, waves of inspiration and the creators who are continuously pushing the boundaries of not only thought, but how we may see a medium, in this case digital, traverse the scope of contemporary art and impact on our understanding to look beyond the present scope of contemporary art. The strength of the hive is not in blind adherence to group-thought, but in its ability to harness the diversity of its individuals and find strength through it.These 10 artists recognize that innovation does not come from following the crowd, but from shaping its direction. Their work demonstrates that to truly impact the digital and physical art world, one must navigate the dual roles of both artist and curator—acting as both brush and canvas, shaping the vision while simultaneously being shaped by it.
In this exhibition, the artists blur the boundaries between the digital and the tangible featuring works both digitally and physically native. Their work suggests that the relationship between these two mediums is not one of opposition but of mutual enhancement, creating a dialogue that enriches both types of their work. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of art innovation, these artists remind us of a fundamental truth: the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. They stand as individuals, each with their own distinct voice, yet they move in unison toward a shared goal. In their hands, the future of art is both a collective endeavor and a personal journey—one where digital and physical realms are not separate worlds, but integrated experiences.
It is through this show we hope to show the viewer how to embrace this balance and step forward into a future where we are not only creators but also shapers of the very space in which we disrupt.
Curated by Paloma Rodriguez and Luca Ponsato
About the Partners:
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Hildabroom Management is a dynamic artist management and advisory firm representing a diverse roster of creative talent across multiple mediums, including digital creators, photographers, painters, and 3D artists. The company offers personalized services that foster artistic growth and help artists build sustainable careers in both traditional and digital spaces. Hildabroom is dedicated to bridging the gap between creativity and opportunity, helping artists thrive in the contemporary art world.
Colonna Contemporary is a forward-thinking gallery based in Wayne, PA, that bridges the gap between traditional and digital art. By blending fine art heritage with digital innovation, Colonna Contemporary represents visionary artists who challenge creative boundaries, offering collectors a unique opportunity to engage with the latest trends and technologies in art.
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Catalogue
Alex Kittoe
Out West, 2024
This work is unique and is accompanied by a unique signed painting
Signed on Verso
20" x 30"
Nevin Johnson
At the end of the day ill always have you, 2024
Oil on canvas
Signed on Verso
16" x 20"
Shareon (Bhare) Blenman (B. 1998)
Momentos, 2024
Acrylic, oil pastel, oil stick, crayon, and pencil on canvas
Signed on Verso
Bojan
The Aftermath, 2024
Digital Painting
Cat Rusell
Honey, 2024
Analog Collage
Signed on Verso
7" x 12"
Hazed
Going_Nowhere, 2024
Digital Animation
Hazed x Mediolanum Collab
Data_Recovery, 2024
Digital Painting
Manfredi
Silent Paterns, 2024
Signed on verso
Museum grade print
1.7" x 16.5"
Ram
The Weight of Imperfection, 2024
Digital Animation
Tony Wallstrom
WWW, 2024
Oil, acrylic, soft pastel, pressure washer, graphite, colored pencils and collaged paper on canvas
Signed on Verso
36" x 43"
Mediolanum
The Silent Chorus, 2024
Digital painting
Kaeli VanFossen
A Kinesis of Aesthetes, 2024
This digital work is unique and is accompanied by physical painting
Signed on Verso
24" x 36"
The interview:
In anticipation of our show we asked our contributing artists to answer a handful of questions regarding their work and each of their respective opinions surrounding the themes explored within the curatorial statement of the show.
Paloma: In this exhibition, the "Hive Mind" is seen as both a source of collective power and a potential space for conformity. How do you navigate the tension between collaboration and retaining your individuality as an artist?
Manfredi: A successful collaboration is about balance: respecting the craft of others while staying true to a personal artistic vision. My individuality as an artist comes through a distinctive visual language, committed to exploring themes of solitude and the human relationship with space. Collaborating with other artists offers opportunities for exchange, but I find it crucial to maintain my own creative direction.
Nevin Johnson: Collaboration has always been an aspect of the art world that I truly enjoy. I believe that collaboration brings out the best in both artists involved. Working with others amplifies my own voice, and the creative energy generated in the process reignites my artistic drive. This synergy not only enhances my work but also deepens my understanding of the art itself.
Kaeli: As an artist, I believe creation exists both as a solitary act and within a larger cultural ecosystem. No work is made in a vacuum; it’s shaped by the world around us—through the influence of other artists, movements, or shared societal currents. The challenge lies in honoring these external dialogues without allowing them to eclipse your voice. Collaboration, whether direct or indirect, feels like a current: something I can dip into, feel its pull, and choose how much of it becomes part of my process. Maintaining a porous boundary is key—remaining open to ideas from other artists and movements, while filtering those influences through my own lens. When I create, I focus on understanding my instincts—why certain colors, forms, or motifs draw me in—ensuring that the choices I make remain authentic. Collaboration can spark unexpected revelations, but ultimately, the decisions along the way are mine to carry.
Ram:I believe the line between individuality and collaboration can blur when working with another artist or entity. Collaboration, to me, is about finding a shared connection to a subject while still maintaining the unique identity each artist brings. Individuality is important, but the ability to connect with others enhances and shapes that uniqueness.
Tony: As a creator I try to approach this tension by setting boundaries around when to absorb collective input and when to assert my individual perspective. It is a deliberate and ongoing negotiation that is taking place. I truly do enjoy the richness of the collective while still trying to preserve some form of integrity in my expressions.
Cat: Staying true to how I create and creating what I want comes first. If a collaboration creates a 1+1=3 scenario, then I take part. If it doesn't then it simply doesn't align with me and that's okay. At the end of the day I am kinda rigid in my code of what I will and won't do. But everyone is different about that and does art for different reasons so no judgment here.
