I first met Sherin Guirguis at USC while giving a talk about B/D. Sherin teaches in the design department so I assumed that she was primarily a graphic designer. Over the years we’ve run into each other here and there but never really visited each others studio. A few months back Sherin stopped by my studio to check out some work. When I went to return the favor I didn’t find stacks of design work but a studio full of both paintings and sculpture that were at once precise and technical while organic and fluid.  Here are some shots from the studio visit.

Sherin primarily works on paper building large organic shapes out of ink, acrylic, and gouache. She then begins to cut detailed geometric patterns into areas of the piece.

Here is a detail of the above piece. The detail is mind numbing! These are all cut by hand. I especially like the colored glow that is left on the wall by the color on the back of the paper. Has a nice neon light quality.

The paintings are worked on both horizontally as well as on the wall. Most of the ink pouring happens on the table and then the detail on the wall.

Nice detail shot of a small piece. I love the silver foil on this.

If you look closely at the above image you can see the drawing of the geometric patterns that still need to be cut in this piece. Looks like Sherin will be in the studio for the next couple months.

Sherin’s studio walls are covered in small paintings, cutouts, collages, and other bits and pieces that will eventually make their way into the work.

More reference images, small drawings, and tests pinned on the wall. I’m interested in seeing how the spray painted stencil motif will work its way into the paintings.

I was wondering why Sherin’s studio wasn’t covered with piles of small cut paper. Then I found this box.

A  few finished pieces…

Paper & wooden prototypes for few new sculptures. These will be much larger once once they are finalized. You can find more of Sherin’s work on her blog.