Valisa Higman Prints

"Valisa Higman is a cut-paper artist from Seldovia, Alaska. Her work is heavily influenced by her love of nature, people, food and community

Influenced by her father, a woodcarver, her grandfather, and mother who both hand cut silk-screens; Valisa began working at a young age. Her cut-paper artwork all starts as a sheet of black paper. Carving away at the background using an exacto knife, her images are revealed in an intricate lacework of lines. Using the black as her foreground, she fills the negative space by piecing together layers of paper in vibrant colors and textures. As a finishing touch, she adds the last details and shading with watercolor. Her work reflects her love of community, food, and nature. Valisa was born in Seldovia, Alaska, and studied psychology and art at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Along the way she has found inspiration in her surroundings. From the mountains of Colorado to the tea houses of Eastern Europe, the deserts of Africa to the limestone cliffs of Laos, she is forever moved by the beauty and grace the world has to offer.

Her artwork has been featured in cafes and galleries throughout her journeys. Recent juried shows included the Mayor’s Art Show in Eugene, OR, and The Clay Cup, a national juried exhibition at the George Caleb Bingham Gallery at University of Missouri. Valisa recently moved back to Seldovia after spending the last five years in Eugene, Oregon with a small community of friends she met while volunteering on the Gulf Coast after hurricane Katrina. Being home has proved both nostalgic and eye opening, sparking new ideas every day."

Check out more of her work here.