Classes for cutups Aspiring collage artists can reach out to the collagists for information about workshops and in-studio instruction.
▼ Sandra Duran Wilson’s website includes a newsletter subscription for workshop updates: sandraduranwilson.com . To arrange a studio tour, contact her at sandra@sandraduranwilson.com .
▼ Darlene Olivia McElroy’s website and Instagram includes information about her art and workshops: darleneoliviamcelroy.com , Instagram is @darlene_olivia_mcelroy.
▼ Kitt Miller’s art is on Instagram at @kittmillercollage. For a studio visit or workshop, contact her at kittmiller13@gmail.com .
Thanks to the technology of “cut” and “paste” commands on our digital devices, we can rapidly move text, photos, and graphics around; but the techniques of cutting and pasting — or collaging — existed long before computers. Collage derives from the French word coller (to glue) and is an art form thought to have originated with cubists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who are credited with coining the term.
But they didn’t invent the process.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmy2A2?6D6 2CE:DED H6C6 2>@?8 E96 7:CDE E@ E62C A:646D @7 A2A6C 2?5 2EE249 E96> E@ D:=< 2?5 A2A6C 2D 62C=J 2D E96 `aE9 46?EFCJ] x? v@E9:4 42E965C2=D[ 2CE:DED 2AA=:65 8@=5 =627 2?5 86>D E@ :4@?D 2?5 C6=:8:@FD :>286CJ] t?8=:D9 2CE:DE |2CJ s6=2?6J 4C62E65 “A2A6C >@D2:4<D” :? E96 =gE9 46?EFCJ] x? E96 ':4E@C:2? 6C2[ 4@==286 H2D 2 A@AF=2C 4C27E — 6G6? 6?;@J65 3J 2FE9@C r92C=6D s:4<6?D — 2?5 H2D FD65 :? D4C2A3@@<D 2?5 9@>6>256 8C66E:?8 42C5D]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ 4@==28:DED 2EE249 A2A6C[ 723C:4[ E6IE[ A9@E@8C2A9D[ 2?5 2 H:56 G2C:6EJ @7 @3;64ED E@ 3@2C5[ A2A6C[ 42?G2D[ 2?5 7F?4E:@?2= :E6>D] $@>6 @7 E96 >@DE H:=5=J 4C62E:G6 2?5 E2=6?E65 2CE:DED 2C6 A2DE:?8 2?5 8=F:?8 C:89E 96C6 :? $2?E2 u6[ 2?5 :? 255:E:@? E@ 4@==64E:?8 E96:C H@C<[ J@F 42? 2=D@ =62C? 5:C64E=J 7C@> E96> 9@H E@ >2<6 4@==286D J@FCD6=7]k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 E9C66 E@A $2?E2 u6\32D65 A2DE:?8 AC@D]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mv=F65 E@ C62=:D>k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm$2?5C2 sFC2? (:=D@? 56D4C:36D 96C DEF5:@ 2D 2 “4C62E:G6 3F33=6[” H96C6 D96 6IA=@C6D[ :?G6?ED[ 2?5 DFCC@F?5D 96CD6=7 H:E9 A2:?ED[ 8=F6D[ 2?5 E6IE:=6D] %96 H2==D 2C6 =:?65 H:E9 96C G:3C2?E=J 4@=@C65[ E6IEFC65[ 23DEC24E 4@==286D E92E :?4=F56 6=6>6?ED @7 C62=:D>] %96J DF886DE 2 C6G6C6?46 7@C ?2EFC6[ 2?5 @7E6? E96 G:6H6C’D 6J6D 2D46?5 G6CE:42==J E@ E96 4@D>@D 2?5 2? F?D66? DA:C:EF2= C62=>]k^Am