Hazed:I don’t feel tension in collaboration because I believe that creating from a place of authenticity will naturally allow your individuality to shine through. As long as the purpose and message of your creations remain consistent throughout the process, you can embrace collaborative efforts and use them to support your narrative.
Bojan: In my mind collaboration often enhances my individuality as it pushes my limits and opens up a window of opportunity, an opportunity to find something undiscovered in myself and in my work. From my experience working on collaborations such as "Let It Burn" alongside Alex Kittoe, we both had to find common ground and make compromises for the good of the work we are creating. It’s all about embracing the vision of your collaborator while also remaining true to yourself and your vision. Oftentimes it’s in our nature as artists to refuse and dismiss change immediately on something that we work on. To that I’d say, give the change some time, let it sit with you, more often than not it’s for the better of the work. It just might take some time for your creative eye to get used to it and see it differently.
Bhare: Either I decline the collaboration or set clear boundaries from the start. Creatives butt heads all the time, mainly due to how passionate they are about their ideas and the skills they bring to the table. I consider my individuality to be expressed in my brushstrokes and the way I discuss my work with my partner in the collaboration. When things get tense, I’m just honest about how everything is going. 'This sucks. We could do better. I enjoy this, but not that...'—these are all conversations I’m willing to have to keep things moving forward. Collaboration relies heavily on open, honest dialogue and an understanding that both sides have feelings invested in the creative process.
Mediolanum: I think one's artistry boils down to their voice. That voice embodies the individuality of an artist. For me, collaboration doesn’t threaten my individuality; rather, it enhances it. I’m aware of my creative strengths and areas for growth, and I’m open to learning from others. Collaboration gives me the chance to invite new perspectives without losing control over the final outcome.
Paloma: Your work explores the balance between the digital and the physical. Do you consider yourself more drawn to one medium over the other, or do you see both as integral to your artistic expression?
Manfredi: Although my work is predominantly digital, I believe that the physical print is a natural extension of my practice. The digital medium allows me to explore complex geometries, while the print brings the work into a tangible realm, offering a different and renewed experience.
Nevin Johnson: Photography, like painting, originated in the physical realm, and my collaboration with my mother is deeply rooted in that tradition. While I understand that modern photography and much of the editing process, even in analog, are digital, I always aim to acknowledge the physical medium, even if it’s just a subtle nod.
Kaeli: I don’t think of the digital and the physical as opposing forces but as extensions of one another. Each serves a unique purpose in my creative process, and the tension between them is part of what makes my work feel complete. Working digitally allows for a fluidity that can’t always be replicated with physical materials—there’s an immediacy to digital tools that encourages experimentation and discovery. But there’s a tactile intimacy that only physical painting can provide, a direct connection between the hand and surface that brings a different kind of energy to the work. For me, the beauty lies in the interplay between the two worlds. The digital informs the physical, and the physical feeds back into the digital. Each iteration enriches the other, creating a dynamic loop that pushes my work forward. At its best, this process feels less like switching between two distinct mediums and more like weaving them together into a single, cohesive expression.
RAM: Digital and physical are integral to my artistic expression, especially with my background in visual coding and my passion for various mediums like installation art, interactive visual art, and painting. I aim to combine these mediums to more effectively convey my artistic vision.
Tony: I am naturally drawn to the physical creation of an object. The blending of colors, the smell of the paint and the textures in the fabric and unconventional methods allow me to explore. The object exists because of my input, it follows the laws of physics and it is confined to a time which will never happen again. When bridging it into a digital format opens up a new dimension for me to explore new possibilities after its creation.
Cat: My work is made in the analog but often it's dimensions are small. The digital world allows it to often be presented in a larger form and allows it to reach a larger audience. Additionally, I often integrate tech into the distribution or presentation of the works and have a high focus on the values custom smart contracts allow.
Hazed: I’ve always been fascinated by altering reality—adding digital elements to the everyday world and bending it in various ways while maintaining a human touch. There’s something special about the intersection of the digital and physical hands. I portray this in my works and apply it to my process of blending analog and digital practices, which further pushes the narrative of what I aim to capture.
Bojan: Although I consider myself more of a digital artist, physical work is an integral piece of my artistic journey. Both physical and digital have their pros and cons. Feeling the brushstrokes on the canvas as an artist can oftentimes be a need, while other times you want to get your idea and experiment with it as quickly as possible, as digital mediums are very well suited for that I would say that the choice of medium typically aligns with the message or mood I want to convey with a certain work.
Bhare: At the moment, I’m drawn to physical work, but both mediums are integral tools for achieving a larger goal. They each give me the opportunity to express exactly what I need to at the moment. While I don’t have a romantic view of either medium, I love the range of expression they both offer.
Mediolanum: I think over the years I've mainly worked in the digital medium and it's opened up my eyes to new possibilities in my visual language. I love physical art, in fact it was physical art that inspired me to become an artist. There's a sort of beautiful relationship that exists when creating physical art. The physical materials and the physical energy exerted by the artists themselves are weaved together in harmony. However, in today's age of modern technology, I think there's so many new avenues of what art can be. The digital medium allows me to explore new ideas and aesthetics. I wouldn't say that I'm drawn to one or the other more, but rather I've been learning to practice my artistic expression through a digital medium for now. In doing so, I find myself sometimes trying to mimic what physical art may look like. But at the same time, I'm aware that digital art allows for a creative expression that could not exist in the physical world. Physical art still has a very special place in my heart and it's something that I have been exploring recently. I want to evolve my practice in both mediums, exploring not only what is possible but where my mind wanders when presented with different mediums.