Ohio-based artist John Sokol had a novel idea when he decided to create portraits of famous literary artist portraits using the subjects’ own words.
The word portraits feature famous literary men from the last 200 years with their faces made up entirely of their own words. Some of my favorites that are featured in this gallery include Toni Morrison for Song of Solomon, Walt Whitman for Leaves of Grass, Samuel Beckett for Waiting for Godot, William Faulker for The Sound and the Fury, Leo Tolstoy for War and Peace and even 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, for his speech A More Perfect Union.
While a few of these word portraits have been sold, the others are still available for purchase directly from the official John Sokol website.
Literary Word Portraits
Artist John Sokol Uses Writer's Own Words For Portraits
Trend Themes
1. Word Portraits in Art - Using famous literary figures' own words to create unique portraits presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the art industry.
2. Personalized Artwork - Creating word portraits tailored to individuals using their own words offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for the customization industry.
3. Literary-based Art - Incorporating literature into visual art through word portraits opens up a disruptive innovation opportunity for the intersection of literature and art.
Industry Implications
1. Art - The art industry can explore the use of word portraits to offer unique and personalized artwork for customers.
2. Customization - The customization industry can leverage word portraits to provide personalized artwork that reflects individuals' identity and interests.
3. Literature and Art - The intersection of literature and art can be expanded by incorporating word portraits that celebrate famous literary figures.