human hands

tactile art in the age of machines

10% of all current and future proceeds
will directly benefit the artist
Joanne Casey Mixed Media Paper Collage (2005) - 36″ × 46″ handmade paper with natural fiber inclusions in Lucite shadow-box frame
Close-up detail of handmade paper texture showing natural fiber inclusions and dimensional surface

Acquisition Terms

Price: Available upon inquiry

Artist compensation: 10% of sale proceeds to artist

Future sales: 10% of resale value to artist in perpetuity

We are committed to ensuring artists receive ongoing compensation for their work.

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Mixed Media Paper Collage

Joanne Casey • 2005

36″ × 46″ × 3–4″
Handmade Paper
Lucite Frame

Artist Background

Joanne Casey is a Southern California mixed-media artist known for her innovative paper collages. By 2005, Casey had been a full-time artist for over 30 years, originally training as a graphic artist in the 1970s and later transitioning to independent fine art. She settled in the Palm Desert area (Coachella Valley) by the late 1980s and maintained a studio there for decades.

Casey's work is recognized for its colorful, textural collages inspired by landscapes, figures, and abstracts. She both paints and hand-makes paper, a rare practice today: "there are not a lot of current people working with handmade paper…it has a very tactile, touchy attraction." Her techniques involve layering paper into abstract, stylized landscapes with rich dimensional surfaces.

She has been featured in major art festivals (including as featured artist at the Indian Wells ArtWalk, 2014). By the mid-2000s, she was firmly established in the desert art scene, exhibiting at juried shows and selling work through galleries and design dealers.

Artwork Description & Inspiration

The available work is a mixed-media relief collage created in 2005, measuring 36″ × 46″ (with 3–4″ depth), encased in a clear acrylic Lucite shadow-box frame.

  • Materials: Handmade paper with natural fiber inclusions, rolled into scroll-like forms, bound with twine and fibers, and layered into rhythmic relief.
  • Effect: The composition yields a striking 3D wall piece with organic shadows, exemplifying Casey's philosophy that art should be "not flat."
  • Palette: Earthy creams, tans, and whites, in line with her "earthy, natural desert tones."
  • Concept: Scroll-like forms and fibrous inclusions evoke ancient parchments or botanical structures, bridging nature, history, and modern abstraction.

This work is signed and dated 2005, confirming its authenticity and place within Casey's mid-career body of work.

Provenance & Context

  • Acquired: Estate sale in Encinitas, California.
  • Likely origin: Purchased directly from the artist or through her galleries in Southern California circa 2005.
  • Exhibition history: Casey regularly showed at regional art festivals (La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert) and through West Coast galleries.
  • International footprint: Similar works have been retailed by design galleries in New York and Europe — e.g., Balsamo Antiques offered a French-sourced collage in Lucite.

This suggests the artist's work circulated broadly among collectors, with both local and international distribution.

Comparable Works & Market Value

  • 36″ × 36″ Lucite-Framed Collage (Pastel Chevron Pattern) — Offered by Balsamo Antiques (NY), $15,950.
  • 36″ × 36″ Paper Collage (1988, Kinetic) — Sold via 1stDibs, ~$5,000 USD.
  • 24″ × 18″ "Art of Nature" Collage — Resold on Chairish – Good Bone Relics, $750.

Market summary: Joanne Casey wall collages generally range from $5,000 to $15,950, averaging $10,000+ for large-scale pieces.

📌 Value context: Given its size (36″ × 46″), condition, and signature, this 2005 work aligns with the upper tier of Casey's market — a strong five-figure gallery valuation is appropriate.

Key Takeaway

This large-scale signed 2005 Joanne Casey collage is a prime example of the artist's dimensional handmade paper works — organic, tactile, and architectural in presence. With Casey's established reputation, proven market demand, and documented comparables, it represents both a compelling fine art acquisition and a design statement piece.