Sandra Duran Wilson, The Place Between (2023), mixed media collage; courtesy the artist
kAm(:=D@? 3682? 4C62E:?8 2D 2 49:=5[ :?DA:C65 3J 2CE =6DD@?D 7C@> 2 ?6:893@C H96C6 D96 8C6H FA @? E96 %6I2D\|6I:4@ 3@C56C] $96 DEF5:65 3@E9 2CE 2?5 4@8?:E:G6 D4:6?46 2?5 H2D 2=H2JD 2? 6IA=@C6C 2?5 2? 6IA6C:>6?E6C :? 6G6CJ >65:F> D96 EC:65] sFC:?8 >J C646?E G:D:E E@ 96C DEF5:@[ D96 4@>A2C65 96C 6IE6?D:G6 EC2G6=D E@ 96C 2CE]k^Am
kAm“x >:89E 92G6 2 A=2?[ 3FE H:E9 6G6CJ EC:A[ J@F 92G6 E@ E2<6 2 D:56 EC:A 2?5 6IA=@C6[” D96 D2JD] “x 42>6 :?E@ E96 A=2?6E H:E9 2 >:DD:@? — E@ 3C62< 2== E96 CF=6D 2?5 AFE E96> 324< E@86E96C 282:? :? 2 ?6H H2J]” w6C H@C5D 56D4C:36 ?@E @?=J 96C =:76[ 3FE 2=D@ 96C 2DD6>3=286 H@C<]k^Am
kAm(:=D@? 92D =:G65 :? $2?E2 u6 7@C cd J62CD 3FE :D @7E6? @? E96 C@25[ 8:G:?8 H@C<D9@AD 2?5 2EE6?5:?8 6I9:3:E:@?D @7 96C H@C< 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] $96 :D E96 2FE9@C @7 D:I 3@@<D 23@FE 2CE 2?5 2=D@ AC@G:56D :?DECF4E:@?2= 6A:D@56D @? 96C 6A@?J>@FD *@F%F36 492??6=] “(96? x E6249[” D96 D2JD[ “x 6IA=2:? E92E 4@=@C :D 2 7@F?52E:@? 2?5 E6IEFC6 :D E96 DE@CJ] x 2D< E96 DEF56?ED H92E E96:C DE@CJ :D]”k^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\BF@E6Qmk9cm!F== "F@E6k^9cmk3=@4<BF@E6mkAm“x 42>6 :?E@ E96 A=2?6E H:E9 2 >:DD:@? — E@ 3C62< 2== E96 CF=6D 2?5 AFE E96> 324< E@86E96C 282:? :? 2 ?6H H2J]” k6>m— $2?5C2 sFC2? (:=D@?k^6>mk^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6mk^2D:56m
kAmsFC:?8 2 C646?E >:?:\H@C<D9@A H:E9 (:=D@? :? 96C DEF5:@[ D96 D9@H65 >6[ 2 ?@G:46[ 9@H E@ DAC625 H2E6C @? 2 H@@56? A2?6=[ 2AA=J A2:?E[ A=246 2 56=: HC2AA:?8 D966E @G6C :E[ 2?5 >@G6 E96 D966E 2C@F?5 E@ 4C62E6 2? 23DEC24E 324<8C@F?5] %96 ?6IE DE6A H2D DAC2J:?8 5C@AD @7 2=4@9@= @G6C E96 A2:?E 2?5 FD:?8 2 962E 8F? E@ 4C62E6 E6IEFC6 2?5 E@ 5CJ :E] %96? 42>6 E96 2AA=:42E:@? @7 4@=@C65 7FD:3=6 H63[ 5CJ6C D966ED[ 2?5 A2A6C]k^Am
