Artwork Description
There is something quietly mesmerising about A Shift Begins. From a distance, the work appears almost fluid, with warm ochres gradually giving way to cool blues. Step closer and the illusion dissolves into hundreds of individually hand-painted pieces of archival paper, each carefully torn and placed by hand to build the final composition.
This meticulous process is central to Karla Nixon's practice. Rather than painting directly onto a surface, she creates colour first, then tears the painted paper into countless fragments before patiently assembling them into richly textured contemporary collages. Light catches the raised edges, creating subtle shadows that shift throughout the day and give the work an almost sculptural quality.
The title hints at transition and possibility. Whether it evokes changing seasons, landscapes seen from above or simply a moment of quiet transformation is left open to the viewer. Like much of Nixon's work, it invites you to slow down, look more closely and discover new details each time you return to it.
Measuring 102 × 140 cm (unframed), A Shift Begins is an original contemporary collage by Karla Nixon that brings warmth, texture and a strong sense of craftsmanship to a living or working space.
