Some people see a pile of junk and see a mess, while other people see art. The latter is the case for South Carolina-based upcycling artist Matt Wilson (aka Airtight Artwork), who is a talented craftsman that transforms scrap metal, drift wood, and found objects into magnificent bird sculptures that look like they could come to life and fly away. Wilson says his work is a reflection of the environment he lives in. By working as a resident artist at Detyens Shipyard, he gives a longer life cycle to discarded materials. “The upcycled work I create is a testimony to the belief of conserving and appreciating our resources,” he explains.
Wilson’s flock of sculptures depict various types of birds, ranging from woodland blackbirds, robins, blue jays, and owls, to predatory eagles and ravens sporting intimidating arched wings. While working with metal requires a lot of patience and skill, creating art from recycled metal can take even more resilience and craftsmanship. Completing each upcycled sculpture requires not only waiting for the perfect piece of material, but the know-how to integrate it into the whole. “It’s taken me years to collect all my materials,” claims Wilson, who is continuously developing his skills to create more of his elaborate works.
Although the found materials have been reused and transformed, they are still recognizable. In one piece, a long metal coil becomes an elegant neck of a metal heron, and in others, antique silver forks take the place of birds wings and feet, and a slotted spoon serve as the breast of a barn owl. Wilson varies his creative interpretations from project to project. While some of the sculptures are freestanding, others perch on pieces of metal or reclaimed driftwood.
Although most of Wilson’s work depicts birds, he’s also made metal insects, lobsters, fish, and even an octopus. You can see more of his unique work on Instagram and even purchase original creations through his Etsy shop.
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