# Map-Made Portraits Artist Ed Fairburn Creates Human Depictions Using the Chaotic Lines of an Atlas By Meghan Young | Published 2012-11-27 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ed-fairburn References: [thisiscolossal](http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/11/portraits-drawn-on-maps-by-ed-fairburn/) & [edfairburn](http://edfairburn.com/) Artist Ed Fairburn conveys the complexities of a human being by creating their portrait on large scale maps. He manages to manipulate the chaotic mess of road, rails and rivers in order to create the semblance of a person. What was once hidden in the depths of each geographic image has been brought to the surface by Ed Fairburn. Using ink or pencil, Ed Fairburn deals in the [figurative](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hughmanity). Although his work spans over various surfaces and contexts, his [map portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-portraits) are particularly arresting. This Is Colossal likens Ed Fairburn to "a sculptor carving a subject from a block of stone or a constellation highlighted in a clump of stars," because he is able to pull out a stunning vision from nothing. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Map-made Portraits:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring new artistic techniques that merge maps and portraiture. - **Manipulating Geographic Images:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing software or tools that facilitate the manipulation and extraction of artistic elements from map data. - **Figurative Art on Unconventional Surfaces:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating innovative platforms or materials for artists to showcase their figurative art on unconventional surfaces, such as maps. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art and Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating technology and traditional art practices to push the boundaries of artistic expression. - **Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS):** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovating mapping technologies to enable artists and designers to incorporate geographic data into their creative processes. - **Printing and Digital Imaging:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Advancing printing and digital imaging technologies to accurately reproduce intricate details and textures found in map-made portraits. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Statement Street Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Laser-Cut Urban Artistry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/laser-cut-city-maps.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [AI-Powered Global Facts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/geofacts.md) - [Robotic Portrait Sketches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pankraz-piktograph.md) - [AI-Generated Real-World Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-generated-world.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Stylized Portrait Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/face-to-all.md)