The Paper Reliefs are a series of six editioned paper-pulp reliefs with collage and hand-coloring, completed by Frank Stella in 1975. A special papermaking mould was constructed for each image from brass screening and mahogany slats sewn together with brass wire. The moulds were dipped into a cotton slurry to form a thick relief of pulp, which was hand-patted to improve edge definition. The pulp on the screen was colored both in the wet stage and after it was dried and removed from the mould.
Stella collaborated with Kenneth Tyler and John Koller at the HMP paper mill to develop a standard for each edition, although much of the coloring at the wet stage was done by the artist during frequent visits to HMP. All of the Paper Reliefs were hand-painted by the artist in his New York studio between September 1974 and November 1975.

Kenneth E. Tyler