At The Collage Collective, we believe that every artist has a story, and every story deserves to be celebrated. That’s why we’re so excited to launch our brand-new online series. It’s a heartfelt journey exploring the world of collage art told through word-based interviews.
Read the original interview on Instagram below!
The Collage Collective: How did you start making collage?
EH: I started collage in college, when I was offered a course that completely changed the way I looked at creating. At the time, I was a photography major working on my BFA, and my work was very focused on composition and light. Collage introduced a whole new freedom, I could piece together stories from scraps, experiment without rules, and create something entirely new from things that already existed. This class also happened during COVID, when I was stuck in my room most of the time, so collage quickly became both an outlet and a lifeline. Having something tactile to work with every day grounded me, and it’s been central to my practice ever since.
The Collage Collective: Tell us about your different eras of creating. What inspired a few of these?
EH: My creative journey has had a few different chapters. My earliest era was photography-based, where I honed my eye for composition, framing, and storytelling through an image. When I discovered collage, my next era became all about experimenting – bold cuts, surreal juxtapositions, and leaning into the unexpected. Over time, I realised that my favourite part of the process was finding intricate images and cutting them with precision, so that became a defining part of my work. More recently, I’ve stepped into an era of daily creating, where I use journaling as a space to stay connected to the process. It’s less about producing “finished” works and more about keeping the practice alive through constant cutting, arranging, and experimenting with vintage imagery.
The Collage Collective: What informs your practice?
EH: My practice is informed by nostalgia, storytelling, and process. I’m always drawn to vintage magazines, partly for their colours and textures, but also for the overlooked details they hold. I love slowing down, flipping through pages, and finding a single small image that feels powerful on its own. Precision cutting has become something meditative for me – it’s about giving attention to things most people would glance past. I also get influenced by human experiences – the emotions, memories, and moments that connect us. Photography still shapes how I compose my pieces, and journaling keeps me creating every day. Lately, I’ve also been scanning and turning some of my hand-cut imagery into stickers, giving those details new life in a different form.
The Collage Collective: If you could work alongside any other artist, who would it be and why?
EH: I’d love to work with an artist who shares an appreciation for detail and storytelling. Combining my precision cutting style with another medium – like textiles, installation, or music packaging – would be exciting, especially if it pushes collage beyond the page and into new spaces.
The Collage Collective: What are your tips for other emerging artists (or the collage curious)?
EH: My biggest tip is to start small and stay consistent. You don’t need fancy materials – grab a magazine, a pair of scissors, and just start cutting. Pay attention to what excites you: for me, it was realising how much I loved finding intricate images and perfecting them through precision cutting. That became my signature, and it made the process something I look forward to. I also recommend keeping a journal or sketchbook where you can experiment without pressure – it doesn’t have to be a “final” piece, it’s just a space to play. Collage is about discovery, and the more you create, the more your voice will naturally emerge. And above all, don’t be afraid to make mistakes – sometimes the accidents turn into your best work.