Minimalist and surreal collages that draw meaning from our relationship with light

Pared down to a minimalist set of stylised elements, each photograph conveys meaning through a metaphor of light. A bright moon, for instance, might indicate hope. A silver moon, meanwhile, sets a tone of longing or romance, a high sun gives rise to nostalgia with long summer shadows, and a sunset conveys a sense of wistful sadness.

"In one of the photographs, this metaphor breaks down when we are faced with light that is atypical and not something for which we have clear associations," remarks Patty. "All photos in this series are portraits which have been superimposed into a stylised world created with textures and layers of colour."

Based in Ontario, Canada, Patty Maher's inspiration for her art comes from an exploration of the feminine in the context of both natural and urban settings. Working primarily through staged portraiture and self-portraiture, she is widely known for hiding or obscuring the faces of her subjects often only using posture, gesture, symbol and colour to convey emotion and narrative. Discover more: pattymaher.com.