I have a new obsession: Artifact wooden jigsaw puzzles. I wasn’t a “puzzle person” until I saw these. Gorgeously crafted artisanal laser cut wooden jigsaw puzzles that feature the work of some of today’s hippest contemporary artists. Are you ready to see the coolest puzzles ever?
Contemporary Art Jigsaw Puzzles
Launched in 2009 in Seattle, Washington, now based in Menlo Park, CA, Artifact Puzzles use environmentally-friendly plywood and soy-based inks for their artisanal jigsaw puzzles. Their puzzles span a diverse collection of art but it’s the ones by 21st century lowbrow artists that really caught my attention.
The environmentally-friendly puzzles have 1/4″ deep plywood puzzle pieces that feature the original artwork of such well known contemporary artists and illustrators as Eric Joyner, Joe Vaux, APAK Studio, Bill Carmen, Kozydan, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Justin Hillgrove and more.
In addition to the appealing subject matter, several of their puzzles have beautifully irregular edges or specially shaped pieces they term “whimsy pieces.”
Here’s a look at 20 of my favorites, with links to purchase after each. Sizes and prices are varied.
APAK STUDIO Jigsaw Puzzles
(The Artwork of husband and wife Aaron + Ayumi Piland)
Islands of Life:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
boxed:
Buy it here
Harmonious Kingdom:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Fruit of Dreams:
Nicoletta Ceccoli Jigsaw Puzzles:
It’s My Party:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Love Will Tear Us Apart:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Daniel Merriam Jigsaw Puzzles
Flight of Scarlett:
puzzle detail and pieces:
Buy it here
The Man In The Moon:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Eric Joyner Jigsaw Puzzle
Tiger Mountain
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Alfredo Arreguin Jigsaw Puzzle
Jaguars Diptych:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Joe Vaux Jigsaw Puzzles
Fishing Village:
Box and pieces:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Garden of Earthly Delights:
puzzle detail:
puzzle detail:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Message in a bottle:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
boxed:
Buy it here
Bill Carmen Jigsaw Puzzle
Narwhal Rain:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Justin Hillgrove Jigsaw Puzzles:
Creature Ladder:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
The Pursuit of Happiness:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Alice and the caterpillar:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Jim Flora Jigsaw Puzzle
Big Bank Robbery:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Kozydan Jigsaw Puzzle
Bunny Blossoms:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Allen Douglas Jigsaw Puzzle
The Kraken:
puzzle detail:
puzzle pieces:
Buy it here
Patrick Persini Jigsaw Puzzle
Le Passeur:
puzzle pieces:
Boxed:
Buy it here
Designed to appeal to a large age range, they have varying degrees of difficulty and varied numbers of pieces, depending upon the puzzle. Prices vary depending upon size and number of pieces.
The puzzles are made of a formaldehyde-free maple plywood (USA, FSC-certified) in the USA and some come in a pine box, others are packaged in boxes with a magnetic clasp like the one shown below.
