Virginia-based fine artist Eric Standley is busy blowing minds with his laser-cut paper sculptures reminiscent of stained glass windows. Standley spends months drawing and planning each piece, determining the depth and obsessively playing with dimension and the details therein, before beginning the laser cutting process, which can take upwards of 30 hours. Virtually a paper architect, he must take into account structural elements, for instance implementing curves and overlaps in the design to stabilize unsupported arches. The piece pictured above, for instance, employs 118 sheets of paper, and is 1.75″ from surface to center, with drawings visible on the base layer, and hidden “rooms” of more imagery only seen by getting close to the piece. Though his works are bona fide stunners when viewed online, I can only imagine how much more mesmerizing they are to see in person. Here is just a sampling, with many more pieces on his site.

[via Laughing Squid]