{"id":1968718,"date":"2026-06-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1968718"},"modified":"2026-06-02T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:00:00","slug":"meticulously-detailed-natural-specimens-by-marisa-aragon-ware-emerge-from-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1968718","title":{"rendered":"Meticulously Detailed Natural Specimens by Marisa Arag\u00f3n Ware Emerge from Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a cicada on some leaves against a dark background\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Meticulously Detailed Natural Specimens by Marisa Arag\u00f3n Ware Emerge from Paper<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T15:44:00-05:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><a class=\"category-illustration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/illustration\/\" rel=\"tag\">Illustration<\/a><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F06%2Fmarisa-aragon-ware-paper-reliefs-animals-nature%2F&amp;title=Meticulously%20Detailed%20Natural%20Specimens%20by%20Marisa%20Arag%C3%B3n%20Ware%20Emerge%20from%20Paper\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"474613\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marisaware.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marisa Arag\u00f3n Ware<\/a> grew up wandering through the Rocky Mountain forests of Colorado, where she reveled in nature\u2019s diversity. There, she learned about woodland wildflowers, fungi, birds, and more with the help of her dad, who is a scientist. Over time, her fascination with organic forms made its way into an evolving art practice.<\/p>\n<p>Based in Boulder, Ware continues to spend time in the woods, taking inspiration from flora and fauna alike. Through a meticulous process of cutting and scoring paper, she creates delicate curves to imitate the volume of leaves or bones and defines feathers, insect wings, and petals with precise veins and edges.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2474\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-9.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of an animal skull amid foliage against a dark background\" class=\"wp-image-474621\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Paper became Ware\u2019s medium of choice because she finds beauty and awe in a material we use so often in daily life that we hardly give it a second thought. \u201cPaper is deeply familiar\u2014everyone has handled it, written grocery lists on it, folded it, torn it, discarded it,\u201d she tells Colossal. \u201cBecause it\u2019s such an everyday material, there\u2019s something especially powerful about transforming it into something unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biodiversity and ecosystem interdependence are themes running throughout Ware\u2019s work, and she\u2019s especially interested in the theory of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/biophilia-hypothesis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biophilia<\/a>. The hypothesis posits that humans inherently seek connections with nature on multiple levels. \u201cOur need for nature extends far beyond physical survival; it also nourishes imagination, spirituality, and our sense of meaning,\u201d Ware says. \u201cThrough my sculptures, I hope to create moments of wonder that help viewers reconnect with that ancient relationship and perhaps feel more compelled to protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Precision and control are key in Ware\u2019s practice, but she has recently been privileging experimentation and a loosening-up of her approach. \u201cI\u2019ve been asking myself what may have been lost in the process of becoming technically skilled and how I can return to a beginner\u2019s mindset without abandoning the abilities I\u2019ve spent decades developing,\u201d she says. \u201cThat questioning has led me to incorporate new processes and materials, including cyanotypes, allowing myself to work in ways that are less controlled, more intuitive, and more exploratory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ware\u2019s work is included in <em>Common Waters <\/em>at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/05\/common-waters-ocean-conservation-fundraiser-exhibition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arch Enemy Arts<\/a>, which opens on June 5. See more on Ware\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/marisaaragonware\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>. You might also enjoy Manabu Kosaka\u2019s hyperrealistic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/manabu-kosaka-paper-sculptures-technology\/\">paper sculptures<\/a> of retro technology.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1488\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-7.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a flying bird against a dark background with ferns and the moon\" class=\"wp-image-474619\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-10.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"3145\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-10.jpeg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a phoenix in front of an Islamic window with flowers\" class=\"wp-image-474622\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"3597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-3.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a luna moth against a red background\" class=\"wp-image-474616\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-11.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-11.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a ram&apos;s skull amid foliage\" class=\"wp-image-474623\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-6.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"3412\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-6.jpeg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of six moths against a teal background\" class=\"wp-image-474618\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1411\" height=\"1779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-4.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a grasshopper on a leaf against a teal background with a red sphere\" class=\"wp-image-474617\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"3528\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-8.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a dragonfly against a dark background of the moon\" class=\"wp-image-474620\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-474613\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"3200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ware-1.jpg\" alt=\"a white paper relief of a bee and some foliage on a wooden table with cutting tools\" class=\"wp-image-474614\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your 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There, she learned about woodland wildflowers, fungi, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1968718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1968718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1968718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1968718\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1968718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1968718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1968718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}