Artist Crafts Enormous Butterfly Wings from Thousands of Porcelain Fragments

A butterfly wing appears silky smooth to the untrained eye, yet the narrative shifts dramatically under a microscope. When examined closely, the wing consists of thousands of minuscule overlapping scales. New York artist Rebecca Manson draws from these minute natural intricacies, crafting ceramic sculptures that encapsulate the astonishing beauty of butterfly and moth wings.

Every mesmerizing insect wing is composed of innumerable hand-sculpted porcelain pieces—which Manson refers to as “smushes”—and glazed in deep, diverse hues to imitate the organic, radiant patterns found in real butterfly and moth wings. When displayed in a gallery and observed from a distance, Manson’s wings seem as if they originated from colossal insects. Up close, patrons can appreciate each distinct hand-sculpted element that contributes to its structure.

Thirteen of Manson’s grand insect wings and flowers were recently showcased at Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco in an exhibition titled *Time, You Must Be Laughing*. The exhibit is inspired by Joni Mitchell’s 1975 song “Sweet Bird,” which contemplates the transient nature of youth, beauty, and the inevitability of aging. In a similar vein, Manson delves into impermanence by portraying the delicate nature of the natural world in large formats.

A notable creation called *Exploding Butterfly* features four wall-mounted wings that seem to be caught in a moment of disintegration. Each fragmented wing appears on the verge of collapsing with a gentle touch, conveying Manson’s intrigue in uncovering beauty within decay. In this piece and many others, Manson investigates the fragility and strength of both the natural world and human existence, celebrating moments of change.

Explore Manson’s exquisite sculptures below.

**New York artist Rebecca Manson crafts ceramic sculptures that encapsulate the astonishing beauty of butterfly and moth wings.**

**Each captivating creation consists of countless hand-sculpted porcelain pieces—which Manson dubs “smushes.”**

**Each minuscule piece is glazed in rich, diverse hues to replicate the organic, radiant patterns of actual butterfly and moth wings.**

**The artist’s creations navigate the fragility and fortitude of both the natural world and human experience, honoring moments of change.**

**Rebecca Manson:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/rmanson/)
**Jessica Silverman Gallery:** [Website](https://jessicasilvermangallery.com/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jessicasilvermangallery/)

*My Modern Met granted permission to showcase images by Jessica Silverman Gallery.*

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