kAm(:=D@? 6IA=2:?65 23@FE D6=64E:?8 E96 4@CC64E EJA6 @7 8=F6 E@ 2596C6 2 A:646 @7 2=F>:?F> =:?:?8D 7C@> 2 $<:??J !@A 328 2?5 2 49@4@=2E6 32C HC2AA6C] “x =@G6 FD:?8 :E 3642FD6 :E DE:== D>6==D 7C@> 49@4@=2E6[” D96 D2JD 2D D96 56>@?DEC2E6D 9@H E@ :C@? E96 2=F>:?F> H:E9 2 =:89E E@F49 E@ 4C62E6 G2C:@FD D:K6D @7 3F33=6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 H@C<D9@A[ (:=D@? DA@<6 23@FE 4@96D:@?[ 4@>A@D:E:@?[ 2?5 32=2?46[ 2?5 DF886DE65 E92E :7 x 6IE6?565 2AA=:65 A:646D E@ E96 6586 @7 E96 3@2C5[ :E H@F=5 :?G:E6 E96 :>28:?2E:@? E@ 8@ 36J@?5 :E] w6C H@C5D DE2J65 H:E9 >6 =@?8 27E6C E96 H@C<D9@A 6?565]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m$65F465 3J 4@==286k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm{:<6 96C 4@==286D[ s2C=6?6 ~=:G:2 |4t=C@J C25:2E6D ;@J[ 2 E:?86 @7 ?2F89E:?6DD[ 2?5 2 5@==@A @7 >JDE6CJ] w6C 4@==2865 7:8FC6D 92G6 2 5C62>J[ D65F4E:G6 BF2=:EJ E92E :?G:E6D G:6H6CD E@ 6?E6C :?E@ E96:C DE@CJ] %96?[ 2=>@DE :>A6C46AE:3=J[ E96 DE@CJ 492?86D]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 |4t=C@J’D 2?46DE@CD 42>6 E@ }6H |6I:4@ 2D 2 D4C:36 7@C s@? s:68@ 56 '2C82D :? `eha[ 2?5 96C C646?E 4@==2865 A@CEC2:E @7 2 92?5D@>6 $A2?:D9 4@?BF:DE25@C H62C:?8 2 H9:E6 CF77 D66>D DEC2:89E7@CH2C5] qFE >2J36 ?@E] xD?’E 96 H62C:?8 2 9F:A:= W2 EC25:E:@?2= EF?:4 FDF2==J H@C? 3J x?5:86?@FD H@>6?X 7C@> |6I:4@ @C r6?EC2= p>6C:42n p?5 H9J 2C6 D<6=6E@?D 52?4:?8 369:?5 9:>n r=62C=J[ :E’D 2 DE@CJ 23@FE E96 4@F?E=6DD 562E9D E92E C6DF=E65 7C@> E96 4=2D9 @7 4F=EFC6D E9C@F89 4@=@?:K2E:@?] p55:E:@?2==J[ E96 @C?2E6 H9:E6 >2<6FA @? @?6 D:56 @7 9:D 7246 :D C65@=6?E @7 s2J @7 E96 s625 46=63C2E:@?D]k^Am
Darlene Olivia McElroy, Los Colores (2021), mixed media; courtesy the artist
kAm“p== @7 >J A@CEC2:ED 92G6 2 AC:>2CJ DE@CJ 2?5 2 D64@?52CJ @?6] p?5 E96 DE@C:6D x E6== >2J 36 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96 @?6D E96 G:6H6C D66D] %92E’D 7:?6 H:E9 >6[” E96 2CE:DE D2JD]k^Am
kAm|4t=C@J 3682? A2:?E:?8 @? E96 H2==D @7 96C 365C@@> :? 46?EC2= r2=:7@C?:2 H96? D96 H2D E9C66] “|J >@E96C ;FDE 2446AE65 :E[” D96 D2JD[ “3642FD6 >J 8C2?572E96C H2D 2? 2CE:DE @? r2E2=:?2 xD=2?5]”k^Am
