About the Artist
Kristina King (b. 1991) is a Washington, D.C.-based interdisciplinary artist working in handmade paper and installation. Kristina received a BFA in 2014 from Denison University. King’s work has been reviewed in BmoreArt and The Washington Post. King was honored with a Studio Workshop Residency at Women’s Studio Workshop in 2019. King has exhibited at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Allegany Arts Council, Willow Street Gallery, Via Umbria Galleria, Takoma Park Community Center, among others. Her studio is located at DC Art Studios in Washington, D.C., where she is also Secretary to the Board of Directors. Kristina is currently the Gallery Director at Georgetown Frame Shoppe. Her new work utilizes handmade paper as a means of exploring turbulence, fragility, and decay.Artist's Statement
My work explores the paradoxical nature of the strength and fragility of paper as a medium. I was drawn to papermaking as a way to combine my installation, sculpture, and drawing practices using one material. Hand papermaking is the process making sheets of paper by sifting beaten fibers (i.e. cotton, flax, abaca) suspended in water through a screen. Through the wet process, papermaking gives me the ability to manipulate the final form it takes as it dries. I'll harness the environments around me while I'm working outside such as letting the rain make impressions on the work as it dries, as seen in Untitled #77 (Media #1). I've recently delved into casting forms made of plexiglass scraps discarded during the art framing process.Featured Work
Photos
Featured Work: Photos
Untitled #136
graphite in artist-made handmade paper
2017
I poured the sheet but this time I embedded paper throughout the piece.
Untitled #102
artist-made handmade paper (pigmented cotton, abaca, hemp)
2015
Like the other large sheets, I poured pulp directly on to a mould, in this case it was a screen door.
Untitled 10
artist-made handmade paper (abaca, hemp, pigmented cotton)
2015
I piece this piece using clumps of different types of fiber. Because it has many holes and is not a consistent sheet, the piece is very light and fluttery.
Night Sky
artist-made handmade paper (charcoal, cotton, abaca)
2017
For this piece, used a large screenprinting screen as a mould and poured pigmented pulp. Sprinkled charcoal powder on top. I used a hose to repell some of pulp away in certain areas.
Untitled 99
artist-made handmade paper (cotton, abaca, hemp)
2015
For this piece, used a large mould, which determines the size of the sheet. I poured a mixture of pigmented pulp from either corner, and let the water drain out slowly. I let the piece dry flat for a few hours then tilt it on it side for a few days.
Untitled #77
artist-made handmade paper (cotton, abaca, pulp paint)
2015
For my larger sheets, I pour the pulp directly on to a mould (screen) instead of using a vat. For this piece, I worked outside and used a large mould and poured a mixture of pigmented pulp from either corner. I let the rain make impressions on the work as it dried.