David Mach is the artist behind these matchstick sculptures.He starts off with designing a form, usually having a plastic model made from a clay mold. Then the task of sticking each matchstick onto the figure begins.
His sculptures are usually of controversial people or characters everyone is familiar with such as Betty Boop, Charlie Chaplin, and Marilyn Monroe. The first question I had was whether he applies the color to the matchsticks or buys them already in those colors, turns out he imports many of them from Japan
Mach sells some of them at galleries and auctions, but others are destined to be set aflame and burnt down at exhibitions.
Source: My Modern Met
It would be fun to light one of these up ;p