3.5″x5.5″; vintage postcard, romance comic books, transparencies; 2024. Courtesy of the artist.
COLLAGE ON VIEW
Michael Sjostedt: Chemistry
at Assemble Made and Curated in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
1-30 April 2024
Postcards were a big part of Michael Sjostedt’s childhood, filled with images of lighthouses, roadside motels, and flamingos. He never thought about using vintage postcards for his collages until a studio clean-up led him to a hidden stash beneath old romance comic books and some graphic chemistry transparencies. Seeing these random materials together, he couldn’t help but wonder how they might work in unison. Collage, being a forgiving medium, was the perfect playground for this experiment.
3.5″x5.5″; vintage postcard, romance comic books, transparencies; 2024. Courtesy of the artist.
The mix of nostalgia, junk culture, and science in the series creates a surreal vibe, where emotion and reason intertwine in an unexpected visual dialogue. As Sjostedt delved deeper into the series, the concept of chemistry resonated more and more. It represents not just a precision-based scientific field, but also the indescribable connections between people. This duality captures the essence of this series—and his recent collage work.
Chemistry symbolizes the serendipitous connections in his art. Blending past cultural elements with scientific structure and exploring themes of gender and complex human interactions, he showcases the playful and chaotic chemistry of creative experimentation.
During the exhibition, Michael Sjostedt will host “Cut Loose: Bon Voyage Postcard Collage Workshop” on Thursday, 18 April 2024, 6-9PM. Learn more at the artist’s website HERE.
(text adapted from material provided by the artist)
INFORMATION
Assemble Made and Curated
164 Main Street
Northampton, Massachusetts 01060 USA
(413) 570-4932
HOURS:
Sunday, 11AM-5PM
Monday-Thursday, 11AM-6PM
Friday-Saturday, 11AM-7PM