Rex Ray Inspired Collages

Post Contributed by Jocelyne Adkins and Ally Bernstein

Hi Families,

This week our projects are inspired by artist and graphic designer Rex Ray, whose graphic works are graceful, elegant and enticing. As an introduction to Ray's work, we shared select images from the publication "Rex Ray, Art + Design", Chronicle Books, 2007. In an essay from the book written by Michael Paglia, Ray's work is described as "a stage for nothing other than a pleasing arrangement of shapes and colors".

Book Cover, detail of Parachute (Study 3) 2001

And it because of Ray's pleasing arrangement of shapes and colors that we were excited to introduce his work to our students. Many of the shapes that appear in Ray's collages have been influenced by 1950s and 1960s modernism. The shapes are fluid and organic and bring to mind dripping water, flower petals, leaf shapes and other plant life, stones, and more. From simple collages to complex paintings and graphic designs, Ray's work is, in a word ~ beautiful!

Rex Ray, "Untitled Collage  #1653 2002"

In his collages, Ray employs the slick pages of fashion magazines, from which he cuts his signature shapes to create abstract compositions. These in turn, may inspire his more formal collages on wood using his hand painted papers. Visit Rex Ray's Collages on Wood to view Ray's style and to see how it permeates his vast body of work.

Rex Ray, Untitled Collage

For today's project, we introduced specific Rex Ray collages and paintings. Two of the collages that caught our eye consisted of large, floating shapes holding a bevvy of smaller pieces. Many students likened the work to bowls, holding beautiful and strange pieces. These curious pieces, on closer inspection, resembled paper remnants surrounding a negative shape cut out from it's source.

Rex Ray "Untitled Collage #0238"

Inspired by Ray, and using the concept of a vessel or bowl as a launching point, we asked students to create a container or bowl shape and to find pieces of collage papers within our scrap paper bins that caught their eye in regard to color, shape, texture or pattern. We then asked them to fill their "bowls" with these tiny paper treasures.

Rex Ray, Untitled Collage

The results are colorful and delicious! Each student interpreted the project in a very individualized way. Some of the work has an architectural feel, while other collages are more literal, calling to mind a fragrant bowl of noodles or soup. A few collages reference the first shoots of spring and others are delightfully playful.  We invite you to take a look below. To view this work in person, our display is on the main floor along the west wall, just outside the office.

Chan

Yeoeun

Ethan

Xantal

Carson

Theo

Yinka

Joey

Heidi

Joseph

Leila

Shlok

Cassie

Jadon

Ginger