Photography: Babiche Martens
Intuition guides Naomi Azoulay’s creative pursuits. She is a master of collage, as well as a DJ and figurative painter.
When she’s not teaching creative freedom through her workshops, she’s practising it.
Tell us about how you found your way into collage.
I’ve been an art lover for as long as I can remember. I started collecting art books at a young age – something that only intensified during my art history studies at university.
When I was living in the Coromandel, I attended a one-day collage workshop in Colville that sparked something in me. I went home inspired and began collaging straight away, first on cardboard, and then on wood panels. I had this collection of art books, many secondhand or damaged, and I started cutting them up to use in my collages. It felt like a full-circle moment – reworking the very images that had inspired me for years into something new and personal. That combination of history, texture and reinvention continues to drive my work today.
There is something so freeing about collage. What do you think you like most about it?
There are so many things I love about collage: its sustainable nature – you can create something meaningful from everyday, low-cost materials. There’s a kind of magic in weaving together different places, times, contexts and realms into something entirely new. I love the references, the surprises, the happy accidents and unexpected discoveries that happen along the way. Collage is incredibly inclusive and inviting. No one can sit at a collage table for more than 10 minutes without joining in – even those who swear they’re “not creative”.
It’s easy and welcoming, and I love how children and adults can work together or side by side. Each collage is unique and that personal touch is beautiful. It’s also meditative, even when you’re chatting the whole time – highly addictive and deeply therapeutic. And I have to mention the sound of paper ripping – I get a dopamine hit during workshops when I hear a room full of people tearing into their materials.
Where’s the best place to look for collage material?
If you don’t have a pile of old magazines, calendars, or posters, chances are someone you know does. You can also find great material at op-shops or on Trade Me. Almost anything can be used: old books, maps, greeting cards, notes, bills, photos, flyers – the possibilities are endless. All you need is your source material, scissors (though tearing works just as well), and a glue stick.
You run so many incredible workshops across Tāmaki Makaurau. What do you enjoy most about them?
I love meeting new people and sharing the gift of intuitive collage. It’s amazing to see how participants express themselves through the process and how their creations evolve. Proving to those who believe they’re not creative that they absolutely are is one of my favourite things. It’s also deeply rewarding when artists of other mediums come and enjoy collaging as a different way to explore their voices.
I value the connections that form – there’s something magical about people sitting together, tearing paper, opening up and creating in a community. Hearing stories about how people have kept going at home or even started their own workshops is the best feedback. When participants return again and again or bring their whānau along, it’s proof of how intuitive collage is beneficial for everyone.
Do you have a standout piece that you’re most proud of?
One piece I’m especially proud of is my collage of Merata Mita. Creating it was such an honour, and I felt deeply humbled to receive the blessing of her family – it meant so much to me.
I’m also very proud of the two portrait collages I created of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which are hanging in the Manukau District Court and Auckland District Court. Knowing these works are a visual reminder of her legacy in spaces where justice is practised feels incredibly meaningful.
“Proving to those who believe they’re not creative that they absolutely are is one of my favourite things”
Naomi Azoulay
What’s on the horizon for you in 2025?
Looking ahead to the rest of this year, I have a full and exciting calendar. I’ll be part of a group exhibition called Connection in Kumeu, developed from the Creative Matters podcast. I’ll also be finishing a series of portraits I’ve been working on for a while now, which I’m excited to complete and share.
Outside the studio, I’ve enrolled in a project management course to help strengthen the practical side of my creative practice. There are some commissioned works underway, lots of workshops in the pipeline and a few collaborations I can’t quite talk about yet. I’m very excited about what’s to come.
How can our readers find your art and your workshops?
You can explore my work, sign up for upcoming workshops, or just say hello via my website.
Find Naomi Azoulay on Instagram at @naomi_azoulay_collage and @naomi_azoulay_art, on Facebook or LinkedIn at Naomi Azoulay.
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