Collage...

The collage technique is as old as paper. Modernists like Kurt Schwitters brought it to the forefront of the art world at the turn of the last century. In the Sixties, the term bricolage came into use to describe artworks made from an unusual combination of materials. The combining of materials could be used as a metric through the years to define the aesthetic of each era. From the various tapestries and mosaics created across cultures to the collages of the Dada movement and modernist assemblages like Rauschenberg’s “Bed.” Assemblages take everyday objects and materials and transform them into instruments of reflection. The practice of collage is so primally integrated into our idea of the creative process it’s utilized in art education at all levels of study. The visual language inherent to assemblage is so diverse it continues to be utilized by contemporary artists today.

The exhibition, Katja Gramann and Pia Wustenberg showcases works that fit the above description of collage and assemblage. The duo show features artists that make work in layers and stacks. Combining materials that are unexpected and have enticing tactile qualities. The textures and translucence of Katja’s paintings and collages cast her materials center stage in the artwork. While exceptional craftsmanship and a keen eye for design shine a spotlight on Pia’s admiration for her own materials. Both artists are driven by the medium. Their artworks are byproducts of their searching for novel forms of binding and new building combinations. In our contemporary lives, artworks such as these are a relief to interact with. They invite the viewer to explore the work of the human hand. They remind us of our human nature and the world of our immediate senses. A welcome alternative in the age of virtual experience.

Katja Gramann

Katja is an inventive picture maker. Her work is diverse, utilizing a variety of techniques ranging from expressionist-style painting to mixed-media and collage. Her images have a raw, freshness that reference Japanese Zen aesthetics. Her curious approach to the creative process generates a varied yet cohesive body of work. Each image is loaded with energy, color, beautiful line work and mark-making. It’s clear, Katja enjoys the act of painting and experimenting with color. Her finished works capture the process into forms of presentation to showcase her discoveries.

Pia Wustenberg

Pia’s work intersects a variety of artistry and craftsmanship from around the world. The designer travels to artisan workshops and finds inspiration alongside the artists to create new and unique works for her brilliant aesthetic brand, Utopia. The works in her Utopia collection range from stacking vessels to paper furniture. Pia’s innovations reflect her distinct vision to combine materials, traditions, working methods, and cultural influences into gorgeously, singular objects. Her efforts have the added beneficial quality of helping to preserve valuable creative traditions that are in danger of obsolescence.