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Danish artist Peter Callesen creates breathtakingly intricate paper sculptures—crafted entirely from a single sheet of paper. No glue. No tape. Just pure imagination, precise technique, and remarkable patience.

With roots in architecture, Callesen has devoted recent years to exploring the expressive possibilities of plain white paper through delicate cut-outs, sculptural forms, immersive installations, and evocative performances. Much of his work begins with the humble A4 sheet—transformed into scenes of astonishing detail and poetic depth.

His creations bridge the world of the flat and the dimensional. As the paper is cut and folded, fragile figures emerge, rising into space while remaining tethered to the very surface from which they were born. The voids left behind—ghostlike silhouettes—serve as powerful metaphors, highlighting the tension between presence and absence, freedom and confinement. In this delicate interplay, there is beauty, wonder, and often, a quiet sense of tragedy.

More info: petercallesen.com | Instagram | Facebook

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    #5

    Paper art of wings cut and crafted from a single white sheet, showcasing intricate mini worlds.

    Peter Callesen Report

    Nicole Lewahert
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Merveilleux de douceur...

    #7

    Paper art by Peter Callesen: a mini world featuring a cut-out building and staircase in a wooden frame.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #8

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a delicate boat, surrounded by intricate cut-out figures on a sunlit surface.

    Peter Callesen Report

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    #9

    Paper sculpture resembling a gothic cathedral, crafted by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #12

    Intricate mini world paper art by Peter Callesen, featuring delicate cut-out floral patterns, framed in light wood.

    Peter Callesen Report

    Marilyn Holt
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So much planning and artistry and delicacy and a very steady hand in all of these!

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    #13

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a cutout figure and strings in a wooden frame, showcasing intricate design.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #14

    Paper art mini world in a blue frame by artist Peter Callesen, featuring intricate details and flowing paper elements.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #15

    Paper castle miniature by Peter Callesen, intricately crafted from a single white sheet.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #16

    Paper art of flowers in a vase by Peter Callesen, showcasing intricate mini worlds against a red background.

    Peter Callesen Report

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    #19

    Paper art by Peter Callesen depicting delicate flowers intricately cut and displayed in a shadow box.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #20

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a cloud cutout and a paper sheep in a landscape scene.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #21

    Intricate paper sculpture by Peter Callesen depicting a complex tree design emerging from a sheet.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #22

    Miniature paper worlds by Peter Callesen featuring cut-out figures on a wooden surface.

    Peter Callesen Report

    Vyxsin (she/her)
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Although this appears to be one of the more simplistic creations featured here, being from California, to myself this particular piece and the story it tells has a profound sadness to it

    #23

    Paper mini world featuring a skeleton on a chair casting a shadow on a white sheet, by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #24

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a shirt with intricate cut-out designs resembling floating clouds.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #26

    Miniature paper world by Peter Callesen, featuring cutouts and a tiny bus on a wooden surface.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #27

    Miniature paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a cut-out human figure in a frame with a small paper person.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #28

    A unique paper artwork by Peter Callesen featuring a figure holding a cut-out sheet, within a framed display.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #30

    Paper mini world by Peter Callesen featuring an egg on a pillow with cut-out birds.

    Peter Callesen Report

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    #31

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring floral designs intricately cut and layered in a wooden frame.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #32

    Paper art of a mini world with a ladder and torn sheet by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report

    Marilyn Holt
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd love to know what type of tools are used for these.

    #33

    Miniature paper boat crafted by Peter Callesen on textured paper, showcasing intricate detail.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #34

    Paper art by Peter Callesen depicting flowers cut from white sheet with red petals on a green background.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #35

    Paper art depicting a tree with cut-out leaves by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #36

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a 3D miniature pagoda emerging from a paper sheet.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #37

    Paper mini world art by Peter Callesen depicting a small mountain on a flat surface.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #39

    Intricate paper art mini world featuring delicate cut-out floral designs by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #40

    Paper cut art of a cowboy and bird on an orange background.

    Peter Callesen Report

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    #41

    Paper mini world sculpture by Peter Callesen with columns emerging from a sheet.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #44

    Paper art sculpture by Peter Callesen of a person balancing stacked boxes, framed on a wall.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #46

    Intricate paper art shaped like a human head, showcasing detailed, abstract patterns in a wooden frame.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #47

    Paper art depicting a mini world in a blue frame, featuring intricate cutouts and a small ship below.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #48

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a detailed mini world on a curved white sheet.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #49

    Paper art sculpture by Peter Callesen featuring intricate cut-out detail on a cardboard block.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #50

    Paper art mini world depicting a tree with intricate cutouts and a skeleton below, crafted by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report

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    #51

    Mini world crafted from a single sheet of paper by Peter Callesen, featuring intricate cut-out designs.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #52

    Mini world paper sculpture by Peter Callesen, featuring a cutout figure casting a shadow on a wooden pedestal.

    Peter Callesen Report

    Marilyn Holt
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like origami and paper cutting combined

    #53

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a cut-out footprint with a delicate paper sculpture emerging.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #54

    Paper art by Peter Callesen featuring a layered arrangement of cut paper sheets in a wooden frame.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #55

    Paper art of clouds in a wooden frame, showcasing intricate cut-out details.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #56

    Paper mini world sculpture by Peter Callesen, featuring a figure with arms outstretched on a cut-out sheet.

    Peter Callesen Report

    #57

    Miniature world and shirt sculpture made from paper by Peter Callesen.

    Peter Callesen Report