Upcycled art and eco-art have turned from niche markets into fundamental movements in a unitary effort to promote environmental sustainability among the large category of art consumers. Art materials and creation practices used to fall short in terms of eco-friendliness if you think about the single-use canvases, chemical paints, and non-recyclable materials in sculptures. But now, an increasing number of artists have shifted to eco-friendly materials and recycled materials like newspaper and plastic, being mindful of the environment while catering to a growing set of eco-aware art consumers.
Today’s safe practices in the arts outline that art creation and consumption don’t have to harm the planet and deplete its resources. Upcycled art emphasizes the potential that discarded objects surrounding us have to transform into unprecedented masterpieces. With environmental awareness gaining momentum, more and more consumers look for sustainable artworks, be they using repurposed materials or eco-friendly materials. Let’s discover together the ground-breaking yet lucrative realm of eco-art and upcycled art that rise in popularity among art makers and consumers alike.
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From waste to treasure and to wealth
In a wasteful and waste-filled consumerist world, upcycled art surfaces as a beam of hope, resourcefulness, and environmental accountability. Upcycling is a favorite practice among creative types, giving trash new purposes and transforming it into high-quality products. On the other hand, recycling occurs when the trash is destroyed and converted into raw materials that are further used in developing brand-new products. Here’s how both practices can make art a more sustainable place.
Recycled art
Recycling takes boundless forms and can be achieved via multiple creative methods. For instance, the use of recyclable material or rubbish in sculpting is prevalent, granting the objects new purposes instead of condemning them to an eternity in landfills. From plastic bags to bicycle tires to metal cans, these materials transform into sustainable art pieces once they end up in creative artists’ hands. Strictly speaking, recycled art is anything new. Many movements spanning various periods adhered to the concept of recyclable art. For instance, the collages of George Braque and Pablo Picasso at the beginning of the 20th century used old magazines and newspapers.
The trend has been further encouraged, emerging in schools like Drap Art, Trash Art, and Pop Art. The concept was, however, crayoned when Michael Braungart and William McDonough launched the “Cradle to Cradle” book, which thoroughly tackles recycling and related art.
Upcycled art
Upcycled art uses waste to create masterpieces, repurposing plastic, glass, metals, and newspapers into art. Such materials can be transformed into collages, sculptures, and other ingenious treasures. It’s essential to acknowledge what a treasure trove of upcycled art is, as it turns ordinary objects that are bound to end up on the bottom of the ocean or at the landfill into collectibles mindful of the environment’s state. Moreover, upcycled art invites individuals to rethink how they approach materials and take proactive steps to safeguard the future of future generations.
Many things can make upcycled art, such as sculptures using recycled glass, jewelry made from reconditioned cans, and even furniture produced with sturdy plastics like crates and storage boxes.
Artworks like prints can be eco-friendly and valuable
Many works of art used to need consumables made from depletable resources. Nevertheless, you can buy all sorts of things, like prints, today and find solace in knowing that they can use less harmful materials, like paper from plant fibers and river mud. Handmade books and papers can later be transformed into pieces that support prints. Surfaces and images have become more ingenious and mind-bending than ever, whether you look at Pop art, abstract art, or art deco, among other trends. Because they’re less repetitive, those with a knack for unique pieces appreciate and place a high value on them.
Recycled and upcycled artwork can’t help but be unique since it’s mostly handmade and doesn’t follow an ordinary trajectory. This only helps creative artists work through the ranks while benefitting the environment. As expected, it’s the Original Art Prints that are more valuable, sought-after, and cherished, for the chances of seeing them replicated in other art galleries or homes are low to nonexistent.
Artists contributing to sustainability efforts
You’d be surprised how many contemporary artists go the extra mile in promoting sustainability. Their creations impact the world more than the immediately apparent inspiration given to fellow artists. These also raise awareness of urgent environmental concerns. Eco-oriented artists and those using discarded materials demonstrate that crafting sublime art that makes a difference while being mindful of the environmental impact is entirely attainable, as you will see:
Veronika Sorensen
Quebec-based contemporary artist Veronika Sorensen creates unique abstract paintings using recycled objects, natural materials, and mixed media. She also incorporates sculptures into her craft to emphasize our surroundings’ fragility and magnificence. From driftwood to foliage to seashells, her artwork demonstrates how nature has gifted us with boundless ingredients that make uniquely beautiful art if there’s ambition and creativity.
El Anatsui
Nigeria-based Ghanaian artist El Anatsui has garnered global attention with his unique proposition for bottle caps, which he stitches together and adorns with logos and bright colors. The artist also builds large-scale public installations, such as the famous Broken Bridge II with waste materials, as well as cascading metal mosaics with caps and scraps. A single artwork can use as many as 1K bottle caps, suggesting on a deeper level how consumerism’s waste impacts the environment and how art can counteract some of the concerning effects.
Aurora Robson
When it comes to eco-art, Aurora Robson has made a name by repurposing discarded plastic into elaborate sculptures. The ocean bottoms are estimated to collect more than 8M tons of plastic yearly – plastic that can be recycled and repurposed in more industries than art. Yet, eco-artists like Robson shed light on the potential held by our discarded materials to create masterpieces that get cherished by art collectors.
As many artists who lead the pack in sustainable art keep demonstrating, art exists in the least thought-of places. It’s in the landfill and on the bottom of the ocean and a creative eye is needed to find the hidden gem.