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Illuminated Coffee Cups Are an Unconventional Stage for Dramatic Cut Paper Scenes

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Look inside of a paper coffee cup and you might discover one of Anastassia Elias’ detailed artworks. Crafted inside of the unassuming vessels, the tiny worlds depict people talking, laughing, snapping photos, and of course, enjoying a hot beverage. Each piece is small enough to hold in your hand, allowing you to examine Elisas’ handiwork up close. It only makes the tiny cutouts and three-dimensional elements that much more impressive—the emotion she conveys through silhouettes is truly awe-inspiring.

Elias gives her pieces a theatrical feel with illumination. The bottom of the cups are removed and a light is shone through them, casting dramatic shadows that darken the characters and give them a strong visual presence. It creates the distinct feeling of a stage, as if these figures are actors and we’re their captivated audience.

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Anastassia Elias: Website
via [Faith is Torment]

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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