M. Ray 1986

This is M. Ray, a collage by Lenore Tawney. I can almost feel the artist snipping away, layering images, and building up the surface of the artwork. I imagine her sifting through piles of printed matter, finding just the right fragment to add to the composition. The blues and grays create a muted, almost dreamlike atmosphere. You can see how Tawney carefully positioned each piece of paper to create a sense of depth and texture. The collage is dense with information, yet also feels open and airy. The composition feels very similar to the work of other collage artists like Hannah Hoch and Kurt Schwitters. This piece invites us to slow down, look closely, and consider the many layers of meaning embedded within it. It is a process of finding new ways to see and think about the world around us. Artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.