Nell Nordlie (b. 1988) creates meticulous, geometric collages out of vintage photographs and ephemera. She appreciates the history and expressive visual texture of found materials, and allows existing color and imagery to inform her work. Influenced by post-minimalism and the traditions of mending and thrifting, Nell combines the flat, exacting nature of digital processes with the tactile dimension of hand-made objects. All of her collage pieces are cut individually and then adhered with glue, thread, or tape; she manipulates materials with intentional sun-fading or additional mark-making, too. Also a nanny and freelance graphic designer, Nell believes that observation, care, and play are essential in generating art, human connection, and effective layouts. 

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photo by KT Langley