Cecilia Levy

Paper artist

©Marine Lemonnier-Brennan

©Michelangelo Foundation

A new take on a traditional craft

Cecilia is 'obsessed' with making paper sculptures
She feels crafting by hand is like expressing herself in another language
She is inspired by other fields, such as jewellery, textiles, ceramics and wood

Formerly a graphic designer and bookbinder, Cecilia Levy now works full-time as an independent artist, creating sculptural objects in paper using old book pages, wheat starch paste and the papier mâché technique. Her work is exhibited internationally and is included in private and permanent collections, including the Swedish National Museum. In 2017, her public art commission was installed in the main entrance of Stockholm’s New Karolinska University Hospital: 20 plinths holding over 25 unique paper sculptures. She lives in Sigtuna, works in her studio in Uppsala and is a member of Konsthantverkarna in Stockholm, where her work is sold.

Interview

©Stewen Quigley

How did you become a paper artist?: I believe the craft chose me. I started experimenting by chance, using small pieces of book pages and the papier mâché technique to build bowl shapes, and my work immediately received a lot of positive attention. I literally became obsessed with working in this way.
How would you define yourself?: I'm an artist and a crafter. Papier mâché is an old, traditional technique, which I use in a new, innovative way by combining it with my background in graphic design, bookbinding and art. I have spent years perfecting my craft, and the objects I make are art pieces.
What might people not usually realise about your work?: I make castings in silicone of everyday objects, such as cups, shoes, boots etc, which I then use as moulds. It's of the utmost importance that I feel a connection to these objects, either because they mean something to me or because the shape itself appeals to me.
Do you have any preference for the type of paper?: I certainly do! I dedicate a great deal of time and attention to selecting paper. I prefer to choose which books to use myself: I need to feel and see the paper quality, typography, colour, texture and – last but not least – the content.

Cecilia Levy is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2013