Julie Heller | Collages
Julie Heller | 314.574.6958 | julie.heller@mac.com | julieheller.com
M o st o f my c o ll a g e s a r e fa c e s
– portraits I am compelled
to render due to a mental tic that makes me see eyes and other facial elements in objects & images around me. How easily (and often) my mind is fooled into thinking I’ve seen someone hidden. Sometimes I resist & ignore the impulse, but often I am compelled to envision the full likeness of the person I feel I have found hiding. I feel haunted by them unless/until I render their portrait via collage. I use pictures torn from books & magazines, postage stamps, tickets, or whatever else is at hand & feels right. Sometimes I work digitally (placing elements I’ve scanned or found online, using Photoshop). Some of my collages are hybrids– begun digitally and completed with torn paper and paste, or vice versa. I use a less compulsive process for commissioned portraits (of real people). Whether they are real or not, I adore the process & visual effect of capturing someone’s essence in this way. I love the way viewers respond when they see my work from afar, then move closer to the point at which they lose sight of the face, and see instead its abstract components. Sometimes they laugh or smile, and I’m happy not to be the only one whose mind is playing tricks. J U L I E H ELLER
|
august 2014
Julie Heller | Collages
1
She’s All About Birds, digital collage.
Julie Heller | Collages
2
Untitled, digital collage.
Julie Heller | Collages
3
Aiming True, collage of torn paper.
Julie Heller | Collages
4
Untitled, digital collage.
Julie Heller | Collages
5
Boxing Girl, digital collage.
Julie Heller | Collages
6
Bird in Hand, digital collage.
Julie Heller | Collages
7
Ooh, Girl, Collage of pages from an old travel book, a postage stamp & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
8
Young Patriot, torn paper, postage stamps, paper currency & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
9
Ambition Inflames the Mind, postage stamps, carnival ticket, found paper & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
10
Modestly Patriotic, Postage stamps, one envelope & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
11
Historic Preservation Girl, 3 postage stamps, bit of a magazine, ColorAid paper & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
12
Queen Girl, Postage stamps, a page from Vogue, ColorAid paper & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
13
Cat Ran Up, Children’s book page, ticket, page from a Saks catalog & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | Collages
14
Young General, Postage stamps, a magazine page & acid-free paste.
Julie Heller | 314.574.6958 | julie.heller@mac.com | julieheller.com Julie Heller | Collages
15
Good Girl, postage stamps & acid-free paste.