“I remember standing in front of each image for 15 minutes trying to figure out all the foods,” says Langberg, 34. “It was very fascinating to me. And since I was in [Chelsea Market] already, and it was the weekend, I said, ‘I’m going to just give this a shot because it looks so fun.’ "
He picked up some ingredients, created his first piece that evening and posted it on Facebook.
He has since created thousands of pieces, partnering with organizations like New York Fashion Week. for which he created images of stylish celebrities like Anna Wintour andKarl Lagerfeld.
“That was really fun,” he recalls. “From there, it just kind of escalated.”
Jennifer Coolidge.Courtesy
Now he has the websiteharleysfoodart.comand hisInstagramaccount has nearly 40,000 followers.
One of his all-time favorite pieces isThe Lion King’s Mufasa, which he created out of mashed potatoes with a mane sculpted from bacon. “That was really fun,” he says. “There’s so much detail and texture.”
Another favorite wasSerena Williams, an imageKatie Couricreposted after the tennis greatannounced she was potentially"evolving away” from the sport last year.
Courtesy
WhenSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgdied, Langberg created a memorial portrait. Andafter the earthquake in Turkey, he made a tribute piece.
“I wanted to create a piece saying, ‘I’m here with you. I’m praying for you,’ " he says. “I love being able to create something that’s meaningful food art. Not just Mufasa or not just a turtle, but creating something that really is food for thought, almost. Food art for thought. Creating something that has a little bit more meaning.”
To make his works, which take a few hours, he starts with a photo, then visits the grocery store looking for the right foods — everything from rice paper and lychees to dragon fruit and yucca. “I will be in the aisles matching up the colors and the textures,” he explains. “I one time used a whole octopus raw … the cleanup was tricky, but I cooked it after and it was delicious!”
Jim Carrey in The Mask.Courtesy
Afterward, “I go home and then I have my phone beside my plate, and I get to work. When I’m done with the piece, I take a picture.”
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He’s recently started posting pictures of his 2-year-old daughter, Blake, devouring the creations he makes.
“She’ll touch it, she’ll eat it. So that’s very fun,” he says.
And he loves that his art brings happiness to followers.
“One follower told me she was going through a really tough time when her mom died and her only happiness was coming onto Instagram and seeing my art because it really made her smile,” he says. “It makes so many people happy, it makes me happy.”
source: people.com
