Photos by Liza Nelson

Emojis are small digital images or icons used to express an idea, emotion, or provide commentary, in electronic communication. They are used far and wide around the world, and it’s even noted that President Barack Obama, and pop sensation Beyonce, are in on the goofy fad. Because of all it’s fun and popularity, Los Angeles-based artist Liza Nelson, set out on a creative quest for Emojis to be made real in her series titled, “EMOJI IRL.LOL“.

To get this series accomplished, Nelson photographed vegetables, props, paper mache, and people to replicate emojis we all love/hate. There are even a few that she added her own spin to, like accessories, colorful backdrops and tattoos. She then published them on Tumblr with the replicating emoji accompanying it. The series is corky and fun, and her opinion of emojis are simultaneously low and high. Although she’s appreciative, she shares the following on her Tumblr page, “Emojis mean everything and they mean nothing at the same time. They’re completely personal and completely universal. They’re really quite stupid. And they’re the best thing that ever happened to our generation. They deserve to be observed and worshiped individually. By finding, posing and sculpting emojis in real life I’ve created a set of shrines to the individual characters because somebody had to do it.”

Check out some of our favorites and find more here.

[Via Refinery 29]