Matt Shlian

About

Matthew Shlian, an American artist, transforms paper into kinetic sculptures, seamlessly blending art with cutting-edge science. With an MFA in Paper Engineering from Cranbrook Academy, Shlian has collaborated with prestigious brands like Apple and LEVI’s, as well as the University of Michigan.

Sculptural paper

Whilst the work of Shlian has an apparent mathematical and meticulously organised nature, surprisingly the artist often works in a more intuitive approach. Starting with the inception of an idea, the artist lets his chosen material of paper pave the way, as he folds and evolves the artwork.

Actively collaborating with leading universities in the research field of paper engineering and nano folding, Shlian brings a theoretical sensibility to his work.

Within the resultant compositions there are evident thematic connections to cellular structures and biomimetics, as well as wider reference to Islamic design and architecture.

In the Studio

Example works & projects

Recognition & Awards

Shlian’s work has been exhibited across the USA, as well as London, Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona and Brussels, and throughout the Middle East at prestigious events like the Islamic Arts Festival in the UAE. This includes commissions for public, corporate and private art collections, including in the Americas, Europe and the GCC. He has collaborated with clients such as Apple, P&G, the University of Michigan Material Science Department, Deloitte, Fidelity, the United States Mint, and the Queen of Jordan.

Sample Artworks

To fully appreciate the subtle qualities of each artwork, the Artist has produced a small selection of sample artworks for our art consultancy, available to loan on request .

Request Samples

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