Giant Globe Crafted With Individually-Painted Matchsticks

It took sculptor Andy Yoder two years to reproduce the world. He did so in the form of a large globe that's made from individually-painted matchsticks. It's an understatement to say that this was a tedious endeavor, and the results are amazing. Detail shots of Yoder's work showcase the thought and consideration that went into the placement of every match. There's no uniform blue that dots the ocean. Instead, he uses a variety of hues that adds to the richness of the overall piece.

Yoder's son, Reddit user yoderaustin, posted about his dad's handiwork on the site. He explains that the frame is a mixture of foam, cardboard, and plywood. After the artist hand-painted each matchstick, he attached them to the skeleton form with wood glue. The final step was to douse the entire piece in flame retardant (which is both a precautionary and ironic move).

As clouds wrap around the giant sphere, we see that Hurricane Sandy is descending upon the United States' east coast (visible in the last photograph). This distinctive touch is a personal one for the artist, who is based in Brooklyn New York and had to endure Sandy's wrath.


Andy Yoder website
via [Hello Bauldoff and Reddit]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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