Thousands of hand-cut papers go into constructing the stunning and highly structured wigs and masks by Paper-Cut-Project. Talk about wow factor!
The company: Paper-Cut-Project, founded in 2009, is based in Atlanta and Chicago.
The creators: Nikki Nye and Amy Flurry.
- Born in Rhode Island, Nye grew up in the Chicago suburbs and earned a degree in interior design from the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago. She lives in Naperville, west of Chicago, where she moved last year.
- A Georgia native. Flurry grew up in Americus and graduated from University of Georgia. She lives in Athens.
In the beginning: Nye began working with small paper sculptures in college. A few years after college, she opened a women’s boutique in Atlanta and displayed some of her art on the walls.
Flurry, a freelance writer and editor, met Nye when she was writing an article about her store. The two became fast friends. A few years later, Nye closed her store and the two decided to start a new venture, inspired by Nye’s understanding of paper and their mutual love of fashion.
The goods & materials: Wigs, masks and wall installations, all in paper. Also fine art prints of many of pieces.
The tools: Bristol paper, glue, X-Acto knife and many blades. Also a finish that stiffens and seals the paper.
What’s popular: Masks and wigs ($3,500 to $5,500), mostly in white, but sometimes black. Very rarely, color.
By the numbers: Created more than 150 wigs, masks and fashion accessories. Pieces can take 40 to 60 hours to make.
Fun requests: Masks for big (like 40th) birthdays. Also created a floral surround over a door frame in the home of an art collector.
Big break (s):
- The company’s creative director reached out to Nye and Flurry after seeing their first paper wigs displayed in Jeffrey boutique in New York. The duo was commissioned to make 30 animal masks for models for the openings of Hermes stores throughout Asia.
- Construct 16 wigs for the Hollywood Costume exhibit at the Victoria & Albert museum in London.
- A collaboration with American designer Jen Kao on a runway fashion show at Lincoln Center during fashion week (2011).
Claim to fame: Created a set of wigs for Christie’s in New York when it auctioned off Elizabeth Taylor’s gowns and jewelry.
Recent project: A 10-foot-by-five-foot piece for a permanent installation at the Double Tree hotel in Tallahassee’s rooftop bar, Eve on Adams.
What’s new: Exhibiting a series of limited-edition prints and three wigs at Anne Neilson Fine Art in Charlotte, NC, through Nov. 14.
Where to buy: paper-cut-project.com
Get social at: papercutproject on Instagram.
