Adam Charlap Hyman Brings Cut-Paper Art to KRB with 'The Antiquity Collection'
Adam Charlap Hyman, a 36-year-old designer from New York, has breathed new life into the art of cut paper through two solo exhibitions at KRB. His most recent show, titled "The Antiquity Collection," showcases white cut-paper representations of Greek mythological icons against brown backdrops. His passion for this craft ignited during his teenage years after discovering a book of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. In 2009, he trained under master paper cutter Chen Yao in Nanjing, China, where the art form first emerged during the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25-220) before spreading worldwide. Prominent artists like Joanna Koerten, Henri Matisse, and Kara Walker have also pushed the boundaries of traditional cut paper art. Additionally, Jasmin Sian, 57, is known for her creations from recycled materials, which are showcased in this year's Whitney Biennial.
Key facts
- Adam Charlap Hyman is a 36-year-old New York-based designer and artist.
- His most recent solo exhibition, 'The Antiquity Collection,' was held at the New York design shop and gallery KRB.
- The show featured stark white cut-paper depictions of Orpheus, satyrs, and other Greek mythological symbols on brown paper backgrounds.
- In 2009, Charlap Hyman took a sabbatical from the Rhode Island School of Design to apprentice with master paper cutter Chen Yao in Nanjing, China.
- The apprenticeship involved seven-day workweeks from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three months.
- Cut-paper art originated in China under the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25-220).
- A 2025 exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., highlighted 17th-century Dutch artist Joanna Koerten's cut-paper works.
- Jasmin Sian, a 57-year-old New York-based artist, creates cut-paper works from discarded candy wrappers and paper deli bags; her pieces were included in this year's Whitney Biennial.
Entities
Artists
- Adam Charlap Hyman
- Hans Christian Andersen
- Chen Yao
- Adam Eli
- Harald Kraemer
- Joanna Koerten
- Henri Matisse
- Kara Walker
- Jasmin Sian
Institutions
- KRB
- Rhode Island School of Design
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Whitney Biennial
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Nanjing
- China
- Hong Kong
- Mexico
- Japan
- Europe
- Switzerland
- Germany
- Poland
- Washington, D.C.