[Photo by: Lauren Treece]

The beginning is, in fact, finally here. After shifting through exactly 1470 posts for the entire 2012 calendar year, a dozen pots of coffee made, several holes punched in the drywall during heated deliberations, and several concussions suffered from office supplies hurled at each others’ heads, we proudly present the third annual EMPTY KINGDOM TOP 100 Artists of 2012! Following suit of the EK TOP 100 of 2011 and 2010, this year’s TOP 100 was carefully complied by three of our eternally enslaved authors, Bunnyman (BM), okmarzo (OK), and Konahrtist (KA), and let us make the declaration that this list does not in any way reflect a “real” sampling of the “best” work on this site. Period. Think of this list as a kind of “mix tape” that you would make for your significant other; a sort of collaborative compilation of some of the art that we enjoyed throughout the year. Since there actually is no truly objective way to judge such a thing (especially with the caliber of artists that we feature daily), we used a highly sophisticated formula in considering all of the artists’ work that would make Einstein blush (we think).

Our formula for judging the work was:
Personal Taste (of the author) + Technical Skill + Creativity + Subject Matter / Message + Body of Work = Selection, with the weight of each depending on the artist and category.

Because our editorial control is so strict when it comes to selecting the artists to feature on EK, it means that we undoubtedly and unabashedly love the shit out any artist and their work if they make it on our site. With that said, there were so many artists that we personally fought for to make the list, but after all the hair pulling and nail scratching and eye gouging and countless “Yo Momma” jokes, we couldn’t place any artist without unanimous consent, and to those who didn’t make the last round of cuts, our hearts go out to you.

Feel free to debate, argue, and malign the list if you want. If you really hate it, we ask that you go through 1470 posts from all of 2012 and pick your favorite 100 artists, and you’ll see why it took us an entire month to prepare such a list for such a deserving group of fans as yourselves.

And so like in years prior, we dedicate the 100th spot for you. Yes, you. You, the EK faithfuls, who made it possible for EK to even exist. Without your support over the years, none of this would have been possible, so for that, we’re eternally grateful and can not thank all of you enough. EK loves you.

We also wanted to take a short moment to recognize the other authors who put blood, sweat, and tears into their posts tirelessly sharing new artists, revisiting past favorites, bringing you exclusive interviews, and presenting gallery spotlights from across this tiny planet as they have throughout the year. We could NOT have provided nearly half of the content to all you beautiful and dedicated EK fans with out (in order of appearance):

the blind architect
my dark apron
Slim Cognito
Aurora
Wanderling
Sir. Berus
The Dreamer

Thank you EK FAM-BAMS!

And finally before we continue on to the actual TOP 100 of 2012, the three authors responsible for this list would like to share a few words before being sent back down into the basement to continue their eternal indentured servitude.

BM: Each year this job gets harder in a good way.

OK: This list tops any other art list, period.

KA: I miss cassette tapes. Your finger hovering over the record button on your cassette radio trying time the song you wanted to record without the DJ’s voice was the original “music download”.

(Originally posted January 31, 2013)

And now, the EMPTY KINGDOM TOP 100 Artists of 2013 in alphabetical order (by first name):
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1. Adam Martinakis (EK Interview: August 2012, June 2012)

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2. Adonna Khare (October 2012)

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3. Alex Gross (March 2012, November 2010)

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4. Alexander Korzer-Robinson (October 2012)

BM: Let’s just judge this book by it’s cover, shall we?

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5. Alyssa Monks ★10 (May 2012, EK Interview: June 2011, March 2010)

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6. Amanda Elizabeth Joseph ★11 (EK Interview: April 2012, July 2011) + LEVELED MAG interview coverage

KA: Scrumdiddlyumptious.

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7. Ana Alvarez-Errecalde (June 2012)

KA: I wonder what the Decency Laws are for these jumpsuit/onesies because I want one. Or two. Or three. Perferably with no bush because that’s how I roll.

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8. Andre Ermolaev (November 2012)

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9. Andrei Molodkin (March 2012)

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10. Andrew Thomas Huang (March 2012)

OK: Real life Miyazaki.

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11. Aneta Bartos (December 2012)

KA: Knock, Knock?
OK: Who’s there?
KA: Dewey!
OK: Dewey who?
KA: Dewey have to use a condom?
OK: …
KA: Too far? Shitty joke? Yea…
BM: Dewey have to use a condom who?

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12. Angela Grossman (May 2012)

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13. Anthony Francisco Schepperd & The Music Scene (January 2012)

BM: Believe it or not, Marzo n’ I had a movie concept like this way back in the day…but this was done way cool so now we don’t have to.
KA: You always know when the animation is that good when you have to question whether or not you took drugs before watching the piece.
BM: Someday when I disappear for good you’ll find my bloated dead body in a tiny hotel room on a tiny island.  And this video will be playing on the TV.

