About

Yossi Ben Abu is a contemporary paper artist based in California whose intricate, meditative works explore the relationship between structure, repetition, and emotional resonance. Born in Israel and originally trained in architecture and graphic design, Ben Abu merges technical precision with poetic expression, transforming the everyday material of paper into sculptural wall reliefs. His minimalist yet deeply expressive compositions reflect a lifelong fascination with geometry, balance, and light.

Ben Abu’s work draws inspiration from both mathematical systems and natural patterns—an interplay that is central to his artistic voice. His art often begins with a single geometric unit, like a folded square or interlocking form, repeated in varying arrangements to create depth, rhythm, and movement. Rather than pursue perfection, he introduces subtle shifts and asymmetries within these patterns, allowing emotion to disrupt the expected logic. This tension between uniformity and deviation gives each piece a sense of quiet energy and layered meaning.

In the last two years, Ben Abu’s artistic direction has evolved to embrace broader narratives and bolder use of color. In Echoing Silence (2024), for example, hand-cut paper strips are meticulously interwoven into a radiant gradient—transitioning from deep red to soft blue to golden ochre—creating a woven visual field that speaks to both harmony and transformation. Similarly, in Aurora (2025), the artist captures the ephemeral glow of northern light through hundreds of folded paper elements arranged in wave-like formations. These recent works mark a shift from purely abstract patterning toward compositions that evoke emotional landscapes and atmospheric presence.

At the heart of Ben Abu’s practice is his commitment to craftsmanship and material integrity. Working primarily with archival-quality paper, he cuts, scores, folds, and assembles each component by hand. The precision of his technique—paired with the organic nature of light interacting with the folded surfaces—results in a visual depth that changes with each viewing angle and throughout the day. The material may appear delicate, but the construction is remarkably sturdy, often mounted on wood panels and protected by museum-grade framing. His use of monochromatic or gradient color schemes enhances the sculptural quality of the paper, allowing shadow and light to become active elements in the composition.

This technical rigor, paired with an intuitive sense for spatial design, has earned Ben Abu increasing recognition across the contemporary art world. His work has been exhibited at major fairs including CONTEXT Art Miami, the LA Art Show, SF Art Fair and Art on Paper New York, and he is represented by several galleries in the US. His pieces are held in private collections and are also available through Artsy and 1stDibs, where they continue to captivate collectors and curators drawn to their balance of discipline and serenity.

Through every fold and every pattern, Yossi Ben Abu seeks to articulate what cannot be said in words—a language of form, rhythm, and shadow. His work encourages viewers to pause, reflect, and engage with the subtleties of perception. Whether inspired by nature, architecture, or pure abstraction, his paper compositions serve as portals into moments of stillness and introspection—an invitation to experience emotion through geometry.