While exploring the charming streets of Copenhagen, my family and I stumbled upon a unique boutique that immediately caught our attention: Iris Galerie.

The storefront displayed mesmerizing images — vivid, intricate patterns that looked like planets, galaxies, or abstract paintings.

To our surprise, these were not paintings or computer-generated designs; they were high-resolution photographs of human irises — living art, captured in astonishing detail.

Intrigued, we stepped inside.

A Personal Connection

For me, this discovery was deeply personal.

Having lost one of my eyes more than 65 years ago, I’ve lived with a heightened awareness of how precious — and fragile — sight can be.

The idea that the human eye — something so essential and yet so often taken for granted — could be turned into a piece of art moved me more than I expected.

And so, we all decided to capture something of ourselves.  My daughter, my grandson, my granddaughter and I all had pictures taken of our eyes.

I ordered a large 2′ x 3′ wall-mounted piece featuring my own eye — a piece that I hope will one day hang in my home as a reminder of the beauty that still lies within me, quite literally.

Meanwhile, my daughter had a different idea.  She had the images of her son’s eye, her daughter’s eye, and mine — her father’s — made into small, charm-sized pieces designed to hang on a necklace close to her heart.

We haven’t received them yet, but the previews we saw were absolutely stunning.

Looking at the photographs — the swirls, the flecks of color, the intricate designs that nature has placed in every human eye — was mesmerizing.

Each iris was completely unique.  Each one told a different story.

The Art and Science Behind It

Iris Galerie specializes in capturing these microscopic details using state-of-the-art macrophotography.  The process is remarkably simple and quick:

• They photograph your eye with specialized equipment.
• They digitally enhance the image slightly to highlight colors and patterns.
• They produce a personalized piece of art — whether as a wall piece, jewelry, or small keepsake.

Founded in Paris in 2021, Iris Galerie now has locations across Europe and North America, including two in Copenhagen.

Their tagline says it all: “Your Eye for Art.”

A Window Into Bigger Ideas

As we walked away from Iris Galerie, I found myself reflecting on more than just the beauty of the images.

There’s something quietly profound about the idea that every human being carries within them a work of art — something unique, intricate, stunning — whether they realize it or not.

It reminded me that:

• Beauty often lies right in front of us — or even within us.
• No two people are exactly alike — not even in the way their eyes are made.
• Art doesn’t always have to be created — sometimes it simply needs to be revealed.

And for me personally — someone who has lived for decades with only one eye — the experience felt especially meaningful.

It was a reminder not just of what I have lost, but of what I still have — and how even the things we carry without noticing can be beautiful beyond measure.