During The Pandemic: 3d collages and collage plates

The years 2019 and 2020 threw America an arsenal of challenges to deal with that

dissolved our defenses, created conflicting emotions within us and polarized us.

Coronavirus completely changed our way of life, the Black Lives Matter riots shook us, the

trans wave made us question, the Me Too movement astounded us, and conspiracy

theories confused us. A country unhappy with its leadership and a drama-filled presidential

election provoked anxiety.

During the Pandemic depicts the political and social artifacts that Americans gave

significance in this time, so they are remembered, even as we move back into fast-paced

lives and return to “normal.” Each piece in the series pushes the viewer to process the

events of the last few years.

While sheltering-in-place during the pandemic, the idea of “home” was at the forefront of the

artist's attention, and she recalled the plates that hung on the walls of her grandparents’ house. As a child, these collectible plates, with their scenes of “everyday life” from the early 20th century, made a strong impression on her. Revivo riffs on the memories of these plates with a mix of high-brow/low-brow imagery, symbolizing the enmeshment of status during the pandemic when everyone, regardless of pedigree was at home in sweatpants.

Every handmade collage and collage plate is begun by concept sketching and finding

applicable imagery in vintage stores, newspapers, books, antique fairs and while traveling.

Every scrap of paper is meticulously cut with an X-acto knife and scissors, and a rough

layout is completed. With tools such as a compass, circle template, pencil, printer, gold leaf

and more, the final piece is assembled and then each paper is brushed and adhered into

place with collage glue. All plates are finished with table-top resin making them durable and

wall-ready. All 3D paper collages are framed.

INSPIRATIONS

Some of my recent inspirations are from artists Mark Bradford, Betye Saar, Jen Stark, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Mimmo Rotella, Yayoi Kusama, Man Ray, Frida Khalo, Egon Schiele, Phumelele Tshabalala, Ai Wei Wei and Jordan Wolfson..   

Some of the pieces in this series were assisted by my two daughters, Sarah Rebecca Revivo and Amalia Revivo.   

ABOUT THE MATERIALS

Many of the materials in this series are vintage pieces with new materials being used in a supportive context. This makes the work  original and rare and is in line with my usual material collection style. Whenever possible I used artist grade paper and neutral pH adhesive. All works are framed.   

Disclaimer: In no way is the artist claiming truth to any conspiracy theory, suspicion, report, story or claim made by researched media sources, nor does she align herself with any media outlet, political group, religion or any other organization. The artist is a free agent acting on her own behalf, seeking to record history and ask meaningful question to provoke thought. The artist supports the freedoms granted to all individuals.

The NFT series are a continuation of my 3D collage works and offer a chance to bring aliveness to an otherwise analog piece.

I work with a team of motion and sound designers to create the final product. 

These were the first three-dimensional collages works I created. I was preparing to end the Paris Maps series and wanted to see if I could personally take collage in a new direction. 

I was gifted an antique driving map of Paris and an antique Japanese Poster from my mentor, Tony Fitzpatrick, and I created three pieces. 

INSPIRATIONS

These works were inspired by seeing Joseph Cornell and Jacques Villeglé's collage and assemblage work. 

These pieces were created in 2008-2009, during the great real estate crash. After an epic and life-changing trip to India to tour the Before I Die I Want To... Project, I created this series at an incredibly turbulent period during my first Saturn return. 

These were a canvas for me to process vulnerable topics like divorce, domestic violence, poverty, police brutality, cross-cultural differences, art as a career and money. These were one of the only times I used figurative drawing in my work. 

INSPIRATIONS

I was inspired by Kara Walker and Jeff Koons pieces I saw in the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and wanted to push the subject of my work into potentially uncomfortable territory like they did. 

This 60+ piece series of two-dimensional collages was created between 2007-2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 

The works were created using an antique book of Paris maps that I found laying in the gutter in Paris in 2006. 

I created these pieces to reflect what was happening in my personal life at the time.  

INSPIRATIONS

I gained inspiration for this series from my mentor at the time of creation, Tony Fitzpatrick and also from looking at the collages of Henri Matisse and Barbara Kruger and paintings of Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. 

A year out of college, my passion for the environment led me to study American consumerism and waste through these works. 

I spent a year gathering garbage from the streets of Chicago, Madrid, Paris and other locations, turning it into this 40+ piece series.