Erik and Martin Demaine: Puzzling with Paper

In cahoots with his father Martin, the Demaines—who are featured in the upcoming Craft in America episode, SCIENCE—use artwork on their trajectory towards truth. They fold pieces of paper by hand along geometrically-derived lines and magically transform flat sheets into intricately curved constructions—while at the same time proving math theorems! The exploration doesn’t stop there. They plot out the pattern of a sunflower’s face, improvise pathways of hot glass on paper, extract Shakespeare’s words, as well as write programs that generate three-dimensional and animated fonts. The duo has a stimulating generative practice that blends disciplines from math to zoology. 

Erik and Martin Demaine installation view, Craft in America
Installation view with Hanging In, 2024
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, With Our Powers Combined, 2022
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Domaine, Thinking Red, 2024
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Domaine, Silenced, 2014
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, Pan Albers Cluster, 2019
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, Horns, 2012
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, Helix of Helices, 2019
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, Fire Fight, 2022
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, Devil’s Gold, 2021
Folded paper geometry sculpture, Craft in America, Erik and Martin Demaine
Erik and Martin Demaine, Bonfire, 2016
Geometric folded paper sculptures by Erik and Martin Demaine, Craft in America
Phylotaxis 959, 2017

Virtual Gallery

Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360º view of the virtual space.

Virtual Gallery

Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360º view of the virtual space.


NEA Horizontal Logo with url2 web

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.