30 x 30 in
Marryam Moma
Marryam Moma’s collages assert the Black female body as both monument and myth, articulated through an exacting process of deconstruction, subtraction, and reassembly. Working with fragments gathered from daily life—archival images, printed detritus—she distills each composition until only what’s essential remains. The resulting figures, part cyborg, part oracle, appear suspended between the present and the future. Metallic limbs, botanical forms, and poised gestures coalesce into arresting portraits. In Moma’s hands, collage becomes an act of reclamation—not only of image, but of narrative, space, and self.
In the Words of the Artist
25 x 25 in
At the core of my art practice, I aim to empower and uplift the Black body, especially the Black female body, unveiling the magic that breaks collective contemporary stereotypes and allowing society to rediscover us as powerful, complex, beautiful, revered, and valuable beings. I collect materials that inform my design as I meander through daily life. I am inspired by my interactions with people, art, architecture, and societal dialog. I create these collages within a rigorous subtractive process beginning with a rich tapestry of visual elements, then methodically paring away the extraneous, guided by an intuitive sense of narrative and composition. This journey of artistic distillation continues until I reach a moment of resonance, where the final piece emerges as a refined visual narrative, every remaining element vital in conveying the core of my artistic vision.
30 x 30 in
Collage is my pathway to revealing truth through subtraction. Beginning with abundant visual elements, I methodically pare away the unnecessary, bringing together disparate elements from my daily interactions with the world. This process allows me to distill complex ideas about Black identity into powerful visual statements. I work intuitively until reaching a moment of resonance where every element becomes vital to my artistic vision—serving my core message of empowerment and representation.
36 x 36 in
While exploring diverse artistic series, my practice consistently centers on elevating and dignifying the Black body. I begin by amassing rich visual materials before engaging in a disciplined subtractive process—removing elements until only the essential remains. Through juxtaposing seemingly unrelated fragments from everyday encounters, I forge spaces for envisioning liberated Black futures that honor joy, repose, and feminine solidarity. My collages function as reclamation sites for familial and communal narratives, challenging conventional perceptions of Black identity through meticulously refined visual compositions that unveil fundamental truths about agency and representation.
38 x 42 in
My artistic process follows a deliberate rhythm of accumulation followed by careful reduction. This rhythmic dance between addition and subtraction continues until I reach what I call a "moment of resonance"—when every remaining element feels essential to the composition. This ritual of distillation, of finding clarity through removal rather than addition, has become central to how I create space for reimagining Black futures in my work. The process itself embodies my artistic values—revealing power through careful curation rather than excess.
25 x 25 in
30 x 30 in
About the Artist
Marryam Moma, a Tanzanian-Nigerian visual artist based in Atlanta, GA, is renowned for her prolific exhibition history and influential presence in esteemed nationally distributed publications like Popular Science, and Black Collagists: The Book and ArtSeen Magazine. Her artwork has graced the covers of MODE MEN Magazine and XXL Magazine. Moma's artwork is showcased in The New Brownies Book, which earned the NAACP Image Award in 2024. Moma's works have been featured in television shows such as Blackish, Bel-Air, Finding Happy, and Cherish The Day. Her artwork is also in esteemed collections, including Google, Microsoft, Home Depot HD Supply, and Starbucks.
Moma's dedication to her art has earned her prestigious residencies at The Migration Artist Residency in Atlanta, GA, and a blended residency and teaching opportunity at The Swimming Hole Foundation in Upstate NY. The Hambidge Center for the Arts awarded her a Distinguished Artist Fellowship, enriching her narrative-driven solo exhibitions like "ICONoclasts." Debuting in 2023 at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum, "ICONoclasts" intertwines papercut elements to celebrate and empower revolutionary Black figures.
Departing from a Bachelor of Architecture, Moma continues to draw inspiration from the ordinary and the exceptional ability to reconstruct intricate analog collages from disparate elements, aiming to promote understanding and inclusivity through her art.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
What to watch, read, and experience, as curated by the Collé team.
GERTRUDE GREENE (1904-1956) was an abstract sculptor and painter from New York City. Gertrude and her husband, artist Balcomb Greene, were heavily involved in political activism to promote mainstream acceptance of abstract art.
RONIT PORAT is a multidisciplinary artist based in Tel Aviv whose work draws on photography, archival materials, and historical narratives. Her practice often explores themes of memory, gender, and the tension between personal and collective history. Using found imagery and collage techniques, Porat constructs visual essays that challenge linear storytelling and evoke layered emotional terrains.
PATRICK HAMILTON studied art at the Universidad de Chile. His work is characterized by a political interest that promotes the return of the social burden that abstractionism and conceptual art had at their time.
GREGOR HILDEBRANDT'S signature media are cassette tape and vinyl, which he collages and assembles into apparently minimalist yet latently romantic paintings, sculptures, and installations. Resting in silence behind the glossy surface of his analog aesthetics, which verges on black and white monochrome, music and cinema haunt his practice.
ANDREW JENSDOTTER is a painter and multimedia artist whose large-scale works critique American culture and its post-industrial, consumer-driven landscape. Utilizing found materials and bold colors, Jensdotter's practice involves a process of accumulation and excavation that reveals core truths about human existence.
Out and About
What to watch, read, and experience, as curated by the Collé team.
▼ READ
In Vivid Reliquaries, Stan Squirewell Layers Anonymous Portraits and Patterned Textiles
Through intimate, mixed-media collages, Squirewell excavates the stories of those who might otherwise be lost in anonymity. The artist gathers images from the Smithsonian’s archives and from friends and family that he then reinterprets with vibrant prints and patterns.
▼ READ
Bulletin: Ambera Wellmann
For their first installment of Bulletin—a new recurring feature that focuses on artists’ bulletin boards and studio ephemera, the casual image banks they assemble for inspiration—Ursula visits the painter Ambera Wellmann in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
▼ LISTEN
Workin' On A Groovy Thing The Best of Patti Drew
This compilation shines a light on Patti Drew’s rich, expressive vocals and unmistakable style, offering a compelling introduction to a singer who deserves wider recognition.