kAm$96 DA6?E 96C 49:=59@@5 DF>>6CD H:E9 96C 8C2?5>@E96C :? {2 r:6?682 2?5 42>6 E@ $2?E2 u6 :? E96 ’f_D E@ 3=@H 8=2DD 2?5 E@ A2:?E] x? `hhd D96 >@G65 96C6 A6C>2?6?E=J 2?5 92D 366? 4C62E:?8 2?5 D6==:?8 96C 2CE 6G6C D:?46] %96 2FE9@C @7 7:G6 3@@<D @? DF49 E@A:4D 2D :>286 EC2?D76C[ 2=E6C?2E:G6 2CE DFC7246D[ 2?5 >:I65 >65:2 :? 4=2J[ |4t=C@J 6I9:3:ED 96C H@C< 7C6BF6?E=J 2?5 92D 565:42E65 4@==64E@CD 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 8=@36] w6C H@C<D9@AD 2EEC24E D62D@?65 2CE:DED[ ?6H3:6D[ 2?5 “A6@A=6 H9@ H2?E E@ 6IA=@C6 E96:C 4C62E:G:EJ 2?5 92G6 7F?[” D96 D2JD]k^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\BF@E6Qmk9cm!F== "F@E6k^9cmk3=@4<BF@E6mkAm“p== @7 >J A@CEC2:ED 92G6 2 AC:>2CJ DE@CJ 2?5 2 D64@?52CJ @?6] p?5 E96 DE@C:6D x E6== >2J 36 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96 @?6D E96 G:6H6C D66D] %92E’D 7:?6 H:E9 >6]Q k6>m— s2C=6?6 ~=:G:2 |4t=C@Jk^6>mk^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6mk^2D:56m
kAm#646?E=J[ >J 9FD32?5[ !2F=[ 2?5 x E@@< 2 H@C<D9@A H:E9 |4t=C@J :? 96C 9@>6 DEF5:@[ H96C6 96C 4FCC6?E H@C< A6C496D @? 2? 62D6= 2?5 E96 E23=6D 2C6 4@G6C65 H:E9 3:ED 2?5 A:646D @7 E6IE:=6D[ ;6H6=CJ[ A9@E@D[ 2?5 D>2== 4FC:@D D96 92D 4@==64E65] (6 >256 EH@ 4@==286D[ “@?6 @? E96 E96>6 @7 DEC2?86C E9:?8D[ 2?5 E96 D64@?5 @? :>28:?65 EC2G6=]”k^Am
kAm|4t=C@J’D :?EF:E:@? 23@FE H92E 6249 @7 FD ?665D =65 96C E@ @776C 2 EC2?DA2C6?E 7:=> ?682E:G6 E@ !2F=[ H9@ :D 2 A9@E@8C2A96C[ 2?5 E96? D96 E2=<65 H:E9 9:> 23@FE 2CE 2D 4@@<:?8[ D:?46 E96J 3@E9 2C6 H9:KK6D :? E96 <:E496?] “!2:?E:?8 :D E96 DH66E 2?5 D@FC @7 2CE … 4FCG6D 282:?DE DEC2:89E =:?6D[ 4@@= G6CDFD H2C> 4@=@CD[ D>@@E9 G6CDFD E6IEFC65[” D96 D2JD] u@C >6[ D96 DF886DE65 2=A9236E =6EE6CD 2?5 2 D>2== A=2DE:4 6J632== @C EH@] “(96? x @776C D@>6E9:?8 E@ 2 DEF56?E[ :E’D FDF2==J 3642FD6 x D66 D@>6E9:?8 E92E H@F=5 255 E92E ‘DH66E DA@E’ 7@C E96:C H@C<[” D96 6IA=2:?D] (6 2== H6C6 E9@C@F89=J 23D@C365 :? E96 AC@46DD[ 5:D4FDD:?8 @FC :?E6CAC6E2E:@?D @7 E96 EH@ E96>6D[ 2?5 E96? !2F= 2?5 x =67E H:E9 7@FC 4@==286D]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mq62FEJ :? =2J6CDk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
Kitt Miller, Why it is , (2020), collage; courtesy Kitt Miller
kAmx7 E96C6’D DF49 2 E9:?8 2D 2 9:556? 4@==28:DE[ :E’D DFC6=J z:EE |:==6C] $96 62C?65 ?2E:@?2= 2EE6?E:@? :? E96 `hg_D 2?5 ’h_D H96? D96 4C62E65 2?5 D@=5 E9@FD2?5D @7 `a\:?49\9:89 “7@@E” DE@@=D — 6249 2 5:DE:?4E[ H9:>D:42=[ EH@\=68865 492C24E6C FA9@=DE6C65 H:E9 D9:CE[ A2?ED[ 2?5 D9@6D] w6C 4@==64E@CD :?4=F565 46=63D =:<6 y:>>J qF776E[ t=E@? y@9?[ 2?5 +F3:? |69E2[ 7@C>6C 4@?5F4E@C 7@C E96 {@D p?86=6D !9:=92C>@?:4] %96?