Meet Caroline Golden

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Caroline Golden again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Caroline, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
I’m excited to be back here as well! I’m a collage artist based in New York City, but my creative journey started in the world of advertising and publishing. Back then, I was a paste-up artist—literally cutting and aligning images and text by hand, long before desktop publishing came along. Later, I worked as a graphic designer and art director, and those roles sharpened my technical skills and trained my eye for detail. Beyond that, they sparked something deeper—a longing to tell my own stories through collage, where once again moving something a fraction of an inch can make all the difference.

In 1996, after losing a dear friend, I turned to collage as a way to cope with my grief. What started as a deeply personal healing process eventually became my first solo exhibition at Bridgewater Lustberg Gallery in NYC. That moment was a turning point for me—I took the leap into fine art full-time, and I haven’t looked back since!

My studio in Long Island City feels like stepping into a cabinet of curiosities. It’s packed with all sorts of found images and objects I’ve collected over the years, mostly things that were once discarded, now just waiting for a new story to be told. I love playing in that fine line between whimsy and something a little unsettling, creating surreal narratives that invite people to pause, reflect, and perhaps see things from a different perspective.

I’m inspired by the idea of uncovering hidden worlds and blurring the line between reality and imagination. Fairytales, Alice in Wonderland, and lately, the natural world, all fuel my work in different ways. Every piece is an opportunity to tell a story—an invitation for viewers to get lost in a little bit of magic.

Over the years, I’ve exhibited my work in solo and group exhibitions, and my art can be found in private and corporate collections around the world, which feels pretty incredible. But at the heart of it, collage is my way of weaving stories—giving people a chance to see the world, maybe even themselves, in new and unexpected ways.

Great, so let’s jump into an update on what you have been up to since we last spoke. What can you share with us?
During the pandemic, when I couldn’t get to my studio, I started sharing images from an older collage series of mine on Instagram—The Villagers. It’s a portrait collection of imagined background characters from fairy tales—the ones you never read about but just know must be out there in those worlds. Unexpectedly, author Derek Owens came across the series and was inspired to write their stories. That connection turned into something really special—a book titled The Villagers, featuring thirty-five short stories, two poems, and all thirty-seven of my collages. It was such a strange time to put a book out into the world, with most of the promotion happening over Zoom, but we rolled with it and found new ways to connect with audiences.

In the summer of 2023, I had an amazing opportunity to attend an artist residency at Baer in Hofsós, Iceland. The timing was incredible because it coincided with the solstice, which meant the sun never set while I was there. Experiencing that endless daylight was surreal—it completely energized my creativity. Those two weeks deepened my connection to the natural world, which has become an important part of my work. Iceland is a truly magical place, and I definitely left a piece of my heart there.

Lately, I’ve been pushing my collage work in some exciting new directions. I stepped away from my usual shadow box frames—where I’ve always felt at home with creating dimensional pieces—and started working on wood panels. It has been a challenge to achieve that same sense of depth on flat exposed surfaces. I also have had to develop a varnish application to keep the art protected from dust and light.

I’ve been diving deeper into color and pattern, bringing vintage wallpaper into my palette. There’s something special about working with paper that’s over 70 years old; it’s delicate, unpredictable, and takes a surgeon’s skill to cut! These new pieces are larger, more painterly, and have opened up many fresh possibilities.

One of the biggest challenges of being a professional artist is navigating the “business side” of things. For me, gaining visibility for my work is also a priority. While social media is a valuable tool, my ultimate goal is to have my work experienced in person. Art is best appreciated when viewers can engage with it directly, seeing the textures, layers, and details that don’t always translate through a screen.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to explore incorporating my own photography into my work. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come!

Alright, so let’s do something a bit more fast-paced and lighthearted. We call this our lightning round and we’ll ask you a few quick questions.

Favorite Movie: Too many to name

Favorite Band or Artist: Joni Mitchell

Sweet or Savory: Sweet

Mountains or Beach: Beach

Favorite Sport (to watch): Ice Hockey

Favorite Sport (to play): Is yoga a sport?

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Field Hockey

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: Artist

French Fries or Onion Rings: French Fries

Favorite Cartoon growing up: Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse

When you look back on your life, what are three things you expect to be proud of?
I’m most proud of my willingness to take chances—even when it feels scary or way outside my comfort zone. One of the biggest leaps I ever took was performing in an improv troupe on stages in and around New York City. To this day, I still can’t quite believe I stood in front of paying audiences, expected to make them laugh. It was exhilarating, nerve-wracking, and rewarding all at once. What made it even more special is that I was doing it while working full-time as a freelance designer. After a long day of work, I’d find myself under the stage lights, waiting for inspiration to hit. Those moments taught me a lot about trust—trusting myself, my scene partners, and the whole creative process.

I think I will always be proud that I am living my dream (not to sound obnoxious). I’ve stayed committed to my creative side making conscious effort to prioritize my art, even when life has felt chaotic or overwhelming. I’ve stayed true to that creative journey while carving out time for important personal relationships. Looking back and looking forward, it is not just about any one accomplishment. It’s about showing up for my creativity, honoring it, and continuing to take bold steps forward. And that’s something I can be really proud of!

Thank you for keeping on your radar!

Website: https://www.carolinegolden.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgcollage

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinegoldenstudio