Emily Joan Watts

I use origami-inspired paper folding to create sculptures that are geometric and precise, yet organic and fluid. To me, this speaks to nature’s formulaic building blocks, which combine in different ways to produce infinitely unique structures and organisms. From the waves crashing on the beach, to the succulents growing in my garden, to the Spanish clay tiles lining my neighborhood rooftops, in their simplest form they all share molecular elements.

When I begin a piece, I reference its inspirational object to guide the overall shape, but I let the path develop organically. Each element starts with the same movement, one simple fold, repeated over and over to build peaks and valleys, which cast moving shadows just like the ones I see on its real-life counterpart.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD Atlanta Continuing Education)

Linus Gallery, Long Beach, CA: "Mixed Media Mash-Up" - Oct 2014