Meet 6 artists who revolutionized collage in art, inspiring new techniques, expressions and creative possibilities
Submitted at Mar 26, 2026, 9:30 AM
Hannah Höch, Modenschau (Desfile de Moda), obra de colagem realizada no início do século XX. (Art History Project/Divulgação)
Collages occupy a singular place in the history of art for their ability to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. Through the juxtaposition of different materials — such as papers, fabrics, photographs, and even found objects — this technique invites the eye to reconstruct meanings.
Colagem: Recortes e sobreposições que dão vida a novas narrativas visuais. (MOCA Toronto/Divulgação)
More than an aesthetic device, collages reveal a fragmented way of thinking, attuned to chance and open to experimentation. Over time, many artists have explored this method as a primary language, expanding its possibilities and bringing art closer to everyday life.
Below, discover six figures who revolutionized the use of collage, creating works that remain influential to this day.
Pablo Picasso, Women at Their Toilette, colagem produzida entre o inverno de 1937 e 1938. (Cortesia do Cleveland Museum of Art/Divulgação)
Considered one of the pioneers of collage in modern art, Pablo Picasso incorporated the technique into the Cubist movement in the early 20th century. By gluing pieces of newspaper, wallpaper, and other materials onto his paintings, he broke with traditional representation and introduced a new form of visual construction.
His collages broadened the concept of painting by integrating elements of the real world directly into the work, creating compositions that challenged perception and redefined the boundaries between art and life.
Colagem (TheCollector/Divulgação)
A central figure of the Dada movement, Hannah Höch took collage into a political and critical territory. Her works employed photomontage — a branch of collage made with photographic images — to question gender, culture, and power norms in German society in the early 20th century.
By reorganizing images from the media and advertising, Höch created provocative compositions that challenged social norms and exposed the contradictions of her time.
Kurt Schwitters, En Morn, colagem de 1947. (Centre Pompidou/Divulgação)
Kurt Schwitters expanded the concept of collage by incorporating discarded materials, such as tickets, packaging, and urban detritus. His work, which he called “Merz”, transformed everyday remnants into poetic, abstract compositions.
By valuing what was considered trash, Schwitters not only innovated technically, but also brought a new sensibility to art, showing that any fragment can carry meaning.
Henri Matisse, The Knife Thrower (Le Lanceur de couteaux), colagem da série Jazz, produzida entre 1943 e 1947. (MoMA/Divulgação)
In a late phase of his career, Henri Matisse reinvented his artistic production through collages made with cutouts of colored paper, known as “cut-outs”.
Physically limited, he began to ‘draw with scissors,’ creating vibrant, organic forms that explored color and movement in unprecedented ways. His works demonstrate how collage can also be an exercise in freedom and visual synthesis.
Romare Bearden, La Primavera, colagem de 1967. (Frye Art Museum/Divulgação)
Romare Bearden used collage to narrate experiences of African American culture, combining photographs, paintings, and textures into compositions rich in meaning.
His works depict scenes of everyday life, music, spirituality, and collective memory, creating a unique aesthetic that blends tradition and modernity. Bearden showed how collage can be a powerful tool for identity expression.
Vik Muniz, *Siesta, after Bonnard (Siesta, após Bonnard)*, colagem da série *Pictures of Magazines 2*, criada em 2011. (Vik Muniz/Divulgação)
The Brazilian Vik Muniz takes the idea of collage beyond paper by creating images with unusual materials, such as sugar, trash, and chocolate, which are then photographed.
His work engages with social and projects-related themes, while questioning image perception and the value of materials. By transforming simple elements into sophisticated works, Muniz reaffirms the creative power of collage in contemporary art.
CASACOR Publisher is an exclusive content-creation agent, developed by the CASACOR Technology team based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.
