Junk Metal Sculptures (8 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
What happens when discarded tools, engine parts, and industrial scrap fall into the hands of visionary sculptors? These 8 remarkable sculptures from around the world show how metal once forgotten can be reborn — as birds, angels, dogs, and even the wind itself. Featuring artists like Penny Hardy, Bordalo II, Brian Mock, and Matt Sloane, this post explores works found in public squares, coastal cliffs, and urban buildings.
More!: Playing with statues (25 photos)
1. You Blew Me Away 8 — Penny Hardy’s Sculpture in the UK
This wind-swept metal figure appears to be dissolving into the air, created from reclaimed mechanical parts. The sculpture captures the sense of a body breaking apart mid-stride — yet standing tall — as if eroded by invisible forces.
More!: You Blew Me Away 8 by sculptor Penny Hardy
2. Stainless Steel Silhouettes — Jean-Michel Martin’s Sculpture in Saint Barthélemy
Four life-sized human figures stand at the edge of a cliff in Saint Barthélemy, sculpted entirely from stainless steel nuts. Their forms are precise and anatomical at the front, but gradually dissolve into open space toward the back, mimicking the effect of wind eroding their bodies. The placement above the bright blue coastline enhances the sense of weightlessness and disintegration.
More photos!: Powerful statues made of stainless steel nuts (by Jean Martin in Saint Barth)
3. Kingfisher with Catch — Sculpture by JK Brown in the UK
This small sculpture of a kingfisher is crafted by UK-based artist JK Brown using only scrap metal. Carefully shaped from discarded blue sheet metal, screws, and rusted parts, the bird perches on a steel rod with a small fish delicately clamped in its beak. JK Brown is known for transforming reclaimed materials into wildlife forms, often inspired by local fauna.
More photos!: ‘Kingfisher’ by J.K. Brown
4. Merino Ram — Matt Sloane in Tasmania, Australia
Crafted from gears, tires, and chain components, this robust sculpture of a ram stands proudly on a field. The artist used intricate layering to recreate the texture of wool with remarkable detail.
5. Miles Davis — Vlado Kostov’s Sculpture in Kotor, Montenegro
Mounted on a stone wall, this wall sculpture features a jazz musician playing trumpet, crafted entirely from salvaged metal. The use of chains, vents, and pipes gives it a mechanical soul, yet it feels expressive.
6. The Dublin Red Squirrel — Bordalo II in Dublin, Ireland
A towering squirrel made from trash, scrap, and old car parts climbs the side of a building in Dublin. Known for his environmental 3D murals, Bordalo II brings awareness to waste through oversized wildlife forms.
More by Bordalo II!: 22 photos – A Collection of Street Art by Bordalo II
7. The Knife Angel — Alfie Bradley in the UK
Standing over 8 meters tall, this angel is constructed from 100,000 surrendered knives. Created to highlight knife violence in the UK, the sculpture’s solemn face and outstretched hands give it a haunting presence.
More photos and about!: Made of 100,000 knives removed from UK streets (3 photos and video)
8. Dog and Cat Duo — Brian Mock in the USA
In this heartwarming pair, a cat made of twisted metal rods gazes up at a metallic dog made from hand tools. The posture and expressions are captured entirely through scrap — yet radiate life.
More: 15 Powerful Art Pieces Overflowing With Emotion
Which one is your favorite?
Playing With Statues (26 photos)
Ever looked at a statue and thought, “What would happen if we made this masterpiece a little… mischievous?”
You’re not alone! Every day, people worldwide are adding a twist to statues, bringing them into the world of “dudeism.” Imagine classic sculptures sporting sunglasses or historic figures wielding quirky accessories.It’s not just about fun; these makeovers invite us to reimagine public spaces and remind us that art doesn’t have to be serious. Dive in, laugh, and let these clever creations inspire!
More: 9 Hilarious Gargoyle Statues: Medieval Humor!
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Classical statue holding a basket.
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Man interacts with “Counterpoint” sculpture in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Spider-Man posed with the Jorge Matute Remus statue in Guadalajara, Mexico.
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Woman leans in to “kiss” a statue at Love Land Sculpture Park in South Korea.
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A visitor interacts with a giant face sculpture in Davis, California.
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A person humorously “falls” at the foot of the Ronald Reagan statue in Budapest, Hungary.
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In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson statues seem to take a modern “selfie.”
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Giant Pigeon in Bracknell, UK.
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This sculpture is titled “La Espera” (“The Wait”) and is located on the promenade in Torrevieja, Spain. The piece symbolizes the wives, mothers, and daughters of fishermen who would wait by the shore for their loved ones to return from the sea.
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More: When Statues Become Fathers: Creative Street Art on Equal Parenting
Which sculpture is your favorite?
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