Collage offers a powerful way to re-examine the familiar, transforming fragments into dynamic new narratives. In an increasingly digital world, working by hand brings physical depth, tactile texture, and an embrace of imperfection that screen-based art often lacks.
That human-centered focus is central to award-winning artist Katy Williamson's work. Originally from New Zealand and now based in the UK, Williamson dedicates much of her work to exploring the human face through analog collage, incorporating themes of movement, repetition, and mixed media.
What caught my attention about her art is how it perfectly embodies her description of being ‘surreal, otherworldly, and tactile’. Her unique reinterpretation of human faces, blending paper and embroidery, creates mesmerizing physical textures that seem to unveil the complex inner layers of the people she represents.
Take a look below at our curated list of Katy Williamson's vibrant collages, along with two of her favorite pieces.
#21
Exhibition in Devonshire Square, London, 19.10.23 - 13.11.23.
Photography source: Te Papa, New Zealand
"My pieces 'The Unknown's' were created with archival photography from Te Papa Museum, New Zealand. They hold particular resonance with me as I am a New Zealander and having been away from home now since 2017, my cultural identity has been of special interest to me. My blood is English, Scottish and Irish, but I am a New Zealander. I am not Maori though, so what am I?
The sourced photos were titled Unknown, which hit a particular nerve with me. Who were these people who travelled and immigrated to New Zealand so long ago? I've often wondered and dreamed about what it would have been like to immigrate to a country that is 'developing'. It would have been a tough journey, of at least 3 months at sea and then the mystery of what was going to be there to welcome you...
It's a past that luckily for New Zealand is being looked at, and hopefully healing can continue for the wrongs done to the beautiful and strong indigenous Maori people of New Zealand, KIA KAHA."
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#22
Exhibition in Devonshire Square, London, 19.10.23 - 13.11.23.
Photography source: Te Papa, New Zealand
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#23
Client: David Castellani, International Techno DJ
"David reached out to me to create some EP cover artwork for him and we hit it off immediately.
David’s briefs are always the best - “make it weird” is a common direction and I’m here for it! I appreciate the creative freedom David allows, this allows me to work freely and create more inspired pieces. I also animate my collages, which are used to promote his recent music releases.
Looking to the future, there is more exciting work to come and I’m happy to be a part of David’s creative journey and how his music is expressed to the world. It's a wonderful partnership."
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#27
When asked if there is a particular artwork the artist has created that holds a special or memorable story for her, she shared:
"There are two commissioned pieces that stand out for me. The cover of Donald Trump for Politico and the cover of Paul Gascoigne (Gazza) for The Sunday Times Magazine. Both of the pieces needed to convey a sense of madness and chaotic energy. For both of them, I cut the pieces at hard angles and tore the paper. I also layered and created compositions that had a sense of manicness to them. They were a lot of fun to make and forced me to create in a reckless type of way. It taught me to trust my gut with approaching collage and that collage can tell really complex narratives."
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