Piecing It All Together: The Cut-Paper Collage Art of Noelle Horsfield

"Paper Bag Buddha"

Artist Opening Reception: Friday, September 10, 5-7pm

Noelle Horsfield grew up among a menagerie of animals on a farm in Southern Ohio. As a very young child Noelle was encouraged to explore and create art of all kinds, and this sense of excitement in the world informs her creative pursuits to this day. She has worked in a variety of media including clay, hot glass, painting, jewelry, mosaic, and currently, cut-paper collage. Noelle and her husband Scott moved with their family of pets to the Northampton Area 2 years ago. They now live in Florence, where Noelle works in her home studio. Here, along the banks of the Mill River, she creates beautiful cut-paper collages that explore the color, texture, and pattern that have always fueled and inspired her art making. Noelle’s collages are infused with a rich vibrancy that never fail to delight the viewer and make people smile.

Artist's Statement:
"I create lovely cut paper collages using a wonderful palette of papers in a myriad of colors, textures, and patterns. Each collage is made up of hundreds of tiny bits of paper painstakingly cut and applied by hand, sometimes adding layer, after layer, in order to create a multifaceted, dimensional piece of art. As a result, my finished collages sometimes have an almost sculptural feel. As both a design challenge for myself, and a way to define my style of working, I pride myself in creating all aspects of my collages from cut paper, even tiny elements such as eyelashes and whiskers!

The subject matter for my work ranges from whimsical collage portraits of historical figures to everyday events such as birthdays and time with family. However, above all else, I am interested in presenting my viewer with images that both celebrate our unique diversity and unite us in our humanity. I approach each new subject as an exciting opportunity to unite colors, patterns and textures with my own sense of wonder at the world, creating a meaningful piece of art that will delight and inspire my audience."

Regular gallery hours at the Center for the Arts are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.