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Matthew Reinhart
Pop-up artist & 'three-dimensional illustrator'
Matthew Reinhart is an American author, illustrator, and paper engineer celebrated for his elaborate, gravity-defying pop-up books. He studied toy design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and came to paper engineering with a background interest in biology, zoology, and paleontology, having worked at his university's natural history museum preparing specimens. He jokingly describes himself as 'a failed toy designer.'
Reinhart broke into pop-up books in 1999 with The Pop-Up Book of Phobias. He has since produced a string of New York Times best-selling licensed and original titles, and is a frequent collaborator of Robert Sabuda, with whom he co-created the three-volume Encyclopedia Prehistorica and Encyclopedia Mythologica series.
He resists being called a paper engineer alone, preferring to think of himself as a 'three-dimensional illustrator,' because his work involves not only engineering how the pieces fit together but also sculpting and illustrating with paper.
Style signature
Reinhart is known for dense, action-packed pop-ups that translate beloved pop-culture franchises into explosive paper sculpture, balancing showmanship with rigorous mechanical engineering. His spreads often pack multiple moving sub-pops into a single dramatic reveal.
Notable works
- The Pop-Up Book of Phobias
- Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy
- DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book
- Mommy? (with Maurice Sendak)
- Encyclopedia Prehistorica (with Robert Sabuda)
- Encyclopedia Mythologica (with Robert Sabuda)
Questions about Matthew Reinhart
Who is Matthew Reinhart?
Matthew Reinhart is an American paper engineer, illustrator, and author of best-selling pop-up books. Trained in toy design at Pratt Institute, he is known for elaborate movable books based on franchises like Star Wars and DC Super Heroes, and for collaborating with Robert Sabuda.
What was Matthew Reinhart's first pop-up book?
Reinhart broke into pop-up books in 1999 with The Pop-Up Book of Phobias, launching a career that includes New York Times best-sellers such as Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy and DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book.
Did Matthew Reinhart work with Robert Sabuda?
Yes. Reinhart co-created the best-selling Encyclopedia Prehistorica and Encyclopedia Mythologica pop-up series with fellow paper engineer Robert Sabuda, and the two have collaborated on numerous projects.