larger-than-life paper busts by jose lerma + hector madera

larger-than-life paper busts by josé lerma + hector madera
josé lerma & héctor madera
bust of emanuel augustus, 2012
paper
dimensions variable
image courtesy of saatchi gallery

when one thinks of creating a bust to commemorate an individual in history, they usually take to sculpting their muse from substantial materials such as terracotta, marble, wood, bronze. instead, josé lerma and hector madera use unconventional materials to render their statues. the spanish born, US-based artists use paper to create larger-than-life abstracted versions of people, most recently retired american boxer emanuel augustus. the colorful portrayals see the artists crumpling sheets of their chosen medium around an armature for support, resulting in humorous, almost unrecognizable versions of their subjects.

the paper busts of lerma and madera are currently on show at the saatchi gallery in london until november 3, 2013; and the museum of contemporary art chicago until december 3, 2013.

josé lerma & héctor madera
bust of emanuel augustus, 2012
paper
dimensions variable
image courtesy of saatchi gallery

josé lerma & héctor madera
the countess, 2012
paper
dimensions variable
image courtesy of the artists

josé lerma & héctor madera
the countess and the godmother, 2012
paper
dimensions variable
image courtesy of the artists

josé lerma & héctor madera
the credentialist, 2012
paper
dimensions variable
image courtesy of andrea rosen gallery