While Ray Villafane is best known for his expertise in the art of food carving, he is also recognized for his magnificent, remarkably realistic sand sculptures. Using just sand and water, the artist sculpts incredibly detailed figures that tower above him as he works. Funny-faced people, nativity scenes, and hellish creatures from Dante’sInferno appear so lifelike that it’s hard to believe they were formed from humble grains of sand. 

Villafane only began sand sculpting in 2008 after accepting a challenge in Jesolo, Italy.

Despite not having any experience working with the medium, he wowed viewers with his exceptional craft, and since then has received invitations from all over the world to take on new sand sculpting projects.