04. The Circus has Arrived embellished canvas print by Emily Lavalier

Emily Lavalier is a self-taught collage artist based in Minneapolis, MN, known for her intricate style she calls "High-Density Collage." Each piece begins as a hand-drawn sketch, which she transforms through layers of paper sourced from donated magazines and collected brochures.

To build depth and texture, Emily incorporates materials such as string, twisted tissue paper, epoxy sculpt, and cardstock. The result is a dimensional, tactile work of art—each one a true original that can take anywhere from 150 to 350 hours to complete.

Once finished, her collages are professionally scanned in Northeast Minneapolis using a specialized technique that captures the shadows and contours of the original piece, allowing the texture to remain visible in the final print. These high-quality flat prints are then made uniquely one-of-a-kind through hand-stitched beading directly onto the canvas, and each is individually framed by the artist herself.