Grey Cube Gallery proudly presents the fifth Blue online art show for the month of August 2025. The show encompassed a range of artistic styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, collage, pastel, photography, digital art, porcelain, alabaster, alcohol ink). Each submission has been judged based on the following elements of artistic expression: orginality and quality of art, overall design, creativity, interpretation of the theme, demonstration of artistic ability and usage of medium. Out of all entries, 74 artworks were shortlisted for inclusion in the show. The competition attracted entries from many countries across the world: Australia, Ireland, Austria, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Canada. Enjoy the show and thank you for expressing an interest in our competition.

My name is Mick Ulichney. I’m an artist with an artist’s drive to create and a dreamer with a dreamer’s desire to discover what could be. I am a retired professor from SCAD. (The Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah Georgia) My MFA is in Painting, and I have an exhibition record that includes one man shows and acceptance into various prestigious juried shows and have received multiple awards including Best of Show recognition. Art is communication through imagination. An important way that we discover what could be, is through visual stories. My latest paintings are from my “Life of Shapes” series that explores the untold stories that might exist within the world that simple shapes could inhabit. I’m imagining a hidden world where simple primary shapes become the main characters in a variety of diverse story narratives. These glimpses into their secret lives reveal to us their parallel universe. I’m on a creative journey of discovery and I am always surprised by where it’s taking me.

I was born in and grew up in Hong Kong. This is my home with all my family, friends and memories which are deeply relevant and integral to my identity. To reciprocate the love, care and support that this community has provided for me, I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings, e.g. “Mutual Help”, “Forever Guardian”, “Striving for excellence”,“ Never give up”etc.

Jason Shih was born in 1972 in Taiwan. In 1991, he began to specialize in metal sculpture when he was a sophomore in the Fine Arts Dept. of Taipei National University of the Arts. In 2001, he graduated from School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, and majored in Metal Sculpture. And then, he served as the metal sculptor Albert Paley's assistant, involved in crafts and public art work practices. Furthermore, he earned his Art Ph. D. from China Academy of Art, China (2015). Now, he lives in Taiwan, and consistently engages in the both areas of sculpture and public art. Jason Shih’s artistic vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences, from contemporary dance to avant-garde fashion. He cites German choreographer Pina Bausch and British designer Alexander McQueen as significant inspirations. Bausch’s explorations of time and space resonate with Shih’s interest in sculpture’s capacity to embody kinetic energy and spatial imagination. McQueen’s innovative approach to contemporary imagery and themes provides Shih with a broad canvas for creative expression. Shih’s work is also influenced by the aesthetic principles of Futurism and Constructivism, movements that emphasize dynamic energy and continuous motion. These influences are evident in his pursuit of capturing the beauty of movement and the elegant restraint of natural forces. Shih’s sculptures often depict moments of defying gravity, capturing the fleeting beauty of motion in a static form. As a professional sculptor, Jason likes to experience the taste of life with perceptual observation in the subtle moments, and also likes the ever-changing situation of game shapes in the poetic imaginary space. For Jason, art creation is to share various moods and stories in daily life.

My art explores identity, emotion, and legacy. Through portraits, I capture not just likeness but essence, using bold palettes and textures to evoke nostalgia, intrigue, and reflection inviting viewers to connect with deeper stories. Legacy, history & experience that’s what makes the story telling, by way of oil & acrylic mediums, by Jay Johnsen approachable, relevant & enduring.