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14. Ashley Wood (November 2012, November 2010)

BM: This dude doesn’t exactly need the promotion, but we’re equal opportunists here at EK.

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15. Ben Richardson & Daniel Bird (February 2012)

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16. Beth Hoeckel (March 2012, March 2011)

BM: ”Dear, I do believe our heads are melting together…”

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17. Brent Stirton (December 2012, May 2010)

KA: Damn.
BM: Mighty Joe Young!!! NOOOO!!!!!!! Somebody call Charlize Theron.

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18. Chen Jiagang (May 2012)

OK: Classy, cinematic, and polished from every angle.
BM: I wonder if her socks are matching too.

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19. Chloe Early (July 2012, April 2010)

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20. Choi Xoo Ang (November 2012)

OK: Choi brings modern obscurities that ravishes the inner child’s absurdity.
KA: Qué?

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21. Christy Lee Rogers ★11 (EK Interview: July 2012, October 2011)

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22. Claudia Rogge (July 2012)

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23. Dan Voinea (EK Interview: July 2012, May 2012)

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24. Daniel Pitin (August 2012)

OK: Perfect.

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25. Dario Puggioni (October 2012)

KA: I’m guessing she likes desserts?
BM: And shampoos.

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26. Dario Mitidieri (December 2012)

BM: This makes me sad. I wonder what parts of their soul the photographer gives up  and gains to bear witness and represent such things. In some ways photojournalists are martyrs of art because I’m sure their lives are changed forever when they expose themselves.
KA: Ditto. Much props to Mitidieri for being in Tiananmen Square in 1989 to capture the tragic events that unfolded.

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27. David Oliveira (June 2012)

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28. Derek Gores ★10 (EK Causes: April 2012, March 2011, August 2010)

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29. Eliot Lee Hazel (January 2012 Part I, January 2012 Part II)

KA: Now, that’s my kind of lady.
BM: Barefoot mafia!

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30. Elisabeth Higgins O’Connor (January 2012)

BM: What had once started as a bad case of acne, the curious case of the flower-faced dog in the night went unsolved for a hundred years.

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31. Ellen Rogers ★10 (July 2012, EK Interview: April 2011, March 2010, February 2010)

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32. Éric Valli (August 2012)

KA: Man, Yogi Bear and Winnie the Pooh ain’t got shit on this guy!

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33. Fluxel Media (July 2012)

KA: …and all this time, I thought Dubstep was the sounds of Transformers making love. Who knew?

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34. Fulvio Di Piazza (July 2012)

BM: I hope he’s got an ashtray because if that doobie reaches his lips he’s in big trouble.
KA: OKay, who would win? This tree guy or any one of those Ents from Lord of the Rings?
OK: Everything is connected in Fulvio’s realm. All is one. The natural seeks to find balance with the unnatural.

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35. Geoffrey Farmer (June 2012)

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36. Glenn Brown (March 2012)

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37. Guy Laramée (August 2012, January 2012)

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38. hi (非) (February 2012, December 2010)

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39. Hirotoshi Itoh (October 2012)

BM: Hello, Hey, Hi.

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40. Hisaji Hara (February 2012)

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41. Ian Francis (April 2012, September 2010, March 2010)

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42. Jake & Dinos Chapman (October 2012)

KA: “Up there…that’s the Brown Star of the Chocolate Star Fish constellation.”
BM: For the astronomy aficionados out there.

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43. Jamie Vasta (November 2012)

KA: They’re paintings made out out glitter, people! Mutha-fuckin’ GLITTER!
BM: Yeah, I saw one of these in person and was completely blown away.

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44. Jason Briggs (May 2012, August 2010)

BM: I’m sure he’s heard this before but I really have no words for this one.

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45. Jen Stark (October 2012, March 2012)

BM: Don’t you just want to jump inside one of these and see where the rabbit hole ends?

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46. Jenny Morgan (EK Interview: June 2012, March 2012, September 2010)

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47. Jenny Saville ★10 (August 2012, August 2010)

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48. Joel-Peter Witkin (March 2012)

BM: ”I swear to you Giles, our love will live forever!”

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49. Joram Roukes (EK Interview: September 2012, July 2012, December 2010)

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50. Juan Gatti (November 2012)

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51. Julia Fullerton-Batten ★11 (November 2012, August 2011)

BM: This is a fascinating series, and bravo to Julia.
OK: You don’t often see a rare beautiful series like this.

