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Handcrafted paper installations that burst with colour and insanely intricate detail

If you're mad about paper art, then you'll no doubt be familiar with the work of Zim&Zou – two French artists who are famous for creating stunning paper installations that burst with colour and enjoy insanely intricate attention to detail.

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Via Creative Boom submission. All images courtesy of the artists

Via Creative Boom submission. All images courtesy of the artists

The duo is composed of Lucie Thomas, born in the Vosges in 1987, and Thibault Zimmermann, born in Paris in 1986. They met while studying graphic design together and after graduation decided to set up their own studio, focusing on installations of handcrafted objects made from tangible materials such as paper, wood and thread.

Anchored in craftsmanship, they create all the elements that make up their installations by hand, from drawing and cutting to assembling. Their favourite material is paper – cutting, folding and gluing it together to create intricate and colourful sculptures. Paper inspires them for its versatility, infinite range of hues and unique textures.

Opting for such traditional techniques and moving away from digital technologies, the pair have attracted the attention of some of the world's leading brands and publications. And you can discover why their work is proving so popular by visiting their colourful portfolio.

White paper cityscape with colorful accents and an orange and red train, crafted by Zim&Zou
Brightly coloured paper train installation with orange roof and blue carriage, alongside a small green paper car, set against a white geometric background by Zim&Zou
Vibrant hanging mobile installation featuring hand-cut paper shapes, geometric patterns and dangling elements in bright colours of orange, blue, purple and yellow suspended from ceiling
Vibrant paper craft camera with blue body, neon pink and orange accents, and a detailed striped lens made from rolled coloured paper strips
Colourful paper camera sculpture by Zim&Zou featuring stacked bands of patterned paper in bright pink, orange, yellow and blue forming the lens barrel
Colourful layered paper installation by Zim&Zou featuring stacked circular elements with striped patterns, geometric shapes and bright rainbow hues in pink, blue, yellow and orange
Colourful paper installation by Zim&Zou shaped like a house with blue walls, green legs, and intricate geometric patterns in orange, pink and purple throughout
Colourful handcrafted paper installations by Zim&Zou featuring bright pink, blue, green and orange geometric structures with intricate details suspended against a white background
Colorful paper sculpture of a purple creature with tan spiky hair and orange drool inside a chartreuse and red box with patterned papers, by Zim&Zou
Colourful paper installation by Zim&Zou featuring a blue-framed arcade-style facade with intricate layered paper elements, compartments and geometric patterns in vibrant reds, yellows, purples and greens
Colourful paper installation by Zim&Zou featuring geometric shapes, striped patterns and architectural structures in purple, green, blue and red tones
Vibrant paper installation of a retro computer setup with neon pink, yellow and blue geometric designs, featuring a fan-shaped monitor, keyboard and overhead components
Colourful paper installation by Zim&Zou in the shape of a stylised house with blue walls, green legs and orange accents, filled with intricate patterns and cut-out details throughout
Vibrant paper art installation with geometric shapes and colourful layered details in blue, pink, orange and yellow tones
Colourful handcrafted paper syringes with patterned details arranged on a pink background by Zim&Zou
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