Matthew Shlian

Matthew Shlian (b. 1980, Norwalk, Connecticut) is a paper engineer in Ann Arbor whose folded-paper sculptures sit between art, design, and materials science. He took a BFA at Alfred University and an MFA at Cranbrook in print media and paper engineering, then spent nearly a decade as artist in residence in the University of Michigan's materials science department, where his folding patterns helped shape kirigami solar cells that track the sun. His Omoplata editions with Ghostly International apply curve folding — creases that follow arcs instead of straight lines — to pull flat sheets into monochrome low relief, named for the jiu-jitsu hold where one body locks another in place. Someday I hope to visit his workshop and see how he makes paper behave in ways I still don't understand.

Artist's website (mattshlian.com) ↗

1 physical work