Hollie Heller is a mixed media and collage artist based in New York City and Costa Rica. I am such a fan of Heller’s colorful, whimsical compositions - and in awe of her ability to work in a variety of mediums to bring her pieces to life.
By far the most minimal of Heller’s works, these two color, graphic line drawings on vintage bingo cards are playful and spontaneous.
Heller’s collage pieces here play with opacity, texture, color an pattern. They are reminiscent of stained glass windows to me . Something about the linear structure and repetition is so soothing and satisfying!
However, some of my favorite work by Heller are her Silk Collages. Heller stiffens the vibrant dyed silks and layers them onto each other to create compositions that play with the transparency of the material, and create new colors and textures with each subsequent layer added.
The printed motifs are inspired by Heller’s home and studio in Costa Rica and some of the nature she experiences while there.
Heller also works on multi media installations, where the two dimensional works on paper are combined with more three dimensional vessels and form studies to create an environment of the artists’ imagination.
Photo: Costa Vida Photography
This images above and below show snap shots and details from Heller’s piece Art Wave for the Tamarindo Art Wave Festival, Tamarindo Costa Rica June 2016. The vibrancy of those ceramic sculptures is incredible! The hot pink is a particular favorite.
Photo: Costa Vida Photography
Interestingly, this detail shot above is of the same piece, but with different colors and combinations the tone is much more sober; the colors more earth tones than out loud.
Above, a wall from Heller’s installation, Destined is on display at Allmost Studio and Gallery, LA. This piece feels like heirlooms, colorful and childlike next to faded and worn.
The last series of Heller’s to really grab my attention is called Dimensional Chroma, made from the full color spectrum of polymer clay. The combination of the simple vessels and the unexpected color pairings make this piece impossible to resist. The artists’ fingerprints are evident, the hand of the maker a constant.
Photo: Costa Vida Photography
To see more of Hollie Heller’s work, check out her website, here.
Addendum
Michael Cohen, Roger Thomas., myself and Timothy Corrigan. Dear friends and colleagues in Paris!