Lauren Edelstein has become known for creating wacky celebrity portraits entirely out of emojis. She spends countless hours layering emojis on her iPhone to create elaborate pieces that she describes as similar to the Mona Lisa but with a modern twist. Despite the time-consuming process, Edelstein finds joy in creating these unique works of art.
Her collection of nine celebrity portraits was showcased in a one-day-only exhibition in a Lower East Side gallery. The exhibit, titled “Her Nails Are Chili Peppers,” featured big-name celebrities like Britney Spears, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, and Snoop Dogg. The exhibition attracted over 600 people who were fascinated by Edelstein’s creative use of emojis in her artwork.
Edelstein’s creative process mainly takes place on her phone, using Instagram stories as her canvas. She layers thousands of emojis to create each portrait, meticulously saving her progress along the way. For the exhibition, her work was blown up from digital images on her phone to physical pieces that retained their intricate detail.
The Brooklyn-based artist first started creating emoji art in 2018, inspired by an outfit she was wearing. She began posting emoji self-portraits on Instagram and quickly gained a following. Edelstein’s background in fashion influences her art, as she is highly aware of textures and shapes that complete a look.
In her creative process, Edelstein uses emojis in unconventional ways to depict various features of the celebrities she portrays. For example, she uses the onion emoji for Kardashian’s butt, the bald man emoji for Britney Spears’ breasts, and the bat emoji for Timothée Chalamet’s hair. She pays close attention to details, ensuring that each element of the portrait is thoughtfully crafted.
Overall, Edelstein finds joy and excitement in recreating iconic celebrities using literal icons. While the process can be challenging and time-consuming, the end result is a unique and visually striking piece of art. Through her innovative use of emojis, Edelstein has captured the attention of art lovers and celebrities alike, showcasing her creativity and talent in a distinctive way.
