everyday objects with faces, each with a name & a poem of its own
The Faces Within Places book
248 pages of quirky characters, funny poems and witty one-liners.
- 248 pages
- 8.5″ square hardcover
- Free bookmark
everyday objects with faces, each with a name & a poem of its own
248 pages of quirky characters, funny poems and witty one-liners.
The tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern, such as the surprised face in an electrical outlet.
Pareidolia is the reason a doorknob looks like it's judging you, or someone sees a figure in a piece of burnt toast. Our ancestors used this phenomenon to spot predators in the bushes. I use it to see an elephant in the clouds.
I've been in tune with it for as long as I can remember, and in 2017 I found it entertaining enough to build a whole series around it.
"It's all about finding the fun in the mundane. I call it fundane."
You're looking at my photos, just as I found them. Flip the switch to see the characters I saw.Now you're seeing what I see. Flip it back to return to the photos, or hover over any card to compare.
Found on a laundromat dryer
Grab my beak if it’s laundry you seek.You barely see me, maybe once a week.Why do I have this disappointed look?I dry your clothes as you read a book.I’m dryer duck, and for a buck, I dry the shirts you tuck.Handle my bill if you will, tweak left for your garments.I’ll see you next week, but please, no more vomit.
Found in a workshop
Yeah, I’m Frankie the furnace, who’s askin’?Short arms with anger fueled by fire, a bowler hat is my only attire.Burning wood is what I do.For cookin’ stew or warming you.But don’t feed me too much I’m warning you.I’m an earnest furnace, and frankly, I couldn’t care less about burning you.
Found on a bathroom stall
Hi there!I’m Sharron, the stall wall door.I hope the soap on my face stalls you from leaving this place.My look of surprise caused by the amount of hands not using my cleaning supplies.So, come hither and let me sanitize your mitts, then dry your hands after you rinse.
Found in the bathroom
You’re in the bathroom at the urinal urine spilling.A sloth in transit with its oxygen filling.Arms resting in place, smile on its face, slowly but surely, it’s no race.Happy you’re there, the sloth happily stares.As you finish and flush, to the cosmos, no rush.
Found on an ice machine
GAHAYUCK!Hi there!I have some stuff to share!It’s ice and water, and I suggest in that order.If it’s the latter first, by all means quench your thirst!But let it be known, YAHUH!You’re in the splash zone.My uneven teeth dispense your desires, push my eyes is what I require!
Found in my sandwich
I’m ripe, teeth rotten.My other half— forgotten.This crescent face is only recent.But, not to panic, by botanic rules my seeds will sprout.More tomatoes to creep you out.Though, there will be none like me— I’m one of a kind.You won’t find me in a bottle of Heinz.
Find more characters and other content on my Instagram.
From a few posts online to the press, guest lectures, textbooks and a sold-out book.
I shared my first faces on Reddit and Imgur, and the response was big enough to give the series a home of its own on Instagram.
Bored Panda, My Modern Met, Laughing Squid and Distractify shared the series, allowing it to reach millions of people across the world.
An ongoing collab with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's HITRECORD community, where members find faces in everyday objects and bring them to life.
I gave a guest lecture at Parsons on finding yourself as an artist and building a brand around who you are.
A Year 1 class at Parkside Primary School in East London was named after me and spent six weeks making art inspired by my characters.
My art appears in educational textbooks in the UK and Brazil: Illustration 1: Illustration Sketchbooks from the Open College of the Arts, and Projeto Via: Língua Portuguesa, a school textbook from Selo VIA.
The first edition of The Faces Within Places sold out.
Featured in
Somebody has to speak for the objects.
I'm a self-taught artist, designer and writer based in Denver, Colorado. I started The Faces Within Places in 2017 because I couldn't stop seeing faces in things, and I wanted to give them the stories they deserve.
Since then the characters have been featured by Bored Panda and My Modern Met, sparked a community collaboration with HITRECORD, appeared in textbooks in the UK and Brazil, and filled a book that sold out its first edition.
By day I'm a senior product designer and design team lead, and I also run Studio Keith, my brand and graphic design practice.
For collaborations, licensing, press, projects or questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
Teachers: free lesson and school visitsBrands: commissions, licensing and the press kit