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Items tagged with: foundObjectArt
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)
You Might Walk Past These—But They’re Tiny Masterpieces in Disguise
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
In Milan, Golsa Golchini is reshaping how we see the cracks, rust, and decay of city walls. Her miniature street art scenes don’t cover damage—they embrace it.
A girl swings from rain streaks. A turtle borrows a tank as its shell. A young musician draws music from crumbling plaster. Each piece is site-specific, small in scale but rich in detail, and carefully crafted to interact with its exact surroundings. In this collection, we feature ten of Golchini’s latest public artworks across Milan—where the city’s imperfections become the very foundation of her storytelling.
🔗 Follow Golsa Golchini on Instagram
Laundry Day
A woman leans from a real window, painted to appear as if she’s reading the fractured wall like a book. The peeling plaster becomes a cascading page.
The Hidden Melody
Golsa Golchini cleverly integrates minimalist art, depicting a young girl realistically painted emerging from peeling plaster. The girl is holding a bow as if playing Double Bass on the crumbling wall itself, transforming urban decay into a subtle and poetic performance.
Flashlight Beam
A boy holds a large flashlight aimed upward. The beam isn’t painted—it’s a real streak of sunlight on the wall, timed perfectly with the art.
Elephant Friend
A little girl in a striped dress reaches out to gently touch the head of an elephant, its form emerging naturally from the cracked wall. Golsa Golchini uses the contours of the damaged surface to suggest the animal’s shape, turning urban decay into an unexpected moment of connection between child and creature.
Turtle Shell
A green turtle peeks out from behind a public plastic container. The container’s shape mimics its shell in a surreal visual twist.
Boy with Dog
A child walks a dog on a leash. The dog is made from a rust stain and a hole in the wall, blending seamlessly with the texture.
Snail at the Curb
A snail painted near the sidewalk seems to crawl slowly through a pile of real dried leaves. The edge of the street becomes part of its journey.
Rain Swing
A girl swings from two long streaks of water damage on a concrete wall. The stains form ropes, and her painted legs kick out into open space.
Cracked Pikachu
A joyful cartoon face bursts through a chipped section of wall, clearly inspired by Pikachu from Pokémon. The playful eyes and wide pink mouth are painted around the cracks, making it feel like the character is peeking through the surface itself.
Giraffe Peek
A giraffe peeks through an opening in dense ivy, as if hiding behind the greenery. The painted surface perfectly matches the hole.
Golsa Golchini’s art doesn’t just live on the walls of Milan—it lives with them. Every crack becomes a canvas, every rust patch a character. These ten interventions remind us that beauty can emerge from erosion, and that even a broken surface can tell a complete story. In Golchini’s hands, the city itself collaborates—every wall is part of the work.
More: Natalia Rak: The Muralist Turning Walls Into Masterpieces
Which one is your favorite?
Birds! (14 Photos)
From intimate close-ups to massive architectural takeovers, this collection of bird-themed street art captures the elegance of birds across the globe.
You’ll find photorealistic falcons, surreal cranes, oversized parrots, and delicate wrens brought to life on city walls—each mural a tribute to avian beauty and the artists who transform urban landscapes with their feathers and color. Locations range from the Netherlands and Morocco to France and Australia, each mural offering a unique interpretation of nature through public art.More birds!: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. Daniel Mac Lloyd’s mural in Heerlen, Netherlands
Two vibrant blue parrots embrace in a strikingly intimate pose, filling the entire side of a house. Painted with rich blues and bursts of orange, the feathers look almost fluid—blending realism with a painterly splash technique that gives motion and emotion to the birds. More photos!: Bird Love by Daniel Mac LLOYD in Heerlen, Netherlands🔗 Follow Daniel Mac Lloyd on Instagram
2. Geoffrey Carran’s mural in Carlton North, Melbourne, Australia
A vibrant superb fairywren perches on a blooming branch of pink flowers, painted on a sleek gray wall. The contrast of the soft blossoms and the vivid blue plumage creates a delicate and cheerful composition full of spring energy. More photos!: Male Fairy Wren by Geoffrey Carran Melbourne, Australia🔗 Follow Geoffrey Carran on Instagram
3. Alegría del Prado’s mural in Rabat, Morocco
A regal falcon with floral plumage and textile patterns adorns a white building in Rabat. The intricate design blends feathers with decorative motifs, transforming the raptor into a symbolic and cultural tapestry. More photos!: 4 Photos of Falcon – Mural by Alegria del Prado in Rabat, Morocco🔗 Follow Alegría del Prado on Instagram
