Eugenia Loli is a little-known but rapidly rising collage artist. She is also a filmmaker and has dabbled in nursing, computer programming and tech journalism, but most recently calls herself a ‘vintage collage artist’. Some of her pieces are mesmerising, creating a nostalgic mixture of days gone by and futuristic, starry skies.
She has a very particular way of putting things together, too, starting with a base image and building around it – whether she has a concrete idea of what she wants to do from the very beginning, or not. “Sometimes I leave the images to fit together by themselves,” she explains, “Sometimes, after a lot of juxtaposing the base image might not even be part of the final collage. Most of the time, I try to ‘say’ something important via my art, but other times it’s just about doodling.”
Originally from Greece and currently residing in the US, Eugenia began her journey into surreal collaging when she saw Julien Pacaud’s illustrations. But although the French artist and illustrator’s works are a similar fusion of vintage and futuristic elements, it was really Kieron ‘Cur3es’ Cropper who was her main influence, with Bryan ‘Glass Planet’ Olson and David Delruelle also playing a part in shaping her unique designs.
“I collage on many different styles from pop to dada, and from modern illustrations to traditional surrealism. I don’t believe that artists should ‘find their style’. That’s artistic death. If I have a style, it’s probably some ‘meta’ aspect of it, for example, the sarcasm that I usually employ in my collages, rather than something visual.” – Eugenia Loli
Eugenia Loli also has a very distinct business model that sets her apart from the masses – and this is the way in which she gives her art away. Most of her work is available in full resolution under various Creative Commons Licences, despite maintaining an active online store. “I believe that art loses its true value when it becomes fully commercial, because the artist then tries to please the latest visual fashion or the wishes of his customers,” she says. “How am I supposed to describe [to] you who am I, when that has a price? It’s an oxymoron. Art should be shared freely.”
Some of her collections, like Three Minutes to Nirvana, are a crazy mess of visual cutouts, creating a rich tapestry that unfolds as you try to discover exactly what she’s trying to say. According to Loli, the series is about “the journey humanity must take towards ascending into a higher state of being”, while more whimsical work, such as that of All Fun & Games draws on dark humour, with playful little children pictured with bubblegum and bongs, blowing the solar system into existence or sipping on an adult’s brains with a straw. My favourite of these collections are Mind Alteration, Farscapes and Worshipped Women – although there are so many fascinating collages to choose from that it’s difficult to pinpoint any one piece of work.
Eruption Hotter than Fire, Burning with Lustful Desire
Gem Roast (All Fun & Games Collection)
The Day TMZ Got Hold of Her Sex Tape
Extrovert
Introvert
Is There a Prize at the End of All This? (Farscapes Collection)
Bermuda a’la Soup (Farscapes Collection)
All It Remains (Mind Alterations Collection)
Training Partners (Oh, l’Amour Collection)
Heart on the Rocks (Oh, l’Amour Collection)
Overstimulation of the Senses
Candy Bomber (Reportaz Collection)
Where the Road Takes Us
