Did you enthusiastically agree to and then completely forget about your friend’s white elephant gift exchange? Are you scrambling to find a meaningful present for your significant other that doesn’t reek of capitalist excess? Need a fittingly thoughtful birthday gift for your favorite Capricorn?
We’ve been there! That’s why we’ve compiled a list of artsy and crafty gifts from some of our favorite creators, from rug-tufted art to quirky ceramics. Peruse our picks below — and a reminder that a Hyperallergic membership never goes out of style! 😉 —Valentina Di Liscia, News Editor
Milo Hachim’s Adorable Miniature Ceramics
Tiny cats perched in petite armchairs, lounging bunnies gripping single flower stems, and a pair of Elton John-style sunglasses sized for a mouse are among Chilean ceramicist and illustrator Milo Hachim’s charming array of offerings. The artist handshapes and handpaints her creations, which are infused with a decidedly childlike wonder. Most objects are under $50; visit the store here. — Elaine Velie, Staff Writer
Prints From Entangled Roots Press
Portland, Oregon-based artist Ali Cat creates prints, jewelry, and tapestries that incorporate plantlife motifs while speaking to the urgency of cultural and political movements. Her vibrant pen- and ink-drawn “Palestinian Land Print” (2023), commemorating the annual March 30 celebration of Land Day, is now being sold to benefit Palestine Legal, an organization that works to protect the rights of people who speak in support of Palestinian freedom. Cat’s screenprint speaks to the visual language of Palestinian resistance, featuring bright-red poppies and green olive leaves framed by the words “Liberate” and “Return.” The nine-by-nine-inch print costs $30 and can be purchased here. —EV
Ruth Rodriguez’s Prints and Holiday Cards
“Making prints is a way to bring a little bit of art to people who wouldn’t normally buy it,” New York-based artist Ruth Rodriguez told Hyperallergic. She makes deeply personal works, layering images such as photocopies of a lover’s clothing with brightly colored figures to probe the experiences of womanhood. “I wanted something that had a representation of my Dominican American culture, something funny and cute that was relatable,” Rodriguez said of her print series Cafecito Por Favor. “A lot of the women I draw are in their underpants or relaxing on the couch. I want to make my work feel familiar in an art space where it is often easy to feel intimidated.” Each print costs $25 and can be purchased here; the artist also sells handmade $5 holiday cards. —EV
Daisy Tortuga’s Clever Tufted Rugs
Multidisciplinary artist Daisy Tortuga makes everything from sculptural glassware to mohair bonnets. Her imagery and style can appear irreverent — as evidenced in Christmas tree ornaments of ceramic cigarettes with satin and velvet bows — but her work also conveys something deeper. In tufted rugs and clay works, Tortuga evokes eerily familiar yet perennially unnamed feelings of womanhood. Available items range from £15 (~$19) to £500 ($636). —EV
Michele Mirisola’s Sea Life-Inspired Art
As her shop name betrays, Brooklyn-based artist Michele Mirisola found a delightful niche in making ceramics using real sea shells, which she adorns with delicately placed strings of air-dried clay that look like piped icing. Mirisola turns conches into wine stoppers, scallops into collect-alls, and oysters into salt dishes (complete with a viscous-looking clump of resin at the bottom). The artist also creates larger pieces, such as intricately tiled mosaics and appetizer trays that could easily outshine the food they serve. Prices range from $45 to $1,700; shop here. —EV
Jori Brennon’s Detailed Beadwork
Jori Brennon, a queer Two Spirit Cree artist based in Canada, creates intricately patterned beadwork featuring traditional motifs on a wide range of forms. Current offerings include an orange, yellow, and green bolo tie; cuff bracelets adorned with the silhouettes of buffalo; and shimmering red and gold heart earrings that Brennon says “sparkle like nobody’s business.” Prices range from $115 for earrings to $1,143 for beaded cuffs; shop the artist’s store here. —EV
Skye Tafoya’s Intricate Paper Weavings
Skye Tafoya comes from a long line of basket weavers from the Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo Tribes, and the multidisciplinary artist continues the tradition through her paper-making and weaving practice. Tafoya’s carefully arranged artworks have a vibrant and sometimes even psychedelic appearance, and are always mind-bogglingly detailed. For a more affordable option, the artist also creates prints. These are available from $90, and weavings sell for up to $1,700. —EV
Larysa Bernhardt’s Hand-Sewn Sculptures
Ukraine-born, Missouri-based artist Larysa Bernhardt reuses vintage tapestries to craft hand-sewn moth sculptures that honor the embroidery techniques passed on by her mother. Outfitted with wired wings; shrouded in velvet, silk, and Belgian linen; and finished with glass beads, the uncanny yet elegant pieces can be placed decoratively on a surface or hung on the wall to cause a buzz among artsy house guests. Prices online range from $215 to $600; inquire here for availability. —VD
Watan Palestine’s Prints, Posters, and More
With two storefront locations in the suburbs of southwest Chicago and Amman, Jordan, and bolstered by an online shop, Watan Palestine is a heritage-based art studio and business focused on empowering Palestinian Americans to creatively learn about their identity, cultural heritage, and history beyond a foreign lens. Through prints and posters, home decor, apparel and accessories, and stationery and stickers, Watan provides a multitude of avenues that familiarize and celebrate Palestinian culture and advocacy within the diaspora. Naturally, our top picks are of the “Catffiyeh” variety, but there are plenty of beautiful design tributes to Palestine to choose from. Prices vary; shop here. —Rhea Nayyar, Staff Writer
Marion Kadi’s Whimsical Portraits
In Marion Kadi’s inventive portraits, familiar faces emerge from abstract patterning and imaginary scenes. Her subjects can be seen leaving from a lamp as a genie and heading a dinner table propped up by human legs. Kadi also takes commissions for eight-by-10-inch pet portraits: Interested parents can send her a few of their favorite animal photos and the artist will render them faithfully. “I take some liberties with the colors and I invent a background,” the artist told Hyperallergic, but promises to capture the pet’s expression “precisely.” In a work completed earlier this year, Polina the cat lies majestically on a yellow-hued bluff casting her gaze at the passing ships below. Pet portraits cost $200 plus shipping; inquire here. —EV
