Collage

Emmanuel Hele first experimented with collage in the late ‘90s while attending Fresno City College. He fell in love with the honest nature of the art form; it felt like an allegory for life - disparate pieces coming together in unpredictable ways to create a strange yet cohesive whole.

At the time sculpture and painting were center stage for Emmanuel; then came henna, followed by tattoo, and for years collage found itself mostly on the sidelines, making occasional appearances in mixed media works and personal projects.

But he never forgot about it, and over time he amassed volumes of materials from abandoned places, forgotten corners of junk shops, and piles of stuff no one else wanted to look through.

In 2019, Emmanuel found himself becoming disenchanted with certain aspects of tattoo culture and in need of inspiration. He began going through his materials and breathing new life into these pieces of the past, and in turn they began to breathe new life into his creative process.

He started with images he felt pulled toward, and very quickly stories began to unfold. Some pieces seemed absurd, some felt profound; all had something to say. Most importantly, they brought a sense of adventure and play back into his art at a time when it seemed like the tattoo world had lost its sense of humor.

Each piece is unique and has tales to tell. Aside from our narratives of the images, the materials bring together strange and diverse histories - some dating back a century or more.

Emmanuel has personally reclaimed all collage materials from second hand sources, junk piles, urban exploration, and other adventures. In addition, he uses post-consumer collage medium when available, making many of these works 100% upcycled.

If you would like to know more about a specific work, please reach out!

Custom mixed media works are available upon request, and can include personal effects and materials of the client’s choosing.

Also available for commissions in other mediums.