This Artist Is Blowing Up For His Sculptures Made Of The Last Thing You Would Expect

March 30, 2018

Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Felix Semper views is works of art as a great conversation piece. While very true, that sentiment may be selling himself short.

Simply take a look at his ‘sculptures’ below that are blowing up on social media right now. They’re art. They’re a magic trick. And they’re not made of stone, plastic or wood.

#stretchable paper sculptures pic.twitter.com/Cc8Gl7eY0N

— felix semper (@fsemper) July 18, 2017

#BIGGIESTRETCHMIAMI Wynwood Miami!! pic.twitter.com/RVziSNsIDS

— felix semper (@fsemper) May 7, 2017

Bling Bling Toosa!!! Stretchable paper sculpture!!!#stretchablepapersculpture #blingbling pic.twitter.com/WxvwgWSUtO

— felix semper (@fsemper) July 21, 2017

That’s right. These bad boys are made out of paper. Just regular ol’ recycled, thinly cut trees.

Semper even did a paper sculpture of a box of Frosted Flakes.

“CEREAL STRETCHABLE PAPER SCULPTURE “!! Hand painted on paper #frosedflakes #kelloggs kellogsceriallbox pic.twitter.com/ofy2FrOkbs

— felix semper (@fsemper) February 7, 2016

But why stop there? He also did a Sponge Bob.

Spongebob stretchable paper sculpture #SpongeBobSquarepants #spongebob pic.twitter.com/wRjAd8MYOX

— felix semper (@fsemper) January 3, 2018

And the 1984 Air Jordan’s you wouldn’t want to wear.

1984 Air Jordans…yes you can fly, #AirJordan #Nike pic.twitter.com/1adJSe9JAU

— felix semper (@fsemper) January 5, 2018

And possibly the greatest food prank I’ve seen in a decade.

A real burger?… % Organic and very high in fiber!!
Made from paper. #paper #NationalWalkoutDay #worldsgreatestshave #MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/dMVfEXJeMH

— felix semper (@fsemper) March 15, 2018

Semper says everything is done by hand so it takes anywhere from a week to two weeks to finish one small ‘sculpture.’ It can take two to three months to complete a larger piece.

#2017IGNIION pic.twitter.com/fxe4mTfT13

— felix semper (@fsemper) November 28, 2017

So what’s the secret?

Semper says it’s an internal mechanism that makes it open.

“The paper sculptures that are created are unique because they’re not glued on the outside. They’re glued on the inside,” he said.

The sculpture he made of Biggie Smalls last year took about 7000 sheets of paper.

You can check out more of Felix’s work here. Until then, Semper Fi!

Josh Helmuth is a sports reporter in St. Louis and a contributor for Mandatory.

Josh is originally from the small berg of Arthur, Ill, proudly the Amish capital of the state. It also has one hell of a pumpkin patch.

Josh has enjoyed dipping his toes into a variety of careers since graduating from the University of Alabama, the most rewarding thus far having served as a youth director in southern California for four years, and his broadcasting career which has garnered two Emmy awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Josh enjoys loud rock music, Tom Hanks movies, dogs that like to cuddle and long runs. He is also always in search for America's greatest cheeseburger. Follow him here if you would like to be friends!