Nancy Genn

“I have been an admirer of the work of Nancy Genn for many years, having first seen her cast paper paintings at the William Sawyer Gallery in San Francisco during the late 1970's. American art was in the midst of a love affair with materials and process at the time, and Nancy was among the first artists experimenting with handmade paper art. She received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship to study in Japan in 1977. She brought back with her exotic and ancient methods of making paper, and much of what we know of ancient papermaking technique we owe to Nancy Genn. During these years paperborn art was elevated from a modest stature to something noble and precious.”

– From forward by Kim Eagles-Smith, 2020

“I am in a creative period now, the work is flowing. When I leave the studio, the images recur as I mentally review details. Why are these new works special? I think it is because everything has come together in just the right balance. They are a logical development, a combination of techniques of various media I have used in the past. These monotypes combine painting, printmaking, the addition of handmade papers, and the total shape is influenced by my experience as a sculptor.

“Work on these monotypes begins in my studio, not at the press. At first the image is tentative, built up in thin layers of paint. These first transparent layers develop the emerging form, create a richness, set the tone and spirit of the work. Gradually the merging shapes are accentuated and clarified, inviting variation—a serious idea deserves a thorough development.”

– From Planes of Light: Work in Progress by Nancy Genn, 1991