Work samples

  • More Than Skin Deep
    More Than Skin Deep

    More Than Skin Deep, diptych, 2023, each canvas 30" x 24", mixed media wallpaper collage. Created with a variety of beautiful floral wallpaper and drawing inspiration from a vintage anatomy illustration featuring a male three-quarter portrait with cut-away sections revealing the underlying structures, "More Than Skin Deep" captures an intriguing interaction between two females—one African and one Caucasian. Their faces, similarly dissected, engage in a contemplative gaze, inviting viewers to delve into a study of identity beyond superficial appearances.

    Available for Purchase
  • Crimson & Clover
    Crimson & Clover

    Crimson & Clover, 2023, 4 panels 14" x 11" each, mixed media wallpaper collage. Drawing inspiration from a vintage etching featuring a half skeleton, Crimson & Clover portrays a segmented skeletal figure divided into quarters, with its gaze averted from the viewer. While presented in a grid formation, the piece offers flexibility, allowing for a sequential horizontal arrangement. The deliberate segmentation, canvas arrangement, and wallpaper configuration combine to craft a narrative that directs the viewer's focus to specific elements and nuances within the anatomical structure.

     

    Available for Purchase
  • Conundrum
    Conundrum

    Conundrum, 2023, 20" x 16", mixed media wallpaper collage. Constructed from torn wallpaper, Conundrum portrays an anatomical head with a dissected face, revealing compartments that beckon viewers to delve into the intricacies of human anatomy and the mind. This fusion of science and art within the head symbolizes the intricate interplay between the past and present.

    Available for Purchase
  • Josephine
    Josephine

    Josephine, 2023, 36" x 24", mixed media wallpaper collage. In this piece, a human skeleton torso is intricately fashioned from navy and purple floral wallpaper. It signifies the interplay between life and death, blending the delicate transience of flowers with the enduring permanence of bones. The vibrant floral patterns not only captivate aesthetically but also offer a poignant reflection on the coexistence of delicate beauty with mortality. The artwork prompts contemplation on the impermanence of life, highlighting the inherent contrast between vitality and the inevitable decay of the physical form.

    Available for Purchase

About Kate

Kate Norris rips wallpaper to tell stories. She explores the convergence of nature and human creation through the medium of collage. Drawing inspiration from vintage scientific illustration, she blends the organic beauty of nature with the human designed world. Her collages open up conversations about nostalgia, process, techniques, symbolic associations and social commentary.

Norris graduated with a BA from Stanford University and earned her MFA at the School of Visual Arts in… more

Perception

A continuing series of artworks that encapsulate personal observations and social commentary. At first glance, the primary image draws the viewer in with references to vintage anatomical illustrations. Upon closer inspection, the intricate process unveils layers of torn and combined papers, where small narratives and abstract juxtapositions of flowers, animals, foliage, and colors come into focus. These collages simultaneously weave multiple stories: the overarching form, the myriad images on each torn piece, and the constructed narratives emerging from the juxtapositions of ripped wallpaper.

  • More Than Skin Deep, diptych (left)
    More Than Skin Deep, diptych (left)

    30" x 24", 2023, Mixed media wallpaper, left side of diptych.

  • More Than Skin Deep, diptych (right)
    More Than Skin Deep, diptych (right)

    30" x 24", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage, right side of diptych.

  • Conundrum
    Conundrum

    Conundrum, 2023, 20" x 16", mixed media wallpaper collage. Constructed from torn wallpaper, Conundrum portrays an anatomical head with a dissected face, revealing compartments that beckon viewers to delve into the intricacies of human anatomy and the mind. This fusion of science and art within the head symbolizes the intricate interplay between the past and present.

