Paula Hartman: Artist

Paula Hartman is a kinetic artist, and most of her works are chandelier-like sculptures that are suspended from the ceiling. Her work is always moving, changing based on the different angles and shadows of a room. 

She finds much of her inspiration through plants, especially flowers. When she’s walking through her neighborhood, spotting flowers along the streets brings her happiness that she wants to reflect in her artwork and spread to others. 

“My art is mostly inspired by what brings me joy…it was just like natural that I would try to recreate like a feeling that I have when I look at plants.”

When Paula first discovered mobiles crafted from paper, it was love at first sight. She wanted to learn how to make them herself, but ended up having to teach herself. 

“I couldn't really find anybody who was teaching me how to do them. So I experimented a lot and I research on the internet how to create flower shapes out of paper…”

Through her journey of making mobiles, Paula has found a lot of inspiration in Slavic folk crafts that utilize the same concepts. She strives to simultaneously honor these cultural traditions while also putting her own spin on them. 

But, more than anything, Paula wants to lift others up with her art. 

“It's joyful to other people and lift them up, make them feel light and give them hope.”

A film by Joana Betzner.

Original music by Robert Planet.