Sculptural Collage House Forms: A Study in Shape, Structure, and Place
- Melanie Grant
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
TRANQUIL • LUMINOUS • ROOTED
Stories from the studio, reflections on process, and the art of the handmade.
A Shift Toward Form and Structure
Over the past several months, my work has been evolving—becoming more distilled, more focused on form, surface, and a sense of place.
House Forms is part of that shift.
What began as an exploration of collage has moved into something more dimensional. These pieces are not literal houses, but simplified forms—structures that suggest shelter, memory, and presence.
The Idea Behind These Sculptural Collage Forms
At their core, these works are about shape and grounding.
Each form is reduced to its most essential geometry—rooflines, walls, edges—allowing proportion and surface to take the lead. There is a familiarity in them, but also abstraction. They are not tied to a specific place, yet they carry the feeling of one.
My background in design and structure naturally informs this work. Balance, proportion, and restraint are present, but so is intuition. Each piece is carefully considered, then allowed to settle into its own identity.
Materials and Process in Sculptural Collage
Surface plays a central role in these forms.
Each piece begins with layered collage—papers selected for texture, tone, and subtle variation. In some pieces, natural elements are introduced sparingly—small seed pods or organic fragments that echo the landscape without defining it too literally.
The sides and rooflines are wrapped, often in a continuous material, allowing the form to feel unified from every angle.
To finish, a thin layer of pouring medium seals the surface, followed by a hand-applied coat of Dorland's Wax Medium. The result is a soft, tactile finish—protected, but not encased. The surface holds light gently, rather than reflecting it sharply. In addition, each piece is finished and labeled on the base with its title, series, and my name—marking its place within the collection.
Settlement — A Sculptural Collage Series
This initial release is titled Settlement .
The name reflects a beginning—forms coming into place, a sense of arrival without finality. Each piece in the series is numbered, and while they share a common visual language, no two are exactly alike.
Some are more symmetrical, others more offset. A few carry subtle natural elements, while others remain purely structural. Together, they form a dialogue between variation and cohesion.
Future House Form series are already taking shape in the studio, continuing this exploration of structure, surface, and place.
Living with Sculptural Collage in Your Space
House Forms are meant to be experienced both individually and in small groupings.
A single piece can act as an anchor—something steady and grounding within a space. Grouped together, they begin to suggest a landscape of forms, each interacting subtly with the others.
They are not functional objects, but they do serve a purpose—holding space, creating presence, and offering a moment of pause.
The House Forms — Settlement collection is now available in the shop.
This marks the beginning of a new direction in my work—one that continues to unfold through additional House Form series, as well as new collections of books currently in progress.
This sculptural collage series is part of my ongoing exploration of mixed media art, handmade books, and dimensional paper-based forms.
If you’d like early access to new releases and a closer look at what’s taking shape in the studio, I invite you to join my newsletter.
If you’d like to follow along as new work emerges from the studio, you’re always welcome to
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