Tonica Lemos is a noted
Brazilian artist. The
unusual works of art Lemos creates can fetch over $35,000US.
What's so unusual about Lemos' work? The art is created from common carpet lint, usually woolen. The artist carefully combs and rakes old carpets that were discarded or donated to harvest large piles of lint, which he uses to create sculptures.
Tonicas specialty is creating artistic toys, such as rabbits, monkeys and bears. The animals are very soft and huggable, but tend to be so expensive that people are afraid of damaging them.
Tonica has traveled abroad, and has created animals during performance pieces for shows like The Beck Futures 2004 Edition, wherein Lemos sculpted animals while Susan Philipsz sang Radiohead's Airbag over the PA system in Tesco Metro, Bethnal Green.