    Available for Purchase
  • Henrietta
    Henrietta
    Henrietta, 48" x 30", a wallpaper collage inspired from a medical illustration of a female torso shown dissected and splayed for use in the study of cervical cancer. Henrietta Lacks was a black Baltimore resident in 1951 whose cervical cancer cells were taken without permission from doctors at Johns Hopkins.
  • Isolation
    Isolation
    Available for Purchase
  • detail_Isolation
    detail_Isolation
  • The Ideal Woman
    The Ideal Woman

    36" x 48", 2022, Mixed media wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase
  • Everyman
    Everyman

    60" x 48", 2021, mixed media wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase
  • Open Minded
    Open Minded

    60" x 48", 2022, wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase
  • The Conversation
    The Conversation

    36" x 48", 20221, mixed media wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase

The Women Suite

The Women Suite comprises four collages inspired by a vintage German etching featuring women of diverse ethnicities. The original etching depicted the women facing forward, with fig leaves covering their genitalia and with a thin red line marking their body measurements. Notably, the white German female was given elitist treatment. In these collages, the original heads and bodies are modified to more contemporary women figures, emphasizing equality, strength, and individuality. Each six-by-three-foot artwork shares the same wallpaper and the titles reference flowers from the women's respective continents. Unlike the original etching, where the red line highlighted differences, in the collages, the red line symbolizes our shared pasts and serves as a metaphorical thread connecting us all.

  • Installation of The Women Suite
    Installation of The Women Suite

    Installation view of The Women Suite.

  • The Women Series
    The Women Series
    The Women Series: Protea, Lotus, Edelweiss, Dahlia. Ripped wallpaper collages each six feet by three feet inspired from a 1895 anthropological illustration.
  • German Etching
    German Etching
  • detail1_Protea
    detail1_Protea
  • Protea
    Protea
  • detail1_Lotus
    detail1_Lotus
  • Lotus
    Lotus
  • Edelweiss
    Edelweiss
  • detail2_Dahlia
    detail2_Dahlia
  • Dahlia
    Dahlia

Osteal

This ongoing series of wallpaper collage artworks delves into the intricacies and subtleties of the anatomical skeletal structure, seeking to unravel the beauty inherent in its form. Through a meticulous fusion of different wallpaper patterns, I endeavor to capture the nuanced details of the skeletal system, creating a visual tapestry that not only celebrates the elegance of anatomical elements but also invites viewers to contemplate the inherent beauty found within the intricacies of the human body's foundational framework and the wallpaper. Each piece within this collection serves as a unique exploration, revealing my fascination with the aesthetic aspects of the skeletal structure and encouraging a deeper appreciation for the inherent grace embedded in anatomical design.

  • Crimson & Clover
    Crimson & Clover

    Four canvases each 14" x 11", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage. 

  • Crimson & Clover
    Crimson & Clover

    Crimson & Clover, 2023, 4 panels 14" x 11" each, mixed media wallpaper collage. Drawing inspiration from a vintage etching featuring a half skeleton, Crimson & Clover portrays a segmented skeletal figure divided into quarters, with its gaze averted from the viewer. While presented in a grid formation, the piece offers flexibility, allowing for a sequential horizontal arrangement. The deliberate segmentation, canvas arrangement, and wallpaper configuration combine to craft a narrative that directs the viewer's focus to specific elements and nuances within the anatomical structure.

     

    Available for Purchase
  • Bird Cage
    Bird Cage

    2023, 36" x 24", mixed media collage.

  • Departed
    Departed
  • Josephine
    Josephine

    Josephine, 2023, 36" x 24", mixed media wallpaper collage. In this piece, a human skeleton torso is intricately fashioned from navy and purple floral wallpaper. It signifies the interplay between life and death, blending the delicate transience of flowers with the enduring permanence of bones. The vibrant floral patterns not only captivate aesthetically but also offer a poignant reflection on the coexistence of delicate beauty with mortality. The artwork prompts contemplation on the impermanence of life, highlighting the inherent contrast between vitality and the inevitable decay of the physical form.

    Available for Purchase
  • Salt & Pepper
    Salt & Pepper

    4 canvases each 14" x 11", 2023, Mixed media wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase
  • Sweet Briar
    Sweet Briar

    48" x 36", 2023, Mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • Gemini
    Gemini

    2023, 36" x 24", mixed media wallpaper collage

  • detail, Gemini
    detail, Gemini

    2023, 60" x 36", mixed media wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase
  • Day Dreamer
    Day Dreamer

    48" x 24", 2023, Mixed media collage.