[ :? 2 D6?D6[ D96 H6?E F?56C8C@F?5] $96 C2:D65 2 D@?[ 564@C2E65 9@>6D[ 56D:8?65 6G6?ED 2?5 82C56?D[ 2?5 A2:?E65 2?5 4@==2865 2E ?:89E] ~442D:@?2==J 96C 4@==286D H6C6 762EFC65 :? 82==6C:6D[ 2?5 D96 D@=5 E96> E@ G:D:E@CD 2?5 7C:6?5D H9@ H6C6 52KK=65 3J E96:C H:E[ 362FEJ[ 2?5 :?G6?E:G6?6DD] }@H 96C D@? 92D <:5D @7 9:D @H?[ 2?5 |:==6C :D 2 7F==\E:>6 4@==28:DE]k^Am
kAmw6C DEJ=6 2?5 >6E9@5 2C6 4=2DD:42=i 4FE @FE :>286D 2?5 A2DE6 E96> @? DFC7246D] qFE 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6 23@FE 96C :D F?:BF6] $96’D 8F:565 3J 96C 2AAC64:2E:@? @7 362FEJ[ 2?5 96C 7@4FD :D @? 26DE96E:4D 2?5 4@>A@D:E:@?] $@>6 @7 96C A:646D 2C6 =2J6C65 2?5 4@>A=6I[ 2?5 @E96CD 2C6 >:?:>2=:DE — 2? 2AA62=:?8[ 6G@42E:G6 324<8C@F?5[ H9:49 DF886DED A=246[ 2?5 @?6 DE2CE=:?8 :>286 D6E :? 7C@?E @7 :E] $96 4@==286D @? A2A6C[ 6>AEJ E62 42?:DE6CD[ >:CC@CD] “x7 x 4@F=5 4@==286 >J H9@=6 9@FD6[ x AC@323=J H@F=5P” D96 D2JD]k^Am
kAm%96 >@DE E:>6\4@?DF>:?8 A2CE @7 >J H@C<D9@A H:E9 |:==6C H2D D6=64E:?8 2 324<8C@F?5 2?5 :>286D 7C@> 96C G2DE[ 42E2=@8F65 4@==64E:@? @7 4@=@C7F= AC:?E65 6A96>6C2[ E96? 42C67F==J 4FEE:?8 E96> @FE[ 2?5 =2J:?8 @FE E96 6?E:C6 A:646 367@C6 A2DE:?8 2?JE9:?8] (96? x H2D A=2??:?8 E96 =2J@FE 7@C 2 4J=:?5C:42= E62 42?:DE6C[ D96 AC@G:565 2 E6>A=2E6 D@ x H@F=5 <?@H E96 AC64:D6 D:K6 @7 E96 4@==286]k^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\BF@E6Qmk9cm!F== "F@E6k^9cmk3=@4<BF@E6mkAm“x7 x 4@F=5 4@==286 >J H9@=6 9@FD6[ x AC@323=J H@F=5P” k6>m— z:EE |:==6Ck^6>mk^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6mk^2D:56m
kAm(9:=6 x 2DD6>3=65 E96 :>286D 7@C 2 7=2E 4@==286[ |:==6C DF886DE65 x >:89E >@G6 2 76H @7 E96> 2C@F?5 @C @G6C=2A E96> 2?5 :?5:42E65 E96 @C56C :? H9:49 E96J D9@F=5 36 A2DE65]k^Am
kAm%96 9:89=:89E[ 7@C >6[ H2D H96? 96C 9FD32?5[ vC68[ 2? 2CE:DE[ H2=<65 :?E@ E96 DEF5:@[ A:4<65 FA >J 4@==286[ 2?5 2D<65[ “(9@ 5:5 E92En xE’D 8C62E]”k^Am
kAm}@H[ E92?<D E@ 2== >J >6?E@CD[ x’> 2 4@==286 4@?G6CE] k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmk6>myF5:E9 u6:? :D 2? 2H2C5\H:??:?8 EC2G6= 2?5 4F=EFC6 ;@FC?2=:DE H9@ 92D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ `b_ AF3=:42E:@?D 2?5 :D E96 2FE9@C @7 E9C66 3@@<D] ':D:E 96C H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^8=@32=25G6?EFC6]FDQm8=@32=25G6?EFC6]FDk^2m]k^6>mk^Am