Artist Feature: Jay Riggio
"Break free of my darker side"
From the Artist:
In a lot of ways, collage is like putting together a puzzle. But, in my mind, it’s just a more sophisticated way of composing a sentence to communicate a bigger message. Sometimes the right combination of words will lead you to a sentence you didn’t know you had the ability to write in the first place.
All my work comes from a darker place that may or may not be evident when you see it. I struggle with a lot of painful personal thoughts and the act of creating allows me to break free of my darker side and temporarily form some order in a world that, to me, is full of disorder.
I hope that my work conveys that there’s something more to this place that we live in. It’s a beautiful and tragic and inspiring world. And if you look closer than the bullshit we’re all force-fed daily, our hearts can be touched in ways that help us expand our idea of what it means to be human.
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Jay Riggio created his first collage over 15 years ago. His inspiration came from the overwhelming desire to tell a visual story without the classic ability to illustrate. Drawing on influences from a background in writing and film cinematography, Riggio uses images from vintage magazines and books to create collages that explore his interpretations on life, love, humanity, humor, and dreams. Using an X-acto knife, scissors, and glue, his pieces bring together unrelated images that create unique visual perspectives. His collages have been featured in galleries throughout the U.S. and around the world. Riggio currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. You can follow him on Instagram @jayriggioart or Tumblr or simply visit his artist site, here. [Bio photo by Yon Na.]