Akie Nakata is a Japanese artist who turned riverside pebbles into life. She collects stones at banks of rivers in the city of Saitama. Nakata’s pieces are palm-sized featuring detailed images of lifelike animals. Her university training wasn’t strictly in art – it was in art education. Today she dedicates herself to her craft full-time, and creates lifelike creatures with piercing eyes.

#1 Cat With a Penetrating Gaze

#2 A Bull With Recreated Paintings From the Lascaux Cave

#3 A Penguin Tending His Egg

#4 A Resting Dog

#5 Sheep

#6 A Deer

#7 A Colorful Chameleon

#8 Mops and a Bird

#9 Gorilla

#10 Guinea Pig

#11 Rooster in a Fighting Mood

#12 A Parakeet

#13 Cheetah

#14 Fox

#15 Owl

#16 Peruvian Penguin

#17 Hare

#18 Cat Resting on a Rock

#19 Lovebirds

Which stone did you like best?