12 Papercut Artists You Should Know

Papercutting (or paper cutting) is the art of crafting intricate designs from paper—an artistic form that has evolved globally, adapting to diverse cultural aesthetics and traditions. At its core, papercutting is about embracing intuitive creation: improvising and playing with nothing more than paper, a pair of scissors, and boundless imagination.

To fuel your own exploration of this delicate yet dynamic art form, we’ve curated a list of 12 extraordinary papercut artists whose work will ignite your creativity.

Hailing from Japan, Kanako Abe has honed a distinctive style rooted in the traditional kiri-e (paper cutting) technique. Her creations—encompassing mandalas, serene landscapes, and nature-inspired compositions—are brought to life through masterful use of colored paper layers. By juxtaposing leaves of varying hues, Abe crafts breathtaking works that interplay with light to create rich contrasts and subtle shadows, infusing each piece with depth and organic beauty.

For Rob Ryan, paper is both canvas and medium, with screen printing and paper cutting as his primary tools of expression. He regards this combination as the “true” way to build dimensional layers in art. His work is defined by striking silhouettes, where meticulously cut words and phrases weave together to form entire narratives—even expanding into full-length books. Ryan has illustrated beloved titles such as This Is for You, A Sky Full of Kindness, and the trilogy The Invisible Kingdom, The Kingdom Revealed, and The Invincible Kingdom.

Helen Musselwhite’s layered papercut creations are nothing short of stunning, blending aesthetic elegance with meticulous craftsmanship. Color, thoughtful design, and tactile textures lie at the heart of her work, which spans whimsical nature-inspired worlds and highly detailed cityscapes. Each piece is a labor of precision, with overlapping paper layers creating a sense of depth that draws viewers into her meticulously constructed realms.

Elsa Mora’s papercut art is deeply autobiographical, shaped by her personal experiences and the stories that define her. She explores universal themes of relationships, family bonds, and passion, transforming emotional moments into authentic, heartfelt works of art. Mora often employs subtle touches of color to amplify the messages within her pieces, using the delicate medium of paper to convey profound human connections.

A multi-faceted visual artist, Andrea Dezso’s creative practice spans drawing, embroidery, papercutting, animation, sculpture, installations, and public art. Her papercut works, rooted in a figurative approach, reflect her life experiences while delving into intimate themes: the role of women, family dynamics, ideological and social influences, the natural world, and the human body. This breadth of artistic exploration infuses her papercuts with a rich, layered narrative quality.

The Indian-American artist duo Hari and Deepti blend the art of paper cutting with the magic of light to craft immersive, dreamlike universes. Their signature works are papercut light boxes—glowing narrative installations inspired by their travels across Asia and Europe, as well as their deep fascination with mythological tales. Since 2010, they have refined their craft—using hand-drawn watercolor paper cut into delicate layers and illuminated by soft LED lights from behind—creating dramatic transformations between the works’ appearance in daylight and darkness. As they aptly describe: “Paper is brutal in its simplicity as a medium. It is playful, light, colorless and colorful. It reflects light, creates depth and illusions in such a way that it takes the artist through a journey with limitless possibilities.” Their iconic pieces include Fields Of Gold, The Old Banyan Tree, and Where The Giants Roam.

Pippa Dyrlaga draws inspiration from the natural world and the quiet moments of everyday life, using papercutting as a vessel to express her thoughts and observations. For her, the creative process is just as meaningful as the final result: starting with a blank sheet of paper and transforming it into a purposeful work of art that carries a message. Her pieces feel intimate and authentic, capturing the beauty of the mundane through precise cuts and thoughtful composition.

Rosa Yoo is a master of miniature papercraft, crafting intricate microworlds and even fully realized pop-up cities with her papercutting technique. Her imagination knows no bounds—she creates whimsical scenarios housed within everyday objects like cans, each detail rendered with meticulous precision. Yoo’s work celebrates the magic of scale, inviting viewers to lean in and discover the tiny, elaborate worlds she constructs.

The Paper Artist Collective is a curated community of 100 global artists united by their passion for paper art. More than just a group, it’s a collaborative hub where creators share ideas, collaborate on projects, and draw inspiration from one another’s work. For aspiring papercutters and art enthusiasts alike, it’s an invaluable resource to discover new techniques, innovative designs, and emerging talent in the world of paper art.

True to their name (which translates to “forest guardians”), this artistic duo specializes in papercut creations that celebrate nature. Their work features polyhedral animal figures and three-dimensional natural recreations, crafted with experimental techniques that bring texture and movement to static paper. Each piece feels alive, capturing the essence of wildlife and wilderness through geometric precision and creative folding.

Johanna Wilhelm’s papercut art defies scale—she works seamlessly across small, intricate pieces and large-scale installations. Her versatile style has graced fashion campaigns, live projections, and immersive art installations, with each project evolving into a unique, atmospheric scenario. Wilhelm has also made her mark in editorial illustration, bringing the book Amarillo limón el Sol to life through her distinctive papercut designs.

Paz Tamburrini is a celebrated children’s book illustrator and papercut designer, as well as an instructor at Domestika, where she teaches the course Illustration with Papercut: Create Extraordinary Books. What sets her work apart is her exploration of how paper itself can enhance storytelling—she views the medium as an active participant in the narrative, using its texture, layers, and form to deepen the reader’s connection to the story. Her books are not just illustrated; they are immersive papercut experiences.