4. Curtis Hylton’s mural in Nykvarn, Sweden
A majestic osprey emerges from a composition of large cream-colored roses and golden shells, with two chicks nestled below. The hyperrealism and symbolic floral fusion create a visual story of protection and grace. More photos!: Floral Osprey – By Curtis Hylton in Nykvarn, Sweden🔗 Follow Curtis Hylton on Instagram
5. Vadim Mezzo’s mural in Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Two elegant herons stand side by side in front of a stylized pink sunset and pine tree silhouettes. The mural is geometric yet soft, creating a tranquil lake scene with a graphic, poster-like quality. More photos!: “In silence” by Vadim Mezzo in Rostov-on-Don, Russia🔗 Follow Vadim Mezzo on Instagram
6. A-MO’s mural in Bordeaux, France
A kingfisher, perched on the corner of a building, bursts with color and texture. The dynamic brushwork mimics feathers in motion, and the location cleverly integrates the mural into urban flow. More photos!: Kingfisher by A-MO in Bordeaux, France🔗 Follow A-MO on Instagram
7. WD (Wild Drawing)’s mural in Athens, Greece
An owl stares intensely from a historic building corner, its massive eyes framed by golden ornamental swirls. The illusion of depth and the realistic textures make it feel alive within the wall. More by WD!: 3D Street Art by WD (7 Murals)🔗 Follow WD (Wild Drawing) on Instagram
8. TUZQ’s mural in Mol, Belgium
A grey crowned crane stands regally with deep blue feathers and a shimmering gold crest. The dark background contrasts sharply with the vivid bird, adding theatrical lighting to this photorealistic piece. More photos!: Mural of a Crane bird by TUZQ in Mol, Belgium🔗 Follow TUZQ on Instagram
9. Adele Renault’s mural in Stavelot, Belgium
A pigeon’s head dominates a multi-surfaced house, with textured roof tiles doubling as feathers. The gradient iridescence and scale of the piece give it a surreal monumentality. More photos!: This Stunning Pigeon Mural in Belgium Is a Must-See🔗 Follow Adele Renault on Instagram
10. L7m’s mural
A small bird bursts into motion with chaotic lines and neon shades of pink, orange, and black. L7m blends abstract graffiti with realism, creating a sense of explosive speed and urban energy. More by L7m!: Street Art by L7m – A Collection🔗 Follow L7m on Instagram
11. Jan Is De Man’s mural in Vinkeveense Plassen, Netherlands
A photorealistic peacock appears to be walking off a brick wall and into nature. The illusionary depth and shimmering tail feathers spill across the path like a real bird mid-stride. More!: 8 Happy 3D Artworks by Jan Is De Man That Will Make You Smile🔗 Follow Jan Is De Man on Instagram
12. Mural by Carlos Alberto GH in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico
A hyper-realistic 3D street art mural by Carlos Alberto GH in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, depicting a vibrant scarlet macaw in flight. The parrot’s red, blue, and yellow feathers are rendered with stunning precision, creating the illusion that the bird is emerging from the wall. More photos!: By Carlos Alberto GH – In Chiapas, Mexico (6 photos)🔗 Follow Carlos Alberto GH on Instagram
13. Chicken Punk — Lexus One in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
A large mural of a rooster painted with striking realism. The bird’s red comb and wattles contrast with its layered brown feathers, while its tail fans out in deep blue and purple tones.🔗 Follow Lexus One on Instagram
Photo by LuKutz
14. Nature Is the Teacher of Art — Anna Tautt & Kkade Schwarzmaler in Hamburg, Germany
An Art Nouveau–inspired mural featuring two thrushes against a deep green background. Surrounded by ornate golden framing, the birds are rendered with lifelike detail, one perched and the other with an open beak as if calling.🔗 Follow Anna Tautt & Kkade Schwarzmaler on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
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Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.www.instagram.com
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!
1
Classical statue holding a basket.
2
Man interacts with “Counterpoint” sculpture in Salt Lake City, Utah.
3
Spider-Man posed with the Jorge Matute Remus statue in Guadalajara, Mexico.
4
5
Woman leans in to “kiss” a statue at Love Land Sculpture Park in South Korea.
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7
8
A visitor interacts with a giant face sculpture in Davis, California.
9
A person humorously “falls” at the foot of the Ronald Reagan statue in Budapest, Hungary.
10
In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson statues seem to take a modern “selfie.”
11
Giant Pigeon in Bracknell, UK.
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13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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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.
25
26
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)