placebo Collage

born 1968, Skokie, IL
Through these meticulously cut out three-dimensional paper collages, I strive to create a visual narrative expressing psychological, emotional and spiritual states.


I have been working in this current style for close to 10 years. In these works, either the book covers themselves, or the antique blank paper found in old books serve as the canvas upon which I assemble these intricately cut-out images.

Culled from a wide range of sources, my visual lexicon is composed of diverse images gleaned from old encyclopedias, medical texts, books of popular science, technical manuals, childrens books, paper dolls and antique photographs to name a few.

Because of the high quality of the color plates and lithography found in the actual printings, I prefer to use original found materials. Copied or scanned images cannot come close to the originals in terms of overall visual impact. The aged paper offers a beautiful natural patina and a muted palette I find particularly attractive. I feel that these older books and photographs are especially compelling as they each possess their own unique history, having passed through many hands before coming into my possession and it is these images from which I draw my inspiration.