made of money currency portraits by evan wondolowski

made of money currency portraits by evan wondolowski
(above) ’50 Cent’ rendered in U.S. dollars

evan wondolowski has taken his obsession with money and turned it into a creative endeavour. ‘it’s the foundation of our society and affects everything within it. although people have become divided by politics, religions, and languages, we are all united by our collective dependence on money,’ he says.

with this in mind, he transforms currency from a medium of exchange to a medium of expression. though the money he uses in his portraits – rendering the likes of 50 cent, denis rodman, to ron paul and barack obama – is no longer valid as legal tender, he has layered them with new value by stripping them down and reconstructing them into each artwork.

detail of the thin strips of currency

‘dennis rodman’ rendered in north korean won
16″ x 26″

detail of dennis rodman’s signature lips

‘ron paul’ rendered in U.S. dollars
16″ x 26″

‘ron paul’ (detail)

‘barack obama’ rendered in U.S. coins

detail of ‘barack obama’

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