Biography

(Nancy Bjorge)

Nancy was born in Shanghai, China, and raised in Hong Kong. While growing up, she lived in a household that included her parents, four brothers, one sister and a grandmother. It was during her childhood that Nancy's intuitive ability to fold paper into intricate forms took root.

Nancy's grandmother observed all the old Chinese and family traditions, including performing the ceremony of paying respect to the family's ancestors. She would ask the grandchildren to sit down and fold joss paper into special shapes for use in this ceremony. Nancy would sit down and fold hundreds of pieces. Little did Nancy know at the time that folding paper was making such an impression on her mind-years later, whenever her hands would free, she would pick up a piece of paper and start folding.

Nancy did not receive any classroom instruction in paper folding, but instead continued to develop her artistic expressions in paper by learning from adults and other children. After high school, she came to the United States for college, and majored in mathematics, the precision of which can still be seen in the clean planes and intricate geometry of her colorful creations.

It wasn't until Nancy's junior year that she discovered the joy of art while taking a drawing class. She finished her bachelor's degree in mathematics, but continued to study art, eventually obtaining a master of fine arts degree with an emphasis in jewelry design and metal working. She then drifted away from art to raise a family, and made a living by selling real estate. Several years ago, after her younger sister, Katherine, suffered a severe stroke, Nancy reevaluated her priorities in life and decided to go back to art. Remembering her childhood fascination with the objects that could be formed from a simple sheet of paper, she decided to return to paper folding as an art form. Today, the pieces she makes are unique creations that blend together everything she has learned and the many things with which she comes into contact. Her interest in seeking out all the creative possibilities of a variety of materials, including found objects, reflects her intuitive grasp of design and form and her keen sense of adventure through creative expression.