At the cutting edge of papercraft
- Daphne creates sculptural art from paper strips
- She worked as an architect before pursuing her passion for paper art
- Her studio collaborates with world renowned brands
When Daphne Lee moved from Singapore to study architecture at Cornell University, she never imagined she would one day become a full-time paper artist. She worked as an architect in New York City for over a decade before life took her down a different path, away from sitting in front of a computer and toward a career as an artisan in Virginia. Today, Daphne makes intricate pieces with her signature edge-glued technique. “Inspiration for my designs comes from my daily life, from flowers to cityscapes, geometric patterns and typography,” she says. Daphne’s pieces have featured in collaborations with Estée Lauder, Fiskars and Anthropologie as well as fine art galleries, museums and private collections.
Interview
- How did you begin working with paper?
- It started in an organic way. I wanted to make personalised gifts for family members who were having children, so I rolled strips of paper into coils to form their babies’ names. I shared images of the finished pieces on social media and people reached out for commissions. Everything grew from there.
- Can you describe your self-taught technique?
- The studio environment in architecture school taught me to make models and use essential paper art tools, so that process came naturally. My method differs from traditional quilling, which involves pinching paper into shapes. I glue a strip of paper on its edge, then work with the line to form a contemporary, dimensional design.
- What do you enjoy most about your craft?
- I like working with my hands and getting into a flow state. The repetition is meditative and soothing. And at the end of it, I get a beautiful object, which is really satisfying.
- Are there other creative avenues you would like to explore?
- As a child, I learned Chinese painting and calligraphy. Recently, I completed a commissioned piece drawing on that background and I would like to continue leaning into my Chinese heritage, recreating those styles with paper. I am also experimenting with more abstract pieces.
Daphne Lee is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2016
Where
Daphne Lee
