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Mixed-Media Artist

Eleftheria Easley

My work explores the extraordinary within the ordinary. Each piece of art tells a story where the materials not only build tactile layers, but their origins also relate to the final image and add depth of meaning. By cutting and shaping papers, textiles and found items collected on travels from around the world, I reveal the visual and thematic links that join and contrast them. My work is both highly personal and widely relatable so as to spark a moment of connection with the viewer.

I work primarily on paper or canvas but also use non-traditional background surfaces. Depending upon the work, I sometimes tack down the collage elements with glue dots and embroidery, or paint and seal them with liquid adhesive, or assemble and affix the layers with metal brads. I up- cycle ordinary odds and ends alongside precious and upscale materials, promoting sustainability and the potential of each item to be reimagined in a new context.

Eleftheria's pieces are held in private and commercial collections within the United States, Italy, Peru and England and have been on display as part of a cultural outreach initiative in the Republic of Korea.

Earning her BFA in Graphic Design at Boston University, Eleftheria is also a military veteran who has lived throughout the United States, and in both Europe and Asia. She has worked as a graphic designer, a maker at arts and crafts fairs, an event planner and as a custom framer. Her original artwork and limited edition print reproductions are available for purchase online at: http://www.eleftheriaeasley.com.

Snippets of Conversation

This is the second canvas in the “Snippets” series, inspired by the spontaneous beauty of scraps that accumulate on the work table in my studio.

The consistently festive compositions nudged me to collect rather than discard the colorful bits and dedicate them to a project. I experimented with layering the materials on the first canvas for the sheer fun of it, without any type of formal structure.

It was a liberating way to paint with mixed media and a notable departure from the precision of my previous images. I found it was a rewarding creative outlet and a great way to gain perspective as each new addition to the canvas marked another project’s progress.

As a series, it becomes an ever-expanding body of work built in its own right, from the remnants of complementary works. It is all about celebrating sustainability and the small wins in our daily life.

Fire and Water

I am fascinated by the fluid forms found in marine life, and fish symbolize creativity, transformation and endurance. The koi-inspired color palette of red, orange and gold represents passion, enthusiasm and prosperity. These are all fitting motifs for the creative journey and each completed work serves as a marker of its present moment. The lessons learned during the creative process are present in the culmination of the project and serve as a guide for the evolution of future work in a continuous cycle of growth.

The materials used include an assortment of decorative papers, an old certificate folder, a greeting card envelope and an aluminum wine cork cover. Each scale was individually punched out by hand and glued in place to showcase its texture and build a sculptural form. Piecing the fish together in this way was equal parts labor intensive and meditative.

Cloche Hat

Classic style is universal and timeless. My first piece of artwork in 2020 is an appropriate nod to the 1920’s and all things vintage. The idea for this piece originated when I found a piece of ribbon that my Mom had saved from a bookstore she used to visit in Paris back in the 1960’s. As I explored the idea of creating a cloche hat, the materials came together fairly quickly. I have collected and curated my supplies from around the world over the course of many years. This piece incorporates Eastern and Western fashion elements and reminds us that beauty is everywhere and we can draw inspiration from each other.

The materials in this fashion inspired piece include but are not limited to:

  • Parisian packaging ribbon from the 1960’s
  • Found bead from New York
  • Suede from a skirt gifted to me in New York
  • Decorative Parisian gift wrap paper from the Pompidou Center
  • Sheet from a Kyoto Costume Institute booklet
  • Postcard from Belgium printed in the UK
  • Genuine cherry liqueur coaster from Lisbon

    • Should Feel Like Saturday

    A lively mixed media collage on canvas, this piece juxtaposes decorative papers with every day items. The herringbone pattern is reminiscent of quilt or tile work, which are both personalized and often handcrafted elements within a home. Each tile was cut by hand using an X-acto blade and ruler, then adhered and sealed to the canvas with Mod Podge. It was created one row at a time, with an eye for of how each tile might flow into or contrast with its neighbor to create continuity and movement.

    Furthermore, it is a journey through a collection of supplies and mementos to capture a snapshot of cultural norms and ordinary objects. How do we piece together our experiences and memories to create the rhythms of our life? What is a treasure? What is reusable? What do we collect or discard and why? The dazzling array of blue tones within this piece is eye-catching from a distance, yet it also invites the viewer up close to examine the visual relationship between each tile and those connected to it in closer detail.

    The global selection of materials used represents 10 languages and includes:

  • Decorative papers and wrapping papers
  • Postcards and greeting cards
  • Aviation, decorative and subway maps
  • Advertisements, brochures and marketing
  • Shopping bags and clothing tags
  • Pre-school artwork and print reproduction
  • Origami paper and stationery
  • Wine label and tea packaging
  • Book cover
  • Perfumed paper
  • Vintage Greek stamps
  • Croatian currency
  • Greek subway ticket
  • US boarding pass
  • Fabric