James Jean retired, then didn’t really retire at all. In a similar vein of Michael Jordan, who retired from one phase of his career only to return stronger and more well-equipped to dominate once again, Jean left the illustration world behind in 2008, redefining himself as one of the most talented and intriguing fine artists of his generation. On the eve of perhaps the biggest show of his career, Parallel Lives, opening at Tilton Gallery in NYC on January 9, Jean is, once again, at a crossroads.

Journalists love the idea of making lists, and “Best Of” and “Man of the Year” picks. I’m not sure if we like to do this because it magnifies our positions as cultural arbiters, but as far as year end issues go, there will be plenty of publications and journalists making their play to define 2012. I personally don’t make lists, but I like to look at a calendar year and see who has contributed a body of work that can define, explain, and embody contemporary art at that given moment.  

What can I do to change the world? I’m no folk singer! (paraphrased from Bill Maher)  

“What inspires you?” I fucking hate that question. But I’ll get back to that in a moment.  

Daniel Clowes is a one-man comics institution. From his early work for Cracked Magazine, to his long-running, alternative comic book series, Eightball, which spawned feature films and graphic novels, Clowes has always been a prolific pioneer in style and approach.  

We were able to speak with Marcel Dzama about his episode of Artist Talk with Alia Shawkat and Lance Bangs, a new six-part MOCAtv series hosted by American actor, producer, and artist Alia Shawkat and directed by American filmmaker Lance Bangs. Marcel's upcoming exhibition Puppets, Pawns, and Prophets opens April 6 at David Zwrner Gallery in London.

Los Angeles artist Sage Vaughn's latest solo exhibit LIFE is open to view at the Scion AV Installation gallery space in West Hollywood. The show features new artwork and limited edition collectible products (a lighter, coffee mugs, leather notebook, blankets, a book, and prints). We caught up with Sage right before his opening...

We would not be the first to note that Kelsey Brookes' artistic career did not follow the most traditional path. While attending university, he studied biology instead of painting and drawing, and not until practicing as a microbiologist for a few years and moving to San Diego did Brookes begin his career as a painter.

Yesterday we caught up with curator Aaron Rose and talked about his new video for MOCAtv, a project, which focuses on the late New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Made in collaboration with Los Angeles based musician Sam Spiegel (AKA DJ Squeak E Clean, one half of DJ duo N.A.S.A.), Aaron and Sam decided they would not pay direct homage to Basquiat and his work.

In conjunction with Shepard Fairey opening a new exhibition, Sound & Vision, at Stolenspace in London tonight (and officially, Saturday, October 20), we wanted to publish our recent feature on Shepard from our current November 2012 Politics & Art issue. In conversation with Ron English at the end of August, the interview is a candid talk from two artists who have helped shape a dialgoue of modern politics and art, and have helped foster contemporary street art.