the faces within places

An illustrated series by Keith Larsen

See the book Meet the characters

everyday objects with faces, each with a name & a poem of its own

pa·rei·do·lia
/ˌper-ī-ˈdō-lē-ə/noun

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.

Now you'll see them too

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.

  • PhotoIllustration Photo of a laundromat dryer door with a triangular handle Illustration of Dryer Duck, a weary duck whose bill is the door handle

    Dryer Duck

    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.

  • PhotoIllustration Photo of a cast iron wood stove Illustration of Frankie the Furnace, a wood stove with a scowl

    Frankie the Furnace

    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.

  • PhotoIllustration Photo of a bathroom stall door with a soap dispenser Illustration of Sharron, a stall door whose soap dispenser is an open mouth

    Sharron

    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.

  • PhotoIllustration Photo of a urinal flush valve Illustration of a sloth wearing an astronaut helmet

    The sloth in transit

    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.

  • PhotoIllustration Photo of an ice and water dispenser Illustration of the ice dispenser with a huge open mouth

    The ice dispenser

    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!

  • PhotoIllustration Photo of a tomato slice on deli paper Illustration of a grinning tomato character with gold teeth

    Creepy Tomato

    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.

See more characters
A stack of The Faces Within Places books, a green cover with pink trim, two big eyes and a tongue bookmark

The Faces Within Places book

248 pages of quirky characters, funny poems and witty one-liners.

  • 248 pages
  • 8.5″ square hardcover
  • Free bookmark
See the book

The story so far

From a few posts online to the press, guest lectures, textbooks and a sold-out book.

  1. One of my early Imgur posts: a wood-grain face beside its illustration, with a poem and a note to find more on Instagram at @thefaceswithinplaces
    online

    First posts on Reddit and Imgur

    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.

  2. The 2017 My Modern Met and Distractify articles about my faces, side by side
    in the press

    Featured across the internet

    Bored Panda, My Modern Met, Laughing Squid and Distractify shared the series, allowing it to reach millions of people across the world.

  3. HITRECORD × The Faces Within Places: photograph, illustrate, animate
    collab

    An ongoing project

    An ongoing collab with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's HITRECORD community, where members find faces in everyday objects and bring them to life.

  4. lecture

    Parsons School of Design

    I gave a guest lecture at Parsons on finding yourself as an artist and building a brand around who you are.

  5. Year 1 worksheets pairing photos of everyday objects with students' drawings of the faces they saw
    classroom

    A class named Larsen

    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.

  6. Open College of the Arts course book Illustration 1: Illustration Sketchbooks
    textbooks

    Published in textbooks on two continents

    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.

  7. Me at a market table holding up The Faces Within Places book
    sold out

    The first edition sold out

    The first edition of The Faces Within Places sold out.

Featured in

  • Bored Panda
  • My Modern Met
  • Laughing Squid
  • Distractify
  • HITRECORD
Portrait of Keith Larsen, smiling, in a knit beanie

Hi, I'm Keith.

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.

Visit studiokeith.com

Send us a face

  1. Spot itOutlets, faucets, fire hydrants, a slice of tomato. Faces are everywhere once you start looking.
  2. Snap itGet close, keep it in focus and let the face fill the frame.
  3. Send itSend it here with a note about where you found it, or post it and tag @thefaceswithinplaces.
Tag us on Instagram

Say hello

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

Email me at

thefaceswithinplaces@gmail.com

Write an email