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Items tagged with: NagatoIwasaki
Sculptures From Recycled Materials (15 Photos)
Content warning: Public art can make boring places feel special and exciting. It surprises us, gets us thinking, and helps us see the world in a new way. Some sculptures are made to fit perfectly into their surroundings, mixing art and nature in creative ways. Here, you’l
Public art can make boring places feel special and exciting. It surprises us, gets us thinking, and helps us see the world in a new way. Some sculptures are made to fit perfectly into their surroundings, mixing art and nature in creative ways.
Here, you’ll see 8 amazing sculptures from around the world. These artworks turn simple ideas into something incredible. From a giant clothespin pinching the ground to a zipper opening a stream, these pieces show how art can be surprising and fun.
More!: Sculptures With Unique Creativity (23 Photos)
1. Miles Davis Sculpture by Vlado Kostov (Kotor, Montenegro)
A striking metal tribute to jazz legend Miles Davis, this sculpture in Montenegro captures the raw energy of his music. Made from recycled industrial parts, it gives a futuristic, almost robotic feel to the musician’s iconic presence.
2. ‘Looking Tyred’ by Villu Jaanisoo (Jyväskylä, Finland)
This massive elephant, sculpted entirely from old tires, is the work of Estonian sculptor Villu Jaanisoo. Located in Jyväskylä, Finland, the interwoven rubber creates a lifelike texture, making the elephant seem almost real. Beyond its artistic impact, the sculpture highlights the creative potential of discarded materials and the need for sustainability in art.
About and more photos: Elephant sculpture made of tires by Villu Jaanisoo
3. ‘You Blew Me Away 8’ by Penny Hardy
Crafted from old scrap metal, this breathtaking sculpture by Penny Hardy embodies motion and emotion. The figure appears to dissolve into the wind, symbolizing impermanence and transformation through recycled materials.
4. Driftwood Sculptures by Nagato Iwasaki (Japan)
These haunting human-like figures, created from collected driftwood, stand eerily in natural landscapes. Their weathered, organic appearance seamlessly blends with the surrounding forests and rivers, as if nature itself sculpted them.
More: From Debris to Masterpiece: 10 Unbelievable Driftwood Sculptures That Defy Imaginatio
5. Stained Glass Cat by Shelyhina Kateryna
A vibrant mosaic feline composed of shattered stained glass pieces, this sculpture transforms discarded glass into a dazzling work of art that glows under natural light.
More about this glass cat: The natural movement of this cat sculpture is amazing
6. “A Mother’s Love” and part of a project called Deconstruction in Torrelavega, Spain
The local culture group Asociación Cultural Octubre de Torrelavega did this sculpture named “A Mother’s Love” as part of a larger art installation in order to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality.
More photos: The weight on a mother’s shoulders
7. Giant Bear by Bordalo II (Turin, Italy)
Portuguese artist Bordalo II is famous for his large-scale animals made from urban trash. This bear, constructed from scrap metal and painted with bold strokes, is both a stunning visual and an environmental statement.
More by the artist!: 22 photos – A Collection of Street Art by Bordalo II
8. Kingfisher Bird by JK Brown
Crafted from discarded scrap metal, this delicate kingfisher sculpture perfectly captures the grace of the bird. The artist’s ability to shape industrial waste into something so lifelike is remarkable.
9. Merino Ram Sculpture by Matt Sloane (Tasmania, Australia)
This sturdy and detailed ram sculpture, made from recycled metal, highlights Matt Sloane’s skill in assembling machine parts into a recognizable, organic form. The texture of the metal resembles the woolly coat of the animal.
10. Troll Hannes by Thomas Dambo (Boom, Belgium)
Part of Dambo’s famous troll series, ‘Hannes’ is a giant wooden troll resting on an old brick structure. Made from reclaimed wood, it embodies the artist’s love for sustainability and storytelling.
11. ‘Knife Angel’ by Alfie Bradley (UK)
A 27-foot-tall angel by Alfie Bradley. Constructed from over 100,000 confiscated knives and blades collected from police stations across the UK. Its sorrowful face and outstretched hands convey a deep message about the impact of knife crime.
12. Tom Murphy Portrait by Bernard Pras (Galway, Ireland)
A 3D portrait made entirely from discarded objects like furniture and car parts, this piece changes perspective when viewed from different angles. Bernard Pras masterfully assembles everyday junk into something deeply artistic.
13. Stainless Steel Nuts Sculptures by Jean Martin in Saint Barth
This collection of figures made from thousands of stainless steel nuts showcases the beauty of industrial materials. The polished metal reflects light, giving the sculptures an ethereal appearance.
14. Giant LEGO Brick Repair by Jan Vormann
Urban repair meets street art in this fun and colorful installation. Instead of fixing broken walls with cement, Jan Vormann fills the cracks with LEGO bricks, adding a playful yet thought-provoking touch to urban landscapes.
More!: Repairing the World with LEGO
15. Angel of the North — Gateshead, UK
Standing 20 meters tall with a wingspan of 54 meters, Angel of the North by Antony Gormley rises from the hillside as if rooted in the earth itself. Constructed from weathering steel, its rust-red color blends into the landscape, making it appear as an ancient guardian or relic born from the soil.
More recycled: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
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?
Get Ordained for Free at the Religion of Dudeism
Get ordained for free at the world's most easygoing religion. Inspired by The Big Lebowski, Taoism, Zen and more.The Dudely Lama (Dudeism LLC)
From Debris to Masterpiece: 10 Unbelievable Driftwood Sculptures That Defy Imagination
Content warning: Sculptor Nagato Iwasaki Mesmerizing driftwood sculptures by Japanese artist Nagato Iwasaki. Text by Folk Horror Magpie. More like this: “UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois All of the figures are part of an interconnected work that Iwasaki
Sculptor Nagato Iwasaki
Mesmerizing driftwood sculptures by Japanese artist Nagato Iwasaki. Text by Folk Horror Magpie.
More like this: “UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
All of the figures are part of an interconnected work that Iwasaki calls ‘Torso’ and each have undergone a painstaking process of construction over the past 25 years.
“Gathering bits of wood from here and there, like an insect building a nest, I create sculptures” says the artist in one of his few interviews. Driftwood of just the right shape and size to mimic a human collarbone or the cur of a pelvis don’t come floating down the river every day. The slow, meditative process is as much a component of bringing the figures to life as their foraged bones.
Many of the figures are ‘complete’ with alien-proportioned heads and fully fleshed out musculature, giving them an unmistakably – albeit uncanny – human presence.
Others meanwhile are cut off at the waist or missing limbs as if dissembling of their own accord, a frightening image to come across in the woods.
Though he has exhibited internationally the forest settings far better suit the figures than a white cube gallery, free to change colour with the natural elements, creaking and bowing with the effect of rainwater, gathering.
More: 30 Amazing Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
What do you think about this sculptures by Nagato Iwasaki?
“UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
Installation artist Daniel Popper
By Daniel Popper at the outdoor tree museum The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, USA.Daniel Popper: “UMI” – Meaning Life in Swahili and Mother in Arabic. 1 of 5 new works from the Human+Nature exhibition opening today at the The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Surrounding the base of the Earth Mother we have planted Virginia Creepers. I am looking forward to watching them grow and the artwork evolve over time in this beautiful space. Made from steel & GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete), 20ft tall. The pieces will on display for 1 year. May you all enjoy interacting with her as much as we enjoyed creating her.
Daniel Popper - Renowned Sculptor and Artist
Discover the awe-inspiring work of Daniel Popper, a globally acclaimed sculptor known for his large-scale public art installations and immersive experiences.richedevine (Daniel Popper)
