Artist Transforms Fresh Foods into Mind-Bending Arrangements of Tasty Patterns

Things Organized Neatly by Adam Hillman

“Cropped Tops”
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

There are few things as visually soothing as objects neatly organized. Artist Adam Hillman has built his practice around this idea, but often with a twist. Though he occasionally uses everyday objects such as coins and crayons in his pattern arrangements, Hillman primarily aligns elements that are perishable and prone to expiring quickly. The artist demonstrates that the likes of fruit, candy, bacon, and eggs don’t need to be eaten right away. Instead, they are best suited for creating mesmerizing works of visual art.

To begin, Hillman partially unwraps Reese's peanut butter cups, quarter-cuts waffles, and makes jigsaw puzzle pieces from apples. He then assembles them in ways that seem unbelievable to arrange without the use of Photoshop. Each artwork, however, is completed sans digital manipulation.

The overall idea of Hillman’s work has remained largely unchanged over the years, but he is continually pushing himself in new directions. “Recently I've been focusing a lot on color contrast and gradient,” he tells My Modern Met. “Unlike a lot of my previous work, which primarily used singular objects and an array of different colors, I've been creating cut pieces that combine a wide variety of singularly toned objects over a geometric, cut-paper background, such as the wide variety of red-toned fruit and vegetables in ‘SquaRED.’ ”

By concentrating on contrast and gradients, Hillman is exploring how other characteristics of the objects can build compelling compositions. “These new pieces utilize a variety of differently shaped and sized objects unified through implied line and color, as witnessed in the cut wrappers in ‘SpectrYUM,’ ” he explains. “These detailed and time-consuming pieces synthesize the color of my color-coded candy pieces and the illusionistic implied line of my previous cut pieces. I’m excited to see where this new style will take me.”

Artist Adam Hillman creates mesmerizing pattern arrangements of everyday objects neatly organized—many featuring food.

Things Organized Neatly by Adam Hillman

“SpectrYUM”

“I've been creating cut pieces that combine a wide variety of singularly toned objects over a geometric, cut-paper background,” he tells My Modern Met, “such as the wide variety of red-toned fruit and vegetables in ‘SquaRED.’”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

“SquaRED”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

“Square Meal”

Things Organized Neatly by Adam Hillman

“A Square Breggfast”

Things Organized Neatly by Adam Hillman

“Fit to Eat”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

Things Neatly Organized by Adam Hillman

“Cutting in Line”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

“Food Pyramid”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

“Square Breggfast”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

“Mocha Mound”

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

“Scallient”

Things Neatly Organized by Adam Hillman

“Tootsie Pop of Color”

Things Neatly Organized by Adam Hillman

‘Fit to Eat'

Pattern Arrangements by Adam Hillman

In addition to his patterns, Hillman has also recreated a few art history masterpieces.

Things Neatly Organized by Adam Hillman

“Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci

Things Neatly Organized by Adam Hillman

Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh

Things Neatly Organized by Adam Hillman

“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt

Adam Hillman: Instagram | Society6

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Adam Hillman.

Related Articles:

Photos of Things Organized Neatly Provide a Soothing Feast for the Eyes

17 Oddly Satisfying Photos of Common Objects Organized Neatly into a Work of Art

Various Collections Organized In Shocking Abundance

Visually Satisfying Food Arrangements Are Rainbow Feasts for the Eyes

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.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content