12 Papercut Artists Worth Discovering

Searching for creative spark in the craft of papercutting? Dive into the portfolios of these 12 talented papercut artists and marvel at their exquisitely detailed creations.

Papercutting (alternatively spelled paper cutting) is the art of crafting designs from paper. This form of paper art has evolved globally, adapting to diverse cultural aesthetics across different regions. At its core, papercutting is about tapping into a more instinctive mode of creation—playing, experimenting, and improvising with nothing more than paper, a pair of scissors, and your own imagination.

To fuel your own creative exploration of papercutting, we’ve curated this list of 12 papercut artists worth following:

1. Kanako Abe

This Japanese creator has honed a distinct style in papercutting. Employing the kiri-e technique, Kanako Abe crafts mandalas, landscapes, and nature-inspired compositions. She masterfully uses paper leaves in various hues to craft striking contrasts and subtle shadows, resulting in breathtaking pieces.

2. Rob Ryan

For Rob Ryan, paper serves as his canvas, while screen printing and papercutting are his go-to techniques. He views this approach as the “genuine” way to build layers in art. His work centers on silhouettes, with cut-out words and phrases that he has woven into entire books. Among his illustrated works are This Is for You, A Sky Full of Kindness, and the trilogy The Invisible Kingdom, The Kingdom Revealed, and The Invincible Kingdom.

3. Helen Musselwhite

Helen Musselwhite’s layered paper creations are both stunning and visually appealing. Color, design, and texture are the defining elements of this exceptional papercut artist’s work. Her pieces feature both nature-inspired realms and intricately detailed cityscapes.

4. Elsa Mora

Elsa Mora draws inspiration for her papercut art from her personal experiences and life stories. She delves into themes of relationships, family, and passion, transforming these concepts into authentic papercut masterpieces. At times, she adds subtle touches of color to accentuate the message behind her remarkable creations.

5. Andrea Dezso

This versatile visual artist excels in multiple mediums, including drawing, embroidery, papercutting, animation, sculpture, installations, and public art. Her works reflect her life experiences through a figurative lens, exploring personal themes such as women’s roles, family dynamics, ideological and social influences, nature, and the human body.

6. Hari and Deepti

Hari and Deepti craft unique worlds through papercutting and the enchantment of light. Their papercut light boxes narrate stories inspired by their travels across Asia and Europe. “As a medium, paper is beautifully simple yet powerful,” they note. “It’s playful, lightweight, both colorless and vivid. It reflects light, creates depth, and conjures illusions in ways that take the artist on a journey of endless possibilities.”

7. Pippa Dyrlaga

Pippa Dyrlaga’s creations draw inspiration from the natural world and the everyday moments and surroundings that shape her life. Through papercutting, she expresses her thoughts and ideas. For this artist, the creative process is just as significant as the final product—starting with a plain sheet of paper and transforming it into a meaningful work of art that has something to convey.

8. Rosa Yoo

Rosa Yoo specializes in crafting intricate microcosms through papercutting. She also excels at creating fully realized pop-up cities using the same technique. This visual artist’s imagination knows no bounds: her works include charming scenes housed inside cans and elaborate miniature pieces crafted with meticulous attention to detail.

9. Paper Artist Collective

The Paper Artist Collective is a community of artists united by their passion for paper art. Limited to 100 members from around the world, this group serves as a space to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and inspire one another. It’s the perfect destination to discover new techniques, innovative designs, and exceptional talent.

10. Guardabosques

The name “Guardabosques” (Spanish for “forest guardian”) offers a clear hint of what to expect from this duo’s work. True to their name, their creations focus heavily on nature, featuring polyhedral animal figures crafted from paper. Guardabosques is a pair of designers who experiment with three-dimensional natural replicas, infusing their pieces with texture and a sense of movement.

11. Johanna Wilhelm

Johanna Wilhelm works with papercutting on both large and small scales—she refuses to be confined by size limits. Her papercut art has been featured in fashion campaigns, live projections, and installations, with each project resulting in a one-of-a-kind setting. She has also made her mark in editorial illustration, creating papercut art for the book Amarillo limón el Sol (Lemon Yellow Sun).

12. Paz Tamburrini

Paz Tamburrini is a children’s book illustrator and papercut designer, as well as an instructor on Domestika, where she teaches the course “Illustration with Papercut: Create Extraordinary Books.” She loves exploring how the medium itself can enhance the story, crafting literary works where the paper itself plays a role in storytelling.