Matthew Shilan

About

Instagram star known for his matthewshlian Instagram account, which has attained 100,000 followers. He is a paper engineer, and he often posts his complex yet beautifully designed paper folds. Some of his paper folds have contributed to various scientific investigations including the visualization of cellular division and the development of solar cells. 

Before Fame

He obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking & Sculpture from Alfred University in 2002. He subsequently earned his Master of Fine Arts in Print Media and Paper Engineering from Cranbrook Academy in 2006. 

Trivia

During his Tamarind Residency in 2016, he worked with Tamarind printers to create a series of prints which he later cut up, folded, and reconstructed into dimensional pieces. He was the first artist awarded the Frederick Hammersley Artist Residency from 2017 until 2018. 

Family Life

He is married to his wife Thea Augustina Eck. Together they have two children. 

Associated With

In December 2022, he posted an Instagram video showing the process behind the creation of his paper folds, and the video featured the song "Falaise" by English music producer Sam Shepherd, also known as Floating Points.