Erika Iris Simmons is a self-taught artist with a unique twist on portraiture. She uses non-traditional media, recycling common discarded items such as old books, VHS tapes, film reels & audio cassettes, and uses them to create incredible portraits of pop-culture icons. Her work has been featured on major websites as well as in magazines & newspapers across the globe.

Robert Smith (The Cure) by iri5

Alfred Hitchcock by iri5

She’s experimented to amazing effect with other materials as well, including a portrait of professional baseball player Fernando Valenzuela made entirely from the innards of a single baseball and a stunningly detailed portrait of Oscar Wilde “in his own words” – the portrait is made entirely from pages from Wilde‘s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Fernando Valenzuela by iri5

Oscar Wilde "in his own words" by iri5

“I try to express an idea, through the arrangement of very common things, with the hope that some message is conveyed without words,” says Erika. “I love the nostalgia of the archaic and I hope that not everything which has outlived its use goes to waste.”

Tom Waits by iri5

Jimi Hendrix by iri5

She has also created a number of marvelous “remixes” of images, such as a portrait of surrealist Salvador Dali created out of pieces of his paintings & a portrait of US President Barack Obama created from a collage of photographs.

Salvador Dali by iri5

Barack Obama by iri5

Erika can be found online in a number of places under the handle iri5, including flickr & her own website. You can also friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Bob Marley by iri5

Erika happily accepts donations & is currently looking for the following items:

• old cassette tapes
• film reels
• an old butterfly net
• graduation tassels
• old lace

“If anyone can help supply me with any of these aforementioned things, I will certainly reward you with some cool art in exchange. I will also notify you when the project is completed, and send you pictures of the final product. I really appreciate any help and I aim to share the experience of creating the artwork as much as possible,” says Erika.

Bob Dylan by iri5

The Clash by iri5

You can contact Erika Iris Simmons directly from her website or by email “for more info, or a full list of pictures, to commission a piece for yourself, or just to say hi.” Her email address is eisimmons@gmail.com.

Audrey Hepburn by iri5

Be sure to visit
http://www.iri5.com – Erika’s website
&
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iri5 – Erika’s flickr photostream

Michael Jackson by iri5

Marilyn Monroe by iri5

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