Tulle Portraits by Benjamin Shine

Instead of painting with paint, British artist Benjamin Shine creates his portraits with tulle — you know, that netting fabric that you see on various gowns or tutus. Shine takes a single piece of tulle and proceeds to pleat, iron, and manipulate it into these hauntingly realistic portraits full of light, shadow, and dimension.

Elizabeth Taylor (first image also)

The three-dimensional pieces show unbelievable likeness to the person they are meant to portray, despite the use of such a raw textile.

Elizabeth Taylor

Andy Warhol

While not a portrait per se, the “Hands of Time” installation is made from over 50 meters (approx. 164 feet) of tulle. The detail created is unreal!

Hands of Time – in process

Hands of Time – close up

Hands of Time – detail

Hands of Time – side view

Sheikah

Sheikah – in process

Mrs. Foster

Giusi

Chloe

John

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

You can follow Caroline Williamson on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Linkedin. Read all of Caroline Williamson's posts.