Colossal Collage.

Celebrating creativity, collaboration and community!

Community art is core to Art Wellesley’s mission. Building on the success of last year’s Yarn Bomb, Art Wellesley envisioned a new community art project for 2026 that did not disappoint.

Between January and June 2026, Art Wellesley hosted five, collaborative maker-sessions, culminating in a truly Colossal Collage – roughly thirty-two feet long by seven feet high.

During these maker-sessions, participants cut, glued and assembled found and repurposed papers to create a botanical themed collage.

Local artists Elizabeth Cohen and Jenny Schneider guided participants through the process. Their vision used scale, color, and creative license to explore a composition inspired by flora and fauna.

The final Colossal Collage will be exhibited in the foyer of the Wellesley Free Library during the month of June 2026!

The big reveal…

Art Wellesley Unveils "Colossal Collage" at the Wellesley Free Library

WELLESLEY, MA – June 1, 2026 — Art Wellesley, in partnership with the Wellesley Free Library, today officially unveiled "Colossal Collage," a massive, community-driven art installation. The collaborative masterpiece is on public display in the library's James E. Mahoney Foyer through June 30, 2026, marking the culmination of a six-month long community initiative.

The project, created under the direction of local artists Jenny Schneider and Elizabeth Cohen, was created during five community maker nights, occurring monthly from January through May 2026. These free public workshops, hosted graciously by St. Paul’s Church, invited Wellesley residents of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels to come together, share creative ideas, and craft individual collage pieces representing local flora and fauna. Using collage as the medium and nature as the inspiration made the project accessible to everybody.

Art Wellesley curated and assembled the final installation, which stands approximately seven feet tall and spans over thirty-two feet wide. The overarching design weaves the individual pieces from the maker nights into a sweeping abstract landscape inspired by the natural beauty of the region.

"Our goal was to create a visual testament to the power of collective art. In a time when loneliness and isolation are on the rise, community art making can serve as a powerful antidote," said Jenny Schneider, Board Member of Art Wellesley and one of two coordinating artists.

"During our maker nights we heard more than once how participants were looking forward to having time to create and relax. Many participants used the maker nights to meet friends, catch up and be creative together, while others made new friends."

This community art initiative was made possible through the vital support of the Community Fund for Wellesley, the Wellesley Cultural Council, and St. Paul’s Church, alongside the partnership with the Wellesley Free Library. "Colossal Collage" will remain on display at the library throughout the month of June during regular operating hours.