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“Rooted in Me”

by Yolanda Ward

Using the wonderfully simplistic medium of paper, Yolanda Ward seeks to explore personal stories and watershed moments.

Exhibit on display from November 2 through December 19 in the Cope House Gallery.

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”I’ve come to this work through many twists and turns. Creating with “All Paper” has become a challenge and the driving factor in my work. The words “What If” are a big part of my creative process. My intent is to see what I can create and what stories I can tell using the wonderfully simplistic elements of paper. On my journey from Corporate America to creating with paper, I’ve found what I believe to be my life’s work. It grows and evolves with each piece. It’s been a test of my Faith, Endurance and Belief, not to mention, a whole lot of Prayers that has brought me to this moment. I can’t imagine my life now without doing this work. “There’s magic in the smallest things in life…. For me, it’s in the bits and pieces of paper.”

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Yolanda Ward is an award-winning paper collage artist whose work echo’s themes drawn from Black History and culture. Viewed from a distance, her images appear to be paintings. However, upon closer inspection, they are “painted” with tiny pieces of paper in a laborious process that
starts with the fabrication of handmade papers, as well as sourcing vintage paper from around the world.

Prior to embracing collage, Ward served as art and creative director of a Fortune 500 Company where she traveled widely and worked with major museums. After studying at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia College of Art and receiving her certification in print production, Ward attended paper-making workshops at Abington Art Center and attended Arcadia University in Philadelphia. Later, she studied with a master paper maker in Umbria, Italy. Ward makes some of her own paper which she combines with sourced papers to form the foundation for her images. She then adds other mediums and techniques, including inks, acrylic paint, printmaking, hand- tearing and layering the paper to form visually stunning, highly textured images.

Ward’s work has appeared in juried exhibitions and received Honorable Mention Award at Woodmere Art Museum’s Annual Show, Abington Art Center’s Paper Arts Award and a Black Music City Grant in Philadelphia. She has also participated in sold-out, regional shows. Yolanda’s work is currently represented by E&S Gallery in Louisville Kentucky.

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“IF I ONLY KNEW”
48” X 60”  •   All Paper Canvas  •  2023

A sky was the first artwork I ever put into the world, it was shown on the nightly news… if I only knew… it was leading me here. The bottom of the work is from my series “Three Sister Mourning”. My mother died unexpectedly. We had plans to get ice cream the next day. If I only knew… she would pass away that night.

Two moments that forever mark my journey.

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“If It Wasn’t For You”
    7Ft  X  5.5Ft  •   All Paper Canvas  • 2023         

 “If It Wasn’t for You” not only is my visual representation of The Middle Passage… but how I feel blessed and saved every day. I feel the ancestors are holding me up today and everyday… their spirit is in me and helping me to keep moving forward.

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