Found Object Sculptures
Businesses are currently closed, but did you know that your backyard or house can be an art supply store? Here’s how!
Found Object Sculptures can help you relax, have fun, and get creative away from school and work.
Louise Nevelson (United States b. Russia, 1900-1988), Untitled, circa 1975-1976, painted wood, 62 x 38 x 8 inches. Museum purchase with support from the Friends of the Collection, the Bernstein Acquisition Fund, the Peggy and Harold Osher Acquisition Fund, The David Rockefeller Fund, and individual gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Charlton H. Ames, Joan B. Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Peter W. Cox, Judith and Albert Glickman, Susan K. Hamill, William D. Hamill, Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Konkel, Claude P. Maher, Henry and Joanna McCorkle, Leonard and Merle Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Sheldon, John and Gale Shonle, and an anonymous donor, 1996.29. Image courtesy Pillar Digital Imaging.
Louise Nevelson used wooden objects that she found in the urban environments around her to create sculptures of all different shapes and sizes. In this activity, you can look for objects from the natural world around you to create your own ‘found’ object sculptures.
What you need
Sticks, branches, stones, leaves from your yard, or straws, toothpicks, leftover takeout chopsticks, beads from your home—whatever you find and have available is perfect!
Rope or yarn or a hot glue gun (please let adults use the hot glue gun!)
Paint (optional)
What you do
Collect your items in different shapes and sizes.
When you’re ready, gather the materials together. If you got things from your backyard, you may want to clean some of them off.
Optional step: If you like, paint your found objects all one color just as Nevelson did. Nevelson often used black, white, or gold, but you can choose whatever color you want!
Now look at the materials and ask yourself what shapes do you see?
Arrange the found materials into a structure. Get creative!
If you like, tie the materials together using rope or yarn, or have an adult help you with using a hot glue gun
Want to try a variation?
Use colored paper that are all one color and cut shapes similar to those you see in the Nevelson work (rectangles, circles, squares, etc.), and use these instead!
Share it with us!
We want to see your Nevelson-inspired compositions! Take a photo and tag us on Instagram at @portlandmuseum or Facebook at @PortlandMuseumofArt