# Mundane Object Masterpieces Augusto Esquivel's Button Portraits are Inspired by Iconic Celebrities By Jana Pijak | Published 2014-11-25 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/button-portraits References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/augusto-esquivel-sewing-button-portraits) & [augustoesquivel](http://www.augustoesquivel.com/) Augusto Esquivel's intricate button portraits transform mundane objects into something spectacular. The artist's main source of inspiration is [iconic imagery of celebrities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keiichi-tanaami-1) like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and even [surreal artist Salvador Dali](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salvador-dal-collection). He creates his own tributes to the pop culture icons using an unlikely and seemingly uninteresting material. Creating realistic [sewing button portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits) wouldn't be easy for most but the artist makes it look seamless with his intricate and complex compositions. His monochromatic art pieces are made using countless button elements that are suspended from the ceiling in a cluster. These buttons are hung from strings and are threaded through these strings individually. The portraits are striking and iconic, creating an impressive image from a distance and a texture of layered buttons when examined at a close range. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Button Portraits:** Exploring the use of buttons in creating intricate and complex portraits, offering an opportunity for unconventional art creations. - **Iconic Imagery:** Utilizing iconic imagery of celebrities and pop culture figures to inspire unique and recognizable artworks, presenting an avenue for reinterpretation and nostalgia. - **Unconventional Materials:** Experimenting with seemingly uninteresting materials to create visually stunning masterpieces, demonstrating the potential of unconventional art mediums. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art:** Exploring new possibilities in the art world by incorporating unconventional materials and bringing fresh perspectives to traditional art forms. - **Fashion:** Inspiring fashion designers to incorporate button details into their designs, creating unique and eye-catching garments. - **Home Decor:** Encouraging the use of buttons in home decor products, such as art pieces, pillows, and wall hangings, to add texture and visual interest to living spaces. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Reimagined Puzzled Artful Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portrait-of-a-woman-in-a-hat.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Collectible Historical Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thrilljoy-pix.md) - [Vintage Icon-Themed Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/susan-kare.md) - [Visual Graphic-Inspired Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/esc-keys.md) - [Miniature Artful Hip-Hop Landmarks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/danny-cortes.md) - [Insect-Inspired Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insect-bronze-sculptures.md) - [Galactic-Inspired Stationary Pins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/planet-pins.md) - [Surrealist-Inspired Clock Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salvador-clock.md)