ELISE WEHLE
Meticulous, Inspired Handiwork
On a trip to Granada, Elise was captivated by the Alhambra's ancient hand-carved patterns and knew she'd found her calling. These days, she spends weeks on each piece, using only a utility knife to cut almost impossibly intricate designs by hand. Each cut-out pattern interferes with the original imagery beneath it, obstructing the seen with the unseen in curious ways.
Unexpected Details Speak Volumes
Headphones and cords woven into a project spanning 10 stories for Amazon's Manhattan office. Three-dimensional letter beads and daisy chains as a nod to summer camp. Colors that mirror a nearby mountain range. It's the little touches that add up to tell a bigger story behind the art.
Making Hidden Things Visible
Elise is fascinated by concepts like revelation, visions, and how our spiritual experiences intersect with physical ones — all of which seem invisible. Using designs from sacred objects, Elise creates hand-cut patterns that, while they seem tangible, are actually comprised of negative space and are thus as invisible as the experiences that compel her.
A Time-Honored Art Technique
Paper cutting dates back to the 4th century and has long been used to create patterns that soothe, entertain, or inspire. In our digital age, the handmade approach becomes even more special — the magic lies in the subtle variations made possible by Elise spending so much time and energy conscientiously crafting each pattern by hand.
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