Found Object

Found object artwork begins with encounter. An artist doesn’t just see a discarded item, a fragment of the ordinary world, but feels its presence, its quiet history, vibrations, and energy. Each object carries a residue of the life it once served, from the utilitarian to the sentimental, and in that residue lies possibility. By listening closely to what the object whispers, the artist begins the process of transformation, elevating the mundane into something alive with new and different meanings.

When these objects are assembled, altered, and recontextualized, they shed their original function while retaining their soul. A rusted nail becomes a symbol of endurance; a piece of broken furniture, a metaphor for fragility; a scrap of fabric, a memory made tangible. The artwork that emerges is ripe with deeper meaning, asking the viewer not only to see but to interpret, to imagine the unseen stories woven through each piece both before and after it became a work of art.

Found Object Artwork is a Dialogue

This practice invites a dialogue between artist, object, and audience. The artist becomes a conduit, channeling the energy of the found object into a new form, while the viewer becomes a participant, filling in the silences with their own associations. In this way, found object artwork is never fixed; it is fluid, ever-shifting, layered with perspectives as varied as the objects themselves. This is a big reason why I am drawn to working with found objects as their meaning is constantly evolving, both for the various people who view the artwork as well as from my own life experiences.

At its core, this way of working is an act of reverence. It honors the overlooked and the forgotten, offering them new life and purpose. What was once cast aside becomes sacred, transformed into a vessel for reflection, emotion, and connection.