Rachel Mentzer Turns Found Cartons into Collagraphs of Birds and Infrastructure

Ohio-based artist Rachel Mentzer creates collagraph prints using discarded cardboard cartons as printing plates. She carves motifs of birds, trees, and energy infrastructure into the cartons, then coats them with polyurethane and ink before pressing them onto paper. The resulting works, such as "Flying Hawks" and "Pylon Birds," highlight the relationship between human infrastructure and wildlife. Mentzer's practice emphasizes sustainability and environmental renewal. Her work was recently included in an exhibition at Manhattan Graphics Center, and she will participate in the Suzanne Wilson Artist-in-Residence Program at Glen Arbor Arts Center in Michigan this summer.