WorkArt & Culture

Beautiful paper sculptures by Vera van Wolferen adorn windows of Porto bookshop

Vera van Wolferen – featured previously – has made a name for herself in the paper art community.

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Intricate white paper sculpture featuring architectural and household elements stacked and suspended together, part of Vera van Wolferen's Plant Life series

Her latest series, Plant Life, features two new paper sculptures made especially for the windows of Livraria Lello, one of the world's most beautiful and oldest bookshops, in Porto, Portugal. A wonderful art nouveau building, it's where J.K. Rowling was inspired to write Harry Potter, and where tourists queue up daily for their chance to visit.

The Dutch artist creates intricate and meticulously constructed scenes out of paper, cardboard, and wood. She is inspired by her everyday surroundings – seemingly common household objects, architectural elements and automobiles are fused into magical landscapes. The hand-crafted scenes she creates are "vehicles for the imagination".

The exhibition is on now until 31 October 2017. Discover more at veravanwolferen.nl.

White paper birdhouse with small golden window and decorative roof details, part of Vera van Wolferen's Plant Life paper sculpture series
White paper sculpture of a multi-storey house with pitched roofs and illuminated windows, part of Vera van Wolferen's installation for Livraria Lello bookshop
White paper cut-out figures and shapes hanging from a wire in a window display by Vera van Wolferen
Embossed text on white paper reading "plant life" with decorative leaf motifs, from Vera van Wolferen's illustrated guide
Close-up of handwritten text on white paper reading "foster your plans like your dreams water them smog the on even smog along the But most lofod" from Vera van Wolferen's paper sculpture installation
Vera van Wolferen installs one of her intricate white paper sculptures in a window display at Livraria Lello bookshop
White paper sculpture of monstera and other tropical plants in a cylindrical vase by Vera van Wolferen, casting delicate shadows on a white surface
Delicate white paper sculpture of a house nestled among curved paper leaves and petals by Vera van Wolferen
Spherical paper house sculpture with white and grey panels, small windows and a thatched roof, mounted on a white pole against a neutral background
White paper sculptural flower with geometric petals and protruding wire stamens against a grey background, part of Vera van Wolferen's Plant Life series
White paper sculpture of a delicate flower with layered petals surrounding a tall tower structure at its centre by Vera van Wolferen
Hand-held white paper sculpture of a lighthouse surrounded by radiating petal-like forms, part of Vera van Wolferen's Plant Life series
White paper sculpture of a delicate flower with layered petals and detailed stamens at its centre by Vera van Wolferen
Vera van Wolferen applies adhesive to paper during the creation of one of her intricate paper sculptures
White paper sculpture of an ornate flower with curved petals and a detailed tower-like structure at its centre by Vera van Wolferen
Delicate white paper plant sculpture with drooping bell-shaped flowers and leaves against a pale grey background
White paper-cut botanical leaves and ferns arranged on a light background by Vera van Wolferen
White paper watering can pouring water onto a delicate paper plant sculpture in a pot, with dramatic shadows cast on a grey surface
Tiny white paper ladder balanced on a fingertip against a neutral background
Miniature white paper lighthouse with windows and a lantern top held in someone's open palm against a grey background
Small paper house sculptures with gold window details held in an open palm
Multi-tiered white paper sculpture of a tall house with arched windows, a picket fence and a pitched roof bearing embossed text
Intricate white paper sculpture of a house with illuminated windows surrounded by layered paper plant forms and shadows cast against a white background
Close-up of embossed text reading "Vera van Wolferen" and "Plant Life" on white paper sculpture by Dutch artist Vera van Wolferen
White paper sculpture of a house with a pitched roof, small windows and a white picket fence by Vera van Wolferen
White paper sculpture of a tall tower structure with a clock face and building section on top, part of Vera van Wolferen's Plant Life series for Livraria Lello bookshop
Whimsical paper sculpture of a house-shaped structure with a watering can on top, perched on a white latticed tower base
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