Origami (Japanese for “folding paper”) is the Japanese art form of folding paper by using no additional adhesive materials or cuts, which first began in Japan in the 17th century AD. Using a number of intricate folds, a simple piece of paper can be radically transformed into a complex and beautiful piece of artwork!
Origami grew dramatically across the globe during the mid-20th century, and has today evolved into a highly skilled specialist modern art form. The unique art form has many different types; action origami, modular origami, wet-folding, pureland origami and origami tessellations. Here at MOO we just can’t get enough of stunning paper design, so we’ve done you a solid and pulled together a list of our very favourite origami pieces. Sit back with a cup of your preferred hot beverage and enjoy!
Paper Origami
Akira Yoshizawa’s Collection – Source
St. George slaying the Dragon from Dave and Assia Brill’s Confluence exhibition – Source
Yoda Designed by Fumiaki Kawahata created by Philip West sandpaper and tissue paper – Source
V’s Mask from V for Vendetta, by Brian Chan – Source
Eric Joisel’s Saxophonist – Source
Hermit Crab by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Bahamut by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Designed by Brian Chan – Source
Origami Joe’s Oread Figure, on elephant hide paper – Source
Dollar Bill Digger – Source
C.P. Snow by Robert J. Lang – Source
Satoshi Kamiya’s Little Bird – Source
Vincent Floderer’s Origami Galerie in Freising – Source
Elephant by Robert J. Lang – Source
Birth by Eric Joisel – Source
Samuri Helmet Beetle by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Vincent Floderer’s Origami Galerie in Freising – Source
Wasp by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Cyclommatus Metalifer by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
White Dragon Ryujin 3.5 by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Gnome by Eric Joisel – Source
Japanese Tree Frog by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Dollar Bill Buddha – Source
Octahedron made with 12 square papers by Janet Williams – Source
The King by Eric Joisel – Source
Woolly Mammoth by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Fumiaki Kawahata’s Triceratops – Source
Robert J. Lang’s Bull Moose – Source
One Dollar Koi – Source
Humming bird and flower by Robert J. Lang – Source
Spinosaurus by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Scrub Jay with eggs and nest by Robert J. Lang – Source
Flying Bat by Robert J. Lang – Source
Saxophonist by Eric Joisel – Source
Akira Yoshizawa Panda – Source
Vincent Floderer – Source
Dollar Bill Penguin – Source
Blue Lotus – Source
Euro Rooster – Source
Origami Joe’s Alberich – Source
Five Euro Eiffel Tower – Source
Cerberus by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
X-Wing – Source
Darth Vader’s Tie and escort – Source
Bull by Won Park – Source
Toilet by Won Park – Source
White House by Won Park – Source
Origami Joe’s Vishnu – Source
Tomoko Fuse – Source
Heinz Strobl – Source
Witch and Broom from Dave and Assia Brill’s Confluence exhibition – Source
David Brill’s Rowers – Source
Two Dollar Bill Formula 1 Cars- Source
King Cobra – Source
Star Wars Enterprise – Source
Although not strictly Origami, Jeremy Kool’s Paper Fox Project is modelled in Autodesk Maya – Source
Money Bear Source – Source
Pegasus by Satoshi Kamiya – Source
Modified Jedi by Philip West – Source
Robert J. Lang’s Goat – Source
Eric Joisel’s Balrog – Source
Although not strictly origami, these are ‘oritsunagumono’ – ‘things folded and connected’. Takayuki Hori designed these to help highlight the potential threat of pollution to native animals.
So that wraps up our list of some of the best origami pieces to date, it’s amazing to think what some people can do with a sheet of paper! If this has got your creative juices flowing, why not try and create something unique with paper.