What My Collages Add to a Room
I swear, I’m not a narcissist. But I’ve always lived with my own collages, hanging them on my walls and admiring them whenever I walk by. Even collages I made a decade ago still intrigue me. Sometimes I can’t believe they came from me, or fully understand where they came from.
No matter the size, my work invites people in, creating a close, intimate viewing experience. I care deeply about small details, and I want viewers to feel a bit perplexed in a dreamy way—not fully understanding, but not needing to either. I want them to enjoy the work while freeing themselves from the pressure of definitive clarity. After all, we don’t always understand the complexity of an orchid, but that orchid doesn’t need us to. It simply asks us to enjoy it.
The Role of Art in a Room
Interior designers understand the power of art in a room. A single piece can shape the entire atmosphere and vibe, and it’s immediately noticeable when art has been added as an afterthought rather than thoughtfully considered. A vibrantly colored piece can introduce a quiet sense of drama to a minimalist space, while art with soft, neutral tones can deepen the feeling of calm in a more intimate setting.
Art may not be the foundation of a room—furniture, materials, and light do that work—but it brings everything into focus. It’s what completes the space, giving it personality, intention, and a sense of meaning that lingers.
Placement, Scale, and Composition
I often work in narrow proportions, a format that naturally lends itself to the in-between spaces within a room. These pieces can slip into areas that might otherwise feel unresolved or gently echo the lines of surrounding furniture. Landscape-oriented works settle easily above a console, sofa, or shelf—places where larger formats can feel too dominant—while portrait-oriented pieces bring intention to tighter spaces like hallways or vertical breaks in a wall. In both cases, they offer presence without overwhelming the room.
In my collage work, I like to explore the play between negative space and delicate details—the ones you might almost miss if you're not paying close attention. Wide planes of flat color ground each piece, while I introduce complexity through unexpected layering and cropping of photographic imagery, mark-making, and subtle texture. The result is a balance that feels both quiet and intricate, allowing the work to sit comfortably in a range of interiors, from highly minimal spaces to more layered, collected environments.
Living With Collages
Even after living with my collages for years, I still notice elements I hadn’t seen before, or had long forgotten. As the light shifts throughout the day, subtle textures begin to emerge—graphite pressed into paper, and small imperfections that quietly come forward behind the glass. These pieces aren’t meant to feel distant or untouchable, but lived with. They hold the marks of a human hand, the accidents and adjustments that make them what they are. Over time, they reveal themselves slowly, rewarding repeated glances and becoming part of the rhythm of a space rather than simply something placed within it.
I love making art for interior spaces because my work is, first and foremost, about connection. The places we dwell are where connection happens, and my pieces don’t want to be tucked away in a dark closet—they long to be part of the atmosphere of human exchange. I’m honored when a work becomes part of someone’s lived experience, and if it brings beauty and joy, that feels like a win for all.
I'm Libby Saylor, a Philadelphia-based collage artist whose mixed-media works on paper are available as prints and originals in the shop.