Plasticine Pop Culture by Rutuja Mali

Mumbai-based illustrator and art director Rutuja Mali sculpts pop-culture characters in plasticine clay, crafting hand-modeled scenes from Squid Game, Stranger Things and the Marvel universe.

Rutuja approaches familiar figures like a caricaturist, reinterpreting their features through soft sculpted forms, textured surfaces and exaggerated facial expressions. The characters share a similar visual language, with wide eyes, slanted glances and slightly awkward postures, giving them a funny, offbeat personality.

The appeal is in the material as much as the likeness. Fingerprints, small dents, hand-cut details and uneven edges stay visible, keeping each piece unmistakably handmade. It’s playful, tactile work with a strong sense of character.

For more of Rutuja Mali’s work, check out her portfolio and follow her on Instagram.

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