Known for redefining what’s possible in paper art, Yulia Brodskaya builds vivid, textured illustrations from thousands of hand-cut, rolled, and folded strips of colored paper. She practices the ancient craft of paper quilling, which involves meticulously layering each piece to create intricate scenes that blur the line between 2D and 3D art. Her subjects span from stunning portraits to nature-inspired scenes, but her latest collection is a heartfelt tribute to Japanese art and craftsmanship.
Brodskaya breathes new life into iconic ukiyo-e masterpieces and timeless symbols of Japanese culture, reimagining them entirely in paper. With her signature blend of precision and creativity, she gives age-old imagery a colorful, contemporary twist. In one striking piece, she creates a kintsugi-inspired vase, layering delicate blue and white strips to mimic intricate porcelain designs. For the first time, she incorporates gold leaf, which appears to spill across the surface in organic patterns, mirroring the gold “cracks” that celebrate beauty in imperfection.
To create her paper vase, Brodskaya layered her intricate paper rolls inside a 3D paper structure. “While creating the kintsugi paper artwork,” she explains, “I even discovered a new method for myself: instead of forming all the elements directly from blue edge-glued strips, I built the raw/messy base layer out of roughly glued blue paper strips first, and then defined the details by placing an intricate cut-out layer of white paper on top. This experiment added a surprising sense of depth and texture, making the process feel both inventive and meditative—there was something special about first creating a touch of undefined chaos—a symbolic potential for any form to materialize from it, and then bringing order by defining borders that contained the raw energy and gave it shape and purpose in the design of the vase.”
Brodskaya’s experimental, Japan-inspired series also features Japanese patterned papers, and other materials like mother-of-pearl veneer, adding a touch of opulence to each piece. Brodskaya tells My Modern Met, “Each piece became an easy-flowing opportunity to stay curious—to explore and play with new textures and techniques while honoring the beauty and aesthetics of Japanese art and tradition.”
Check out Brodskaya’s Japan-inspired paper quilling art below, and find more from her ever-evolving portfolio on Instagram.
Yulia Brodskaya builds vivid, textured illustrations from thousands of hand-cut, rolled, and folded strips of colored paper.
The paper quilling artist’s new series is a stunning tribute to Japanese art and culture.
Brodskaya breathes new life into iconic ukiyo-e masterpieces and timeless symbols of Japanese culture, reimagining them entirely in paper.
Her intricate works feature Japanese patterned papers, mother-of-pearl veneer, and gold lead, adding a touch of opulence to each piece
Discover how Brodskaya creates her incredble works.
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Yulia Brodskaya: Website | Instagram | Facebook
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Yulia Brodskaya.
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