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Artist Repurposes Old Books Into 3D Sculptures By Carefully Folding Their Pages

English artist Nicola Nobo transforms old books into intricate sculptures by meticulously folding their pages. Each sheet of paper is individually creased, and together, the hundreds of pages create three-dimensional designs between their hard covers. Nobo's excellent craftsmanship, with its even pleats and smooth outlines, makes her lettering, skulls, and animals instantly recognizable.

Though these book sculptures are spectacular, Nobo doesn't typically sell her actual folded creations. Instead, she markets the patterns so you can make them yourself. Her Etsy shop, called Book Origami, has nearly 100 styles to choose from, offering a step-by-step guide for producing the inverted motifs.


Book Origami: Etsy | Instagram

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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