    Available for Purchase

Renaissance Series

The Renaissance series is a grouping of three artworks of skeletons inspired from vintage scientific illustrations. Each mixed media collage is six feet tall by four feet wide and all are made from sepia colored Schumacher wallpaper. The process includes hand ripping the toile wallpaper, reconfiguring the torn pieces into the various skeleton poses and then sealing and varnishing the artwork. Each piece is inspired by a vintage illustration from Christoph Jacob Trew, a German doctor and botanist from the 18th century.  The first piece completed of the three skeletons was Renaissance Man: He. He faces backwards and alludes to the notion of men looking in the past. Renaissance Woman: She was created next, a female and facing forward. She is forward thinking.  And thirdly, Renaissance: They. They is positioned in a side view, not looking forward or back but, straddling both worlds, a non-binary figure. Although skeletons can symbolize death, each artwork upon close inspection is full of life with illustrations of  floral and fauna throughout. The pieces are representative of biology and evolution, honoring both ancestry and contemporary society. 

  • Installation of Renaissance Series at Tennessee Tech
    Installation of Renaissance Series at Tennessee Tech

    Renaissance installation at Tennessee Tech, 2019. 

  • Renaissance Man: He
    Renaissance Man: He
    72" x 48", mixed media collage.
  • detail, Renaissance Man: He
    detail, Renaissance Man: He
    Close up image of left shoulder of Renaissance Man: He.
  • Renaissance Woman: She
    Renaissance Woman: She
    72" x 48" mixed media collage. "She" faces forward, thinking about the future.
  • Sepia Toile Wallpaper
    Sepia Toile Wallpaper
    Image of wallpaper prior to tearing up to make artwork. This particular Schumacher wallpaper has a 63" repeat.
  • detail, Renaissance Woman: She
    detail, Renaissance Woman: She
    Pelvis of "Renaissance Woman: She." "RW: She" is more sensuous than Renaissance Man: He. This shot illustrates the fullnes of a female figure/bone structure with floral and fauna growing abundanctly from the urn and surrounding areas.
  • detail, Renaissance Woman: She
    detail, Renaissance Woman: She
    Close up image of upper chest and spine of :Renaissance Woman: She."
  • Renaissance: They
    Renaissance: They
    "Renaissance, They,” a side view, not looking forward or back but, straddling straddling the past and the future. A non-biary figure. Mixed Media Collage, 72" x 48"
  • detail, Renaissance, They
    detail, Renaissance, They
    Close up view of Renaissance: They.
  • Studio shot RM
    Studio shot RM
    Studio shot of artwork laying flat while drying from the polymer sealer.

Hands

Across the pages of history, hands have stood as powerful symbols, encapsulating a myriad of dimensions within the human experience and reflecting elements of both the unconscious and conscious psyche, both on individual and collective scales. Hands embody strength, power, and protection, while also serving as symbols of qualities like generosity, hospitality, and stability. The act of 'shaking hands' further compounds their significance, carrying dual meanings of greeting and friendship, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping our self-perception.

This series of hand wallpaper collages seeks to imbue each representation with symbolism and associations that extend beyond their physical depictions. By transcending mere visuals, these artworks aspire to convey deeper layers of meaning, offering viewers a richer tapestry of interpretation beyond the surface.

  • Just a Moment
    Just a Moment

    36" x 36", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • detail_Rise Up
    detail_Rise Up

    detail image of Rise Up, 48" x 30", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage. 

  • Rise Up
    Rise Up

    48" x 30", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • Ovature
    Ovature

    48" x 48", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • detail_Overature
    detail_Overature

    detail_Overature, 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • Vitarka
    Vitarka

    16" x 12", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • Charm City
    Charm City
  • Thumbs Up
    Thumbs Up
  • On Point
    On Point

    16" x 12",2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • All Good
    All Good

Birds

Birds hold a profound symbolic significance, often revered as emblems of freedom and eternity, owing to their remarkable ability to ascend into the boundless expanse of the skies. The symbolism attached to birds is rich and diverse, with these winged creatures being intertwined with notions of infinite possibilities, renewal, and the seamless transition between life and death. Their flight serves as a poignant metaphor for the boundless potential that life holds, as well as the perpetual cycle of renewal and transformation.