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52. Kate MacDowell (December 2012, March 2010)

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53. Kris Kuksi ★10 ★11 (July 2012, December 2011, August 2011, March 2010)

KA: Mr. Kuksi is the first artist to make it on to all three of our TOP 100 lists! That just reflects his badass-ery for his raw talent and skill!
BM: lol, some people just got it like that.
OK: We’d like to crown a legend, but how do you crown a man who can create something as epic as an entire classical myth-themed sculptural series with his own hands.
KA: I say just hand him a solid gold brick with an EK stamp on it. I doubt anyone would refuse that!

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54. Kumi Yamashita (June 2012)

KA: This is like a connect the dot project for the Rain Man.
BM: HAHA

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55. Laura Makabresku (December 2012, April 2012, July 2011)

OK: Laura has an ability to gently gather light by spreading the calming kisses upon the subject’s flesh.
KA: Qué?
BM: Marzo is so poetic.

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56. Leslie Ann O’Dell (May 2012)

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57. Lucas Simões (February 2012)

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58. Luis Toledo (LAPRISAMATA / La Prisa Mata) (February 2012, September 2010, August 2010)

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59. Marina Bychkova ★10 (December 2012, June 2010)

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60. Masami Teraoka (June 2012)

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61. Maurizio Anzeri (January 2012)

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62. Melanie Pullen (July 2012)

OK: Disturbing, yet very settling.

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63. Melissa Cooke (May 2012, September 2010)

BM: Melissa Cooke is crazy good.

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64. Mi Ju ★10 (EK Interview: October 2012, September 2012, April 2010)

BM: The force is strong in this one.

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65. Michael Page (May 2012, December 2010)

KA: “Would you like lick?”
OK: Yes, please. I hope I never come back.
BM: Her blood is a hallucinogen.

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66. Mohammad Kheirkhah (EK Interview: November 2012, October 2012)

KA: The little girl’s face says it all really.

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67. Morgan Herrin (November 2012)

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68. Murat Germen (July 2012, May 2012)

BM: This artist is one that deserves to be seen in person to get the full effect.

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69. Nathan Walsh (June 2012)

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70. Neil Krug (September 2012, May 2012, January 2010)

KA: “What cha’mean your homepage isn’t set to EK?!”
BM: Haha, good one.

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71. Olivier de Sagazan (February 2012)

KA: You got something on your face…right there.
BM: Wait, no it’s a little to the left…just…no…um, don’t worry, nobody will notice.

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72. Pascal Vilcollet (EK Interview: November 2012, September 2012)

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73. Paul Cadden (June 2012)

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74. Paulina Otylie Surys (April 2012)

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75. Pawel Althamer (February 2012, September 2011)

BM: Underneath every bunnymask….is a bunnyman.

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76. Peihang Huang (黃沛涵) (February 2012)

KA: Now, this is a HELLO KITTY doll that I can get behind.
OK: Goodbye Kitty.

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77. Peter Sebastian (August 2012)

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78. Randall Rosenthal (June 2012)

KA: What a talented bastard…and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible because I would never be ever to carve anything remotely awesome as Rosenthal. Fuck.
OK: This is not a photograph.

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79. Ray Caesar (July 2012, December 2010)

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80. Rémi Paoli & C2C (August 2012)

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81. Riusuke Fukahori (February 2012)

OK: His work is like magic.

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82. Roy Nachum (June 2012)

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83. Ryan McGinley ★10 (April 2012, January 2012, December 2010)

KA: EMPTY KINGDOM OR DEEEEEAAAAAAAAAATH!
BM: And then I saw the light.

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84. Seung Mo Park (April 2012)

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85. Shawn Huckins (July 2012)

BM: LOL OMFG ROFL LMFAO

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86. Shohei Otomo ★10 (June 2012, June 2010)

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87. Spencer Tunick (August 2012)

OK: The idea of thousands of strangers coming together as one is truly beautiful.
KA: The idea of thousands of strangers coming together to be naked is priceless.

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88. Stefano Bonazzi (February 2012)

OK: This is how i feel right now.

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89. Suzannah Sinclair (EK Intervew: November 2012, September 2012)

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90. Takanori Aiba (February 2012)

OK: They’re evolving…
KA: It looks like Mr. Miyagi got serious about his bonsai hobby. Eh? Anyone? No one remembers the original Karate Kid? *sigh*

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91. Terence Koh (April 2012)

KA: Ooooohhhhhmmmmm…

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92. Terry Rodgers ★10 (February 2012, August 2010)

BM: The only reason why Terry isn’t on our TOP 100 every year is because it takes time to produce such work. But he’s an ass-kicker in our hearts every year.
KA: I love Mr. Rodgers.

