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Artist Transforms Everyday Household Items Into a Host of Playful Characters

By Emma Taggart on March 4, 2021

Household Surrealism by Helga Stentzel

For Russian-born, London-based visual artist Helga Stentzel, food and other household objects aren’t just common commodities. They have hidden personalities that are ready to be brought to life. Stentzel uses clothing, kitchen utensils, books, bread, and more to create a cast of colorful characters and silly scenes. Giving a glimpse into her creative mind, her series is aptly titled Household Surrealism.

From an adorable puppy made from a head of lettuce to a horse composed of laundry on a clothesline, Stentzel can turn pretty much any material into something entirely new. Each image is made by setting up the objects into the desired shape and pose. Stentzel then photographs the scene, and sometimes adds hand-drawn illustrations—such as eyes and mouths—for an extra touch of personality. In other works, the artist uses little pieces of paper and carefully chosen ingredients to create the illusion of facial features.

“My inspiration comes from day-to-day activities and also from staring at things for longer than socially acceptable,” Stentzel tells My Modern Met. “I can spend ages examining a slice of bread in a restaurant, for instance, to the annoyance of my family and friends.” She adds, “I also carry around a thick notebook where I jot down my ideas. Not all of them get properly photographed and retouched, but I really enjoy browsing them from time to time—it's like a bank of inspiration.”

Check out Stentzel’s playful arrangements below and find more from her portfolio on Instagram.