Please join the Seabrook Island Artist Guild for a reception
to meet Marie-Helene and view her creative artworks.
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
4:30-6:00 pm
Seabrook Island Lake House
“I draw with my scissors,” says Marie-Helene Grabman, gently dismissing the idea of templates or mechanical cutting devices when asked about her process. Her work—intricate, delicate, and remarkably precise—is created entirely by hand. Marie-Helene practices scherenschnitte, a centuries-old art form in which detailed scenes are cut from a single sheet of paper. Originating in 16th-century Switzerland and Germany, this tradition began as a religious craft in alpine communities before evolving into the richly expressive folk art we recognize today. Now, it is a discipline practiced by few, and mastered by even fewer.
For Marie-Helene, the art form is deeply personal. She traces its roots to her grandmother, who would enchant her grandchildren by telling stories while simultaneously bringing them to life—cutting images from paper with a small pair of embroidery scissors. That early exposure planted a seed that would later flourish into a lifelong artistic pursuit. Although she earned a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Detroit and built a career as a television news assignment editor and later in corporate advertising, Marie-Helene returned to scherenschnitte in the 1970s as a creative way to engage her four children. What began as a simple pastime soon evolved into a refined and distinctive artistic voice.
Her work departs from traditional flat paper cuttings. Instead, she creates subtle three-dimensional compositions by carefully lifting elements from the background using spacers and minute applications of adhesive. The result is a sense of depth and shadow that distinguishes her pieces from pen-and-ink drawings or prints, giving them a quiet, sculptural presence. She compares her process to wood carving: “You start with a blank resource and create the art by cutting parts away,” she explains. Precision is everything. To achieve it, she has studied framing and calligraphy, traveled to Europe in search of the ideal tools, and ultimately settled on an unlikely instrument—microscopic eye-surgery scissors.
Marie-Helene’s dedication has brought her international recognition. Since her first fine art show in 1980, her work has been exhibited across the United States, Europe, and Asia. A defining moment came when she was one of only five American artists invited to participate in Going West: Swiss Folk Art in America at the Swiss National Museum. Her work has also reached one of the most distinguished settings in the country. In 1999, she was commissioned to create an ornament for the Christmas tree in the White House Blue Room—an honor that placed her work in the permanent White House collection.
What does it take to create a scherenschnitte? “Surgical scissors, acid-free papers—and lots of patience,” she says with a smile. “Being a perfectionist helps too.”
Her connection to the Lowcountry began decades ago when three of her four children attended the College of Charleston. What started as annual visits soon became something more. Drawn by the beauty of the area—and a bit of serendipity through a family connection on Kiawah—Marie-Helene and her husband, Mike, discovered Seabrook Island and decided to make it their home. That was 22 years ago. Today, Marie-Helene Grabman continues to practice a rare and exacting art form, preserving a tradition that might otherwise fade with time—one careful cut at a time.
Reception: Tuesday, August 4, in the Lake House
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
-Submitted by Rod Morris
(Image credit: Marie-Helene Grabman)