My wallpaper collages draw inspiration from vintage naturalist illustrations to encapsulate the essence of bird symbolism. These artworks blend the intricate details of naturalist depictions with the patterns, colors and images from wallpaper. The juxtaposition of vintage elements with contemporary artistic techniques in these collages creates a visual narrative that not only pays homage to the historical fascination with avian life but also resonates with the enduring and universal symbolism that birds carry. In this way, the wallpaper collages become a visual exploration of the profound and timeless meanings embedded in the graceful flight and ethereal presence of these avian creatures.

 

  • Bonnie & Clyde
    Bonnie & Clyde

    60" x 36", 2023, wallpaper collage. 

  • detail_Bonnie & Clyde
    detail_Bonnie & Clyde

    detail_Bonnie & Clyde

  • Honeysuckle
    Honeysuckle

    24" x 18", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage

  • Screech
    Screech

    30" x 15", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • CHANEL
    CHANEL
  • Liberty
    Liberty

    40" x 16", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage.

  • Bahman
    Bahman
    A colorful Persian crane collage artwork.
  • The Colonel
    The Colonel
    A rooster wallpaper collage artwork incorporating multiple papers for the head and comb and one wallpaper used in the body of the bird.
  • Whistle Blower
    Whistle Blower

    20" x 16", 2023, wallpaper collage. 

  • Grande Dame
    Grande Dame

Skull Series

While some may associate skulls primarily with death, for me, they take on a different symbolism—one that encapsulates life, a life rich with experiences and suggestive of happiness. Consider "Smiley," an imposing 60 x 48-inch skull featured in a wallpaper collage. Initially presenting as a potent symbol of death, a closer examination reveals images of people nestled within the cranium. These figures, reminiscent of a bygone era, portray sentimental scenes of couples dancing and frolicking in a forest meadow. The imagery within the skull conjures memories of a picturesque and idealized past, offering a poignant counterpoint to the conventional associations of death and malevolence. Through the innovative fusion of vintage images in a contemporary artistic process, each skull in this series transforms into a powerful symbol of life within death. Adorned with floral elements and scenic depictions, this distinctive approach revitalizes traditional symbolism, encouraging viewers to reassess their preconceived notions and to recognize the intricate interplay between life and mortality.

 

  • Smiley in scale
    Smiley in scale
    60" x 48" mixed media collage.
  • detail, Smiley
    detail, Smiley
  • Flower Child
    Flower Child
  • Marie Antoinette
    Marie Antoinette
  • Departed
    Departed
  • Buddy
    Buddy
    Buddy, is soft feeling skull 30" x 24". In this piece, I allude to the solemn end of life, striving to give the piece both grace and dignity.
  • Absent Minded.jpeg
    Absent Minded.jpeg
    "Absent Minded" 10" x 10", mixed media wallpaper collage.
  • Ciao.JPG
    Ciao.JPG
  • Anejo
    Anejo
  • The Florist
    The Florist
    "The Florist", 48" x 48" mixed media wallpaper collage.

Animals

Throughout the annals of history, humanity has dedicated itself to the study of animals and their intricate behaviors. Animals, assuming roles as mythical heroes and guardians, have consistently served as symbolic reflections that illuminate facets of our own nature and life's intricate complexities. This series of animal collages aspires to imbue each creature with symbolism and associations, transcending the physical representation of the depicted beings.

  • Sweet Briar
    Sweet Briar

    48" x 36", 2023, mixed media wallpaper collage. 

    Available for Purchase
  • Hear No Evil
    Hear No Evil
    Hear No Evil, 20" x 16", wallpaper collage.
  • Hooterville
    Hooterville

    24" x 36", 2022, mixed media wallpaper collage.

    Available for Purchase
  • Razor
    Razor
    36" x 48" mixed media collage.
  • detail,Razor
    detail,Razor
  • Speak No Evil
    Speak No Evil
    Speak No Evil, 20" x 16", wallpaper collage. 1 of 3 in the series of monkeys.
  • Guanciale
    Guanciale
  • detail_Guanciale
    detail_Guanciale
  • See No Evil
    See No Evil
    See No Evil, 20" x 16" wallpaper collage.
  • Batgirl
    Batgirl
    Measuring 15” x 30”, Batgirl was created with female empowerment in mind. For inspiration, I chose a vintage illustration of a female bat and used a wallpaper that incorporated women, mothers, and small girls. Referencing a female sensibility, the surrounding painted border transitions from a soft lavender around the top, down to a light pink bordering the bottom edge.