Cut & Paste is an exhibition consisting of 10 paper collage pieces. The pieces will range in sizes between 11×14 inches to 12×12 inches.
As an artist who primarily uses digital mediums to create work, one of the most common tools I use is the undo button. While it allows me to edit and revise my work on the spot, it also takes away from the fluidity of creating art because it encourages me to make everything “perfect”. With this exhibition, I have chosen to create work using paper collage because it allows me to capture that essence of fluidity. There is sense of finality when it comes to cutting paper – once it is cut, it can no longer be completely put back together. The benefit there is that paper-cut shapes are inherently organic, and there is a sense of freedom because I no longer need to chase “perfection”. I hope this experience of creating art by hand using a simple medium will revitalize my passion for creating art for art’s sake.
About the artist
Keiko Nabila Yamazaki is a New York-based, award-winning illustrator and surface designer. Keiko’s work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators and American Illustration, and has been featured in numerous publications, such as 3×3 magazine and Long Island City/Astoria Journal.
As a child, Keiko loved watching many Western and Japanese cartoons, which led her to an interest in drawing and illustration. The art styles of these cartoons have significantly influenced Keiko’s work, as seen in the vibrant colors, whimsical shapes and thick lines that are iconic of her work.
She approaches each subject in a playful manner, focusing on passion, emotion, exploration and visual aesthetics, and often bases her art on her own experiences, memories and dreams.