Brett Angell’s unique use of cigarette boxes is catching fire
Chelsea resident Brett Angell holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is an accomplished artist.
Angell, 54, is creating a stir with his ability to turn cigarette boxes into unique pieces of artwork. He has been doing it full-time since 2006.
“Occasionally I would make one for family members or friends as gifts,” said Angell, who works as a preparator at the Museum of Fine Arts. “They liked them and thought they were fairly unique and interesting. It’s kind of fun to think that you’ve come up with something that no else tried to do yet.”
It is believed that Angell is the only artist in the United States that is making such impressive collages inside cigarettes boxes. Some have called the idea “brilliant.”
“I’m not aware of anyone else doing this same type of collage,” said Mary Lister, Angell’s wife.
What was Brett Angell’s inspiration?
“I would see this cigarette package on the ground and while I don’t smoke myself, I would like the advertising, the packaging, and the small size of the box,” he related. “As a kid, I was interested in miniature things and loved to build models.”
Angell viewed those cigarette boxes as a frame or a box “and I thought if I could make something to go inside, that could be interesting.”
He considers the cigarette box collages “domestically scaled artwork” that are affordable for the average art lover.
To-date, he has transformed 600 cigarette boxes, ranging from Camel and Pall Mall to some international brands. Each piece of artwork has a title. Because he is a long-time reader of comic books, many of Angell’s collages have comic book themes.
How long does each Angell-ic creation take to produce?
“It can take as short as a few hours but it can take as long as 10 hours if it’s really complicated,” said Angell. “The average time is 3-4 hours. Occasionally I get special requests.” Angell’s artwork can be purchased at Gallery Kayafas which is located at Harrison Avenue in Boston’s South End. The artwork is also available for viewing and purchases on Instagram.