Stjopka collages

This collection contains potentially harmful imagery and themes throughout.

The Stjopka collages include 301 paper collages from an artist known only as Stjopka (1956-). Presumably a pseudonym, very little is known about the artist other than what is provided in a typewritten biography within the collection (see box 19). Collages are composed of colored paper with decorative elements such as flowers, insects, tree bark, newspaper/magazine clippings, foil, fabric, jewelry, and more. Almost all Stjopka’s collages feature feathers. The majority of Stjopka’s work depicts scenes of individuals or multiple boys approximately in their pre-teen to teenage years. All figures are nearly featureless except for body/head hair, genitalia, and garments/adornment.

Stjopka collages focus on themes of boyhood, desire, fantasy, sexuality and eroticism, relationships, macabre scenes (crimes, animal attacks, murder, abuse, torture, etc.), historical vignettes, nature, soldiers/military/war, and more. Some pieces are a part of a narrative, spanning over 2 to 4 collages to tell a story. A few of the collages include flaps of fabric or paper to reveal images below or have hidden images or text on the back.

Over the span of the collection, compositions become increasingly innovative and complex. Stjopka uses newspaper and magazine clippings in his collages to add realistic elements to his work. He also features references to books, movies, and historical figures, such as alleged serial killer Gilles de Rais, within his work.

Materials are dated by binder label, though in some instances, these dates seem to be off by a few years to a decade.