The beauty of scrap metal art lies in taking something old, breaking it down and totally transforming it into something completely new. Scrap metal pieces are currently being sold for thousands of pounds making scrap artistry and sculpture highly lucrative. Many artists enjoy using something widely considered ugly or unsightly, such as scrap metal, and forming it into something striking, bold, even beautiful.
As people become increasingly conscious of environmental impact, artists are favouring more reusable materials, and this has also led to an increase in demand for recycled art. Scrap metal is a very eco-friendly medium for artists to work with as no new materials need to be produced to create the pieces. Similarly, the pieces can be completely recycled again afterwards.
From old bicycle chains to gutter pipes – the variety of shapes that can be salvaged from scrap metal lend themselves really well to creating pieces of art. Popular subjects for scrap sculpture are animals, insects and plants which create an incredible juxtaposition between the industrial look of the materials and the subject being depicted. Moulding the metal into flowing shapes and making something totally inanimate almost come to life using a material like scrap metal is particularly striking.
Take a look at the amazing work of scrap metal artist Alan Williams who specialises in animal sculptures:
Other popular subjects are mechanical items such as cars, trains, and other vehicles, or even science-fiction-related things such as robots and aliens – where scrap metal really enhances the overall look. By taking recycled, distressed-looking materials, you can easily create an incredible futuristic, steampunk aesthetic.
Scrap metal can be challenging to work with as an unconventional material for art, but that makes it all the more interesting to use. As scrap metal merchants here at Singleton’s, we’re fascinated by the amazing things people can create with scrap metal and want to share our expert knowledge about handling scrap. If you’re interested in working with scrap metal yourself, learn about Working with Scrap Metal Safely. It’s really important that you know how to handle scrap metal properly and have the right equipment to work with.
You can also learn more about where you can source your own scrap metal so you know you’re doing it legally. If you’re looking to sell your scrap in Manchester, we’re here for you at Singleton’s Scrap Metal – contact us if you have any questions and we’ll be happy to help.
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