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93. Tim Noble & Sue Webster (February 2012)

BM: So inventive.

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94. Tomohide Ikeya (May 2012)

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95. Valerie Hegarty (December 2012, January 2012)

KA: Creation is absolutely nothing without destruction…especially with something as fleeting as art.

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96. Vermibus (October 2012)

KA: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder beauty.
BM: ”But you said it’s what’s on the inside that makes me beautiful!”

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97. Vik Muniz (July 2012)

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98. Will Kurtz (February 2012)

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99. Zsolt Bodoni (August 2012)

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100. This year’s 100th spot is dedicated to YOU, the EK fans, visitors, audience, members, our incredibly large international family. With out you, there is no EK. It’s been a long time coming, and we can only continue to move forward with all this “bis-nasty” with the steady support that we have been so humbled to receive from all of you. We started out as a mere blog to share art/artists that we enjoyed and inspired us, and little did we know that it would have grown so quickly into this. Thank you.

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★10 = Denotes artists who previously made the EK TOP 100 of 2010
★11 = Denotes artist who previously made the EK TOP 100 of 2011

- This list is entirely subjective and in no way represents a popular opinion or objective vote.

- This list reflects strictly the personal tastes of the three authors who decided to put this list together: Bunnyman, okmarzo, Konahrtist

Posted in: Abstract, Advertising, Ambient, Animation, Animation, Black & White, Collage, Commercial, Commercial / Editorial, Digital, Drawings, Fashion, Feature Film, Featured, Film, Fine Art, Graphic, Graphic Design, Illustration, Illustration & Art, Installation, Journalism, Landscape, Mixed Media, Motion, Music Video, New Media, Nude, Obscure, Painting, Photography, Portrait, Sculpture, Short Film, Street, Typography, Visual Effects
Tags: Abstract, Adam Martinakis, Adonna Khare, advertising, Alex Gross, Alexander Korzer-Robinson, alyssa monks, Amanda Elizabeth Joseph, ambient, Ana Alvarez-Errecalde, andre ermolaev, Andrei Molodkin, Andrew Thomas Huang, aneta bartos, angela grossman, animation, Anthony Francisco Schepperd, art, art blog, Ashley Wood, Ben Richardson, Beth Hoeckel, black and white, Brent Stirton, c2c, Chen Jiagang, Chloe Early, Choi Xoo Ang, Christy Lee Rogers, Claudia Rogge, collage, commercial, Dan Voinea, Daniel Bird, Daniel Pitin, Dario Mitidieri, Dario Puggioni, David Oliveira, Derek Gores, digital, Dinos Chapman, drawings, editorial, Eliot Lee Hazel, Elisabeth Higgins O'Connor, ellen rogers, empty kingdom, empty kingdom top 100, Éric Valli, Fashion, feature film, Film, Fine Art, Fluxel Media, Fulvio Di Piazza, geoffrey farmer, Glenn Brown, Graphic, graphic design, Guy Laramée, hi, Hirotoshi Itoh, Hisaji Hara, ian francis, illustration, installation, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Jake Chapman, Jamie Vasta, Jason Briggs, Jen Stark, Jenny Morgan, Jenny Saville, Joel Peter Witkin, Joram Roukes, journalism, Juan Gatti, Julia Fullerton-Batten, Kate Macdowell, kris kuksi, Kumi Yamashita, Landscape, Laura Makabresku, Lauren Treece, Leslie Ann O’Dell, Lucas Simões, Luis Toledo, marina bychkova, Masami Teraoka, Maurizio Anzeri, Melanie Pullen, Melissa Cooke, mi ju, Michael Page, mixed media, Mohammad Kheirkhah, Morgan Herrin, Motion, Murat Germen, Music Video, Nathan Walsh, neil krug, New Media, nsfw, nude, Obscure, Olivier de Sagazan, Painting, Pascal Vilcollet, paul cadden, Paulina Otylie Surys, Pawel Althamer, Peihang Huang, Peihang Huang 黃沛涵, Peter Sebastian, Photography, portrait, Randall Rosenthal, Ray Caesar, Rémi Paoli, riusuke fukahori, Roy Nachum, ryan mcginley, Sculpture, seung mo park, Shawn Huckins, Shohei Otomo, Short Film, Spencer Tunick, Stefano Bonazzi, street, Sue Webster, Suzannah Sinclair, Takanori Aiba, Terence Koh, Terry Rodgers, The Music Scene, Tim Noble, Tomohide Ikeya, top 100, top 100 of 2012, typography, Valerie Hegarty, Vermibus, vik muniz, Visual Effects, Will Kurtz, Zsolt Bodoni, 非, 黃沛涵