Untitled 1998

Rosemary Karuga made this striking collage from found paper and glue. The way Karuga approached the collage is so interesting to me; she didn't try to hide the materials, instead she used the texture of the newspaper to her advantage. If you look closely, you can see that Karuga built up the image piece by piece, layering different colors and patterns to create depth and dimension. The blue of the dress really pops against the monochrome background, and the green and yellow ‘blades’ of grass in the foreground add a real sense of depth and perspective. It's like she's inviting us to step into this world. Karuga shares the directness and simplicity of Henry Darger, or even Bill Traylor. All of them are just making things with what's on hand, transforming everyday materials into something extraordinary. In the end, Karuga’s collage reminds us that art doesn't have to be complicated or precious, it can be found in the simplest of materials and the most ordinary of moments.