Many people see art as something with many barriers to entry – maybe the materials are expensive, maybe you don't have the space, or maybe you think it's difficult, requiring many specialized tools. Sometimes that's true, but the artists here have created incredible works using almost nothing but paper and scissors or knives.
Besides their stunning mastery of paper, these works grabbed our attention because of how they changed our perspective on paper. Many of us have some form of paper or another within hand's reach most of the time, and yet we never think about the extraordinarily beautiful pieces of paper art that we could create with them if we ever took the time to try.
The next time you're about to throw out a grocery receipt or gum wrapper, try to fold or cut it into something beautiful. Maybe you'll get a flash of inspiration and create a work of art!
One Sheet of Paper by Peter Callesen
See more here | Author's website: petercallesen.com
Quilled Paper Portraits by Yulia Brodskaya
Author's website: artyulia.com
Folded Paper Art by Simon Schubert
See more here | Author's website: simonschubert.de
Animal Paper Sculptures by Calvin Nicholls
Author's website: calvinnicholls.com
Paper Cut Art by Hina Aoyama
Author's website: hinaaoyama.com
Origami Masks by Joel Cooper
Author's website: joelcooper.wordpress.com
Tree Carved From McDonald’s Paper Bag by Yuken Teruya
See more here | Author's website: yukenteruyastudio.com
Laser Cut Paper Art by Eric Standley
See more here | Author's website: ericstandley.30art.com
Paper Cut Tapestries by Tomoko Shioyasu
Author's website: scaithebathhouse.com
Paper Sculptures by Jen Stark
Author's website: jenstark.com
Origami Street Art by Mademoiselle Maurice
See more here | Author's website: mademoisellemaurice.com
Anatomical Cross-Sections Made of Rolled Paper by Lisa Nilsson
Author's website: lisanilssonart.com
Paper Landscape by Eiko Ojala
Author's website: ploom.tv
Handcut Paper Art by Lisa Rodden
Author's website: lisarodden.com
Paper Art by Cheong-ah Hwang
Author's website: papernoodle.com
Intricate Paper Art by Bovey Lee
Author's website: boveylee.com
Origami by Nguyen Hung Cuong
Author's website: flickr.com
Paper Portraits by Anant Nanvare
Author's website: anantnanvare.blogspot.com
Paper Birds by Diana Beltran Herrera
Author's website: dianabeltranherrera.com