found object art

In an age of Netflix, Spotify and iTunes, we continue to leave behind a large trail of redundant CDs and DVDs. Turning those discs made from layers of aluminium and polycarbonate plastic into something useful, let alone beautiful is no easy feat. In the UK, only a handful of... Read More →

When it comes to reusing unwanted materials in an innovative way, it seems the humble seat can be made from just about anything. Looking at the designs below, seating can also surprise and delight as a striking art piece. If you’re sitting comfortably, read on to see some... Read More →

Embroidery seems to be having a moment. Not only is there a plethora of contemporary cross stitch kits appearing on Etsy (depicting anything from ‘more gin please’ to llamas), there’s now a new wave of crafters learning to embroider their own jeans and jackets.... Read More →

I first came across the work of Elisa Cavani, whilst doing research for my book Upcyclist. Hailing from Bologna, Italy, Elisa makes whimsical lighting, desks and furniture pieces made from found objects, all of which can only be described as the epitome of one-of-a-kindness. Now... Read More →

Los Angeles artist Augustine Kofie created a body of work with an incredible futuristic quality, despite being made from forgotten materials of the past. Kofie finished his art education at high school but became a key player in the L.A. graffiti scene of the 1990... Read More →

Ilaria Bianchi is a furniture and product designer from Pisa, Italy. She studied Industrial Design in Turin, and after winning a scholarship moved to Stockholm where she did work experience in the studio of Fredrik Paulsen. Relishing Paulsen’s vibrant, crafty approach, she... Read More →

Imagine the patience required to create such intricate carvings as this? Recollecting the tedium of sharpening pencils in art classes, only for the lead to inevitably break off would be enough to put me off. Yet for Bosnian artist Jasenko Đorđević, carving his sculptures made... Read More →

Founder of Swarm, Leslie Oschmann reclaims objects found in Dutch markets, French homes or Belgian antique shops to create something unexpected and beautiful. Visual Director for US Anthropologie for 8 years, she was inspired by the beauty and possibilities in reclaimed objects... Read More →

Mike Stilkey creates captivating paintings on discarded books using acrylics, inks, coloured pencil and lacquer. Almost Tim Burton-esque, the distinctive style of the Los Angeles artist features depictions of melancholic characters ‘inhabiting ambiguous spaces and... Read More →

Kyle Bean is an award-winning London based illustrator, director and set designer. From sculptures made from eggshells to tube maps made from drinking straws, he creates playful, concept-driven imagery for editorial and commercial projects, as well as installations for fashion... Read More →

From her Promenade (2010) featuring 105 miles of gold thread to her musical manuscript installation Resonance (2013), we continue to be amazed by Susie MacMurray‘s creations. For Cloud (2015) at The Great Hall, Winchester, MacMurray’s latest installation is made from... Read More →

California mixed media artist Scott McMillin chops up reclaimed car parts to create geometric works of art. Scrap metal from cars is cut into squares and rectangles and assembled like a jigsaw puzzle to create textural wall sculptures, some of which closely resemble paintings by... Read More →

These incredible animal sculptures by Marc Sparfel have a primitive aesthetic achieved through the reuse and reconfiguration of found furniture. Sparfel grew up in Brittany, north-west France surrounded by countryside and animals. After graduating from school, he studied commerce... Read More →

Fashion meets art quite literally for Viktor & Rolf‘s AW15 couture showcase. The Wearable Art collection was unveiled at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week at Palais de Toyko earlier this year and featured garments made from broken picture frames filled with fabric. The... Read More →

Wyatt Gallery (a person not a place) is an award-winning American photographer living between New York and the Caribbean. Many of his photos raise awareness and support for communities damaged by natural disaster such as Haiti and Hurricane Sandy. This year he exhibited a body of... Read More →

A Portuguese street artist Bordalo Segundo creates assemblage art from trash found on the streets of Lisbon. Using old tyres, scrap metal, steering wheels and other car parts, he adds oil paint into the mix to create giant 3D animal portraits that add a striking splash of colour... Read More →