Working from Southern California, Lucie Galvin explores the intersection of sustainability and fine art through joyful visual play. Her practice centers on Paper Pictures — iconic landscapes constructed from biophilic paper scraps, upcycled souvenirs, and fine papers. Eschewing traditional mediums like paint or ink, Galvin relies on the color, pattern, texture, and cut and torn geometry of her materials to define form. By layering highly saturated, contrasting hues, she generates a distinct visual tension and physical depth, balancing commanding graphic patterns with microscopic details that reward close viewing.

Lucie’s artwork is deeply informed by the clean lines, horizons, and rhythmic structures of coastal life. By assembling her concepts across interconnected panels she captures the expansive feeling of the outdoors while maintaining a disciplined geometric harmony. The magic of her tactile work is fully realized when it meets light; translucent mylar captures a subtle glow, while the raised edges of the paper cast delicate shadows that shift with the hours. The result is a body of work that feels simultaneously grounding and airy — a celebration of patient craftsmanship that transforms humble materials into sophisticated large-scale modern art.

Paper plant materials include: Bamboo, banana, cacao, camellia, coffee, corn, cotton, cucumber, daphne, ficus, flax, gampi, hemp/jute, indigos, mango, mitsumata, mulberry, nettle, oak, onion, papyrus, pear, pine, rice, sandalwood, snake plant, and anonymous hard and softwoods in upcycled calendars, candy wrappers, cardboards, card stock, cellophane, construction paper, cup sleeves, flyers, gift wrap, greeting cards, guides, kraft, leaf bags, maps, menus, parchment, pastry boxes, placemats, playbills, receipts, ribbons, shopping bags, tickets, to-go containers, and vellum. Most cultivated or wild-found, harvested, stripped, bashed, pulped, mixed, repeatedly dried, and then crinkled, dyed, embossed, foiled, gilt, glittered, hand-painted, lacquered, laminated, marbled, printed, stamped, sun-washed, or left natural by many, many other artists around the world. Some gathered, torn, soaked, bashed, blended, and dried by Lucie. All gleaming with warmth and texture IRL.

To preserve their papers' original character these pictures are unvarnished nor treated with other topical coats or fixatives. Offcuts are saved for future pictures or composted to nurture Nature. Behind the scenes butcher paper supports, glassine paper separates, and rice and other glues bind.

Lucie Galvin studied art history at The University of Michigan; education at St. Mary's College California; garden design at The English Gardening School, London; craftsman gardening with The National Trust for Scotland; and illustration with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She teaches and practices sustainable gardening and crafts.

EXHIBITIONS

4 October 2025, Communities of The Corridor, Group Mosaic, Santa Ana Art Walk, California

August 2025, Arts in California Parks, Guest Artist, Coastal Corridor Alliance, Costa Mesa, California

July 2024, Permanent Installation of Public Art, University of California at Irvine

9th March to 19th April 2024, Art That's Small at City Hall, Group Show, Laguna Beach, California

19th December 2023 (to 9th February) extended to 6th April 2024, 36 Paper Pictures: Washi, Scraps, and Souvenirs, Solo Show, Central Library Gallery, Newport Beach, California

PRESS

Studio Visit Magazine, Volume 55 (Upcoming: 2026-27)

Cultivating Goodness - The Talent of Lucie Galvin, Tableau Magazine, March/April 2021