It’s-only-the-fourth-day-of-the-year-but-we’re-already-hard-at-work greetings, collectors. With a great year of art behind us, we have a slew of exciting, new editions planned for 2012 from both favorite and new-to-20x200 artists.

Today’s pair—Eye Shadow Overlap No. 3, from the series Perceptual Beauty and Shadowscape, from the series Perceptual Beauty—are by we-found-her-through-Hey, Hot Shot! photographer and artist Michelle Marie Murphy. (Speaking of Hey, Hot Shot!, our international photo competition also has some great stuff in the works for 2012—more below.)

Using ubiquitous beauty supplies (eyeshadow, in this case) as art tools, today’s jewel tone, abstracted editions were inspired by third-wave feminism and Op Art—a shimmering combination that makes pretty serious contemporary theory seriously seductive.

In both Eye Shadow Overlap No. 3 and Shadowscape, Michelle turns the idea of applying powders and pigments to the face—and here, specifically, the eye—upside down, making pleasing palettes into optical stunners for, well, the eye. The repetitive patterns offer something sublime in the familiar (who knew those plastic containers of powder and pigment could look so good?) but leave lots of room for comment on the application of beauty supplies, and their functions of concealing (here they look a bit like butterflies disguising delicate details in their wing patterns, don’t they?) or accentuating. In a more direct approach, she takes these ideas head-on (or, eh, face-on) in video performances in which foundation and lipstick are lathered on playfully, but compulsively.

Though we first came across Michelle through Hey, Hot Shot! (where she received an Honorable Mention in the First Edition 2011 round of competition), the talented Ms. Murphy had already been impressing some very discerning eyes: Currently a professional photographer for NASA (Glenn Research Center), one of Michelle’s photographs was used by President Obama during a NASA lecture he gave in 2010.

January heralds a whole new round of exciting Hey, Hot Shot! news. The First Edition 2011 Hot Shots will have their work exhibited in a group showcase at Jen Bekman Gallery. The opening reception is this Friday, January 6th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., so stop by, meet some of the talented photographers and view their winning work up close. The exhibit will be on view January 7th through January 22nd. Jen Bekman Gallery is located at 6 Spring Street, in New York City.

If you were closely following the recent Second Edition 2011 round of competition, stay tuned, because we will be announcing those five winners very, very soon (as well as information about their own HHS! showcase at JBG later this year).

Meanwhile, right here on 20x200, you can expect to see several editions this month by photographers found through Hey, Hot Shot!