Dolan Geiman’s art is ample proof that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Best known for his collage work, Geiman specializes in the reuse of found materials and objects including vintage paper, reclaimed wood, and salvaged metal. Manipulating these found objects, he creates stunning mixed media artwork that draws inspiration from folk art tradition but adds a contemporary western style.
“I get excited about making new pieces and introducing this work to new people,” Geiman admitted in an interview with Design*Sponge. “Most of the work I create comes straight out of my head and is immediately transformed into something. I occasionally work from sketches, but I have found a way to bypass the whole sketching process just by creating the pieces in my head through visualization. This offers more creation time which means I will have actual artwork finished at the end of the day, not just ideas on paper.”
His diverse collage materials are carefully curated, cut, and combined with other artistic techniques including painting, screenprinting, and sculpture to create the final modern artworks. The end result is highly textured and intricately detailed, inspired by the flora and fauna of the natural world, the rich history of the US, and the influence of classic collage artists that came before.
Born and raised in a little area called Hermitage, Virginia, and currently based in Denver, Colorado, Geiman recalls being a creative child—the kind considered a good drawer in elementary school, who was called upon to draw motorcycles and flaming demon heads on notebook covers.
“I tell people I am a professional artist,” he says. “Sometimes I add ‘and designer’ because I’ve worked in fashion/interior design and because I think it adds an air of polish to the otherwise tarnished moniker of ‘artist’. For years, the common reaction was ‘another starving artist, ha-ha…’ Fortunately, such reactions are becoming less commonplace as handmade/DIY gains momentum.”
According to Geiman, it’s the hardest job he ever had, but the payoff is great. Best of all, he absolutely loves it!
