Kate Stehr (b 1982) Australia
Kate Stehr is a trained sculptor with a Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours). At 21 she started to use collage as an artistic expression when seeing other people’s collaged work and wanted to try it out for herself. “Being a sculptor, the three-dimensionality of the collage as a drawing appealed to me. As I’m also a compulsive collector of interesting bits and pieces, it’s a great way to utilise them.”

Collage gives her an opportunity to take a mental break from sculpture, whilst still working a three-dimensional form. She also enjoys the freedom it allows her. “I’m not so concerned about making mistakes, as I can always tear up, paste over, and reuse any ‘failed’ pieces.”

In her art Kate Stehr never plans. She usually takes one particularly interesting found element and then tries to incorporate it into a collage. If it doesn’t work, she puts it aside and tries something else. Sometimes the pieces come together in a surprisingly easy fashion and at other times she has “to struggle to get things to interact. “

“I like layers, hidden elements. Finding surprises is a reward for spending time with a piece. I try to invite viewers to want to spend more time looking at the work. As a practitioner I like to use ‘ordinary’ elements in a unique way. “