Plastic in art
Within the 20th century, there came the use of plastics in art.[1] In the latter half of the century, plastic technology advanced so that it was feasible for artists to start using plastic and acrylics as an artwork medium.
![](../I/RoxyPaineScumak_wiki.jpg.webp)
Using found plastic
Art made of commodity materials sometimes uses found objects made of plastic.[3][4] Plastic containers are useful in papier-mâché for building frames.[5]
Environmental artists are using salvaged beach plastic to create art as a means of bringing awareness of plastic pollution in earth's oceans. Examples include: Judith Selby Lang and Richard Lang, members of Women Eco Artists Dialog, and the photography of Chris Jordan.
Use of Liquid Acrylics
Liquid acrylics can be used to create two- and three-dimensional plastic images and objects. Artist, Tyler Turkle, pours multiple thin layers of pigmented liquid acrylic to form sheets of plastic that result in paintings and sculptures. After adequate drying time between applications, these solid plastic sheets can be readily peeled off most surfaces and readhered to others.[6] Examples can be seen in the “Other plastic artwork” images below.
Other plastic artwork
- "Mona Breakfast" (aka "Jerry’s"), 33"x46", poured acrylic, Tyler Turkle, 1976
- "MasterCard/Visa (If it wasn’t for plastic money I wouldn’t have any money at all)", 54" x 43", poured acrylic, Tyler Turkle, 2006
- "Plastic History" (Transfiguration), 8"x10", poured acrylic on photo, Tyler Turkle, 1985
- "Plastic Water #5", 40" x 30", poured acrylic on photo, Tyler Turkle, 1989.
- "Plastic Anatomy 55", 45"x24", poured acrylic on plexiglas, Tyler