Making, Taking, Finding, Cutting: Material Explorations at the Intersection of Photography and Collage Virtual Residency

Working from the forthcoming book, Pictures at the Intersection, which was the result of Kolaj Institute’s two-year exploration of the intersection of photography and collage, in this residency, artists will consider the material nature of the photograph, how it is made, how it is used in collage, and how to make a connection between the material and the story of the artwork. Artists will develop strategies for making and collaging photographs that tell complex stories and offer the possibility for deeper impact and engagement with the viewers. The residency will unfold through a series of presentations that are followed by collage making activities, the results of which are presented to the group. Presentations will speak to the history of photography of collage and spotlight examples of contemporary artist practice. We will consider the differences between film and digital photography; what it means to collage with darkroom prints, digital prints, or found photographs; and how an artist can create their own material archive. Through collage making activities, artists will explore self-portraiture, fragment making, locative collage, and photographing collage in the wild. Artists will learn how to develop context for their artwork and reflect on the role of photography in their larger artist practice. Artists should be prepared to take photographs, print them, and document their collage so that it can be shared with the group. Strategies for doing so will be discussed in the first session. Artists in the residency will be invited to exhibit artwork in the exhibition, “Light on Cut Paper: Photography & Collage,” at the New Orleans Photo Alliance Gallery in June 2026 and to submit artwork for an exhibition at Kolaj Institute Gallery in New Orleans in December 2026.