Recycled Art in Pictures

HFA Mosaic Art by Carl Van Brunt

At ecoartspace in New York City, Simon Draper and Habitat for Artists presented a special selection of recycled art, based around the innovative art sheds project (in which artists took up residence in six-foot by six-foot workspaces, to reflect and create). The project explores the effects of surroundings on the creative process, as well as questions of consumption, recycling and the relationship between the environment and the arts.

The tiles in this gallery were created by a number of invited artists, with the goal of repurposing cast-off items into something beautiful, as well as useful as building material. Artist Carl Van Brunt of Beacon, New York created the tile pictured in collaboration with Simon Draper, using a combination of digital manipulation and traditional painting. We think it turned out pretty cool!

All tiles are available for a donation of $150 each to ecoartspace. Organic t-shirts are also available.

HFA Recycled Plastic Art

Kind of like a Van Gogh, right? Austria-born artist Franziska Swayzee, who created this piece for HFA, explained that she was very interested in working with cast off plastic and paper, because we produce \"so much of it.\"

HFA Recycled Paint Stirs Art

How post-modern! We love this tile by Marnie Hillsley! This is art literally made out of artists\' materials, with color provided by \"recycled\" paint.\"

HFA Bug Art

We love bugs (art by Grey Zeien)! Insects rival human beings for their biomass and global distribution, as well as impact on other species. How does that make you feel?

HFA Recycled Circle Art

Here\'s an attractive way to reuse bits of junk, giving it new life. Art by Michael Natiello.

HFA Woman\'s Portrait

Fabulous, darling! Art by Lynn Stein, price available upon request.

HFA Recycled Scrabble Art

Can you read this? Made us think... and want to play Scrabble. Entitled \"A Habitat of my Own,\" by Kathy Feighery.

HFA Drawing Art

Creepy, yet organic. Drawing on recycled medium by Todd Sargood.

HFA Recycled Wood Shingles

It\'s shingles for a tile... that can be used as a shingle! Nice use of recycled wood, by Michael Natiello.

HFA Recycled Plastic Art

This compelling, textured tile was made by Simon Draper out of scraps from an old kiddie pool. Draper told TDG that his fellow artist Chris Albert had made a tile with scallop shingles cut from an old discarded pool. HFA also refashioned part of a pool to collect water, to make a kind of small aquatic habitat.

\"There are a hundred stories behind the tiles,\" says Draper, \"which is the cool thing. When they become part of the habitat -- as some will get cut up as material for a shingle or as siding material -- many voices blend to make and support the idea of creating a space for creativity. The community becomes the habitat for the artist to create and thrive within.\"

HFA Recycled Styrofoam Art

Foam packing peanuts can be useful, but they are hard to recycle, and can blow around all over the place. Here\'s an interesting comment by Christopher Albert.

HFA Recycled Cork, Wood Art

Catch the wave... of creative recycling. Work by Matthew Kinney.

HFA What Is Home?

That\'s a good question, we\'re glad you asked... What is reuse? What is consumption? What is art?

Artist Matthew Slaats asked \"what is home\" as part of a habitat installation in New Paltz, New York.

HFA Painted Panel

Hmmm.... Art by Ryan Cronin.

Viewing HFA Work at ecoartspace

Visitors to ecoartspace explore the HFA panels, each created by a different artist or team.

HFA Recycled Art Shed

Peering into one of the HFA art sheds, as visitors check out what it would be like to work in such an intimate setting.

Simon Draper with HFA Art Shed

Pioneering green artist Simon Draper with an art shed from the Habitat for Artists (HFA) project.

Inside HFA Art Shed

A look inside the artist workspace in an HFA shed. Each artist is encouraged to adapt the small shed for his or her needs, and to explore the effects of surroundings on the creative process.