Illinois-based ceramic artist Tim Kowalczyk has reimagined things thrown out in the trash as artistic ceramic sculptures. These creative creations may appear to be made out of distressed cardboard (some of them even include realistic details like stickers plastered on them) but are actually sculpted out of 100-percent ceramic.
Why ceramic?
According to Kowalczyk, ceramic has the ability to transform into any form, texture, or surface. Therefore, he selected this material to replicate real objects with a sense of purpose, priority, and preciousness. The different objects created by the talented artist are cardboard mugs, cardboard plates, polaroids and tin cans – all are carved entirely from clay. The resulting pieces look so realistic that it’s difficult to find out they are made out of clay until one holds them in hand.
Inspiration
Kowalczyk graduated with an MFA from Illinois State University in 2011 and now works as ceramics instructor at Illinois Central in East Peoria, IL. He draws his inspiration from objects and materials of little value including used cardboard or crushed tin cans. Using clay, he recreates these items into detailed sculptures to memorialize. Every minute detail of these ceramics makes them come alive. For instance, you can see the “Please Handle With Care” stickers or the used Scotch tape on these ceramic creations, giving the illusion of holding two pieces of cardboard together.
Ceramic mugs by Tim Kowalczyk
The certain areas are glazed to make it look like there’s tape on the cardboard.
You can spend days looking at these textures
Yes, right! It’s clay
Cardboard Cups by Tim Kowalczyk
These cardboard cups are made out of ceramic
Rusty metal can by Tim Kowalczyk
Tinned cans made out of ceramic
Even stickers and scotch tapes are present on these cardboard cups
The ceramic cup resembles old cardboard material
Cardboard plate made out of ceramic
Cardboard-like plate
Polaroids made out of ceramic
If you’d like to see more of his work, head over to his website or at Companion Gallery where he is represented.
Via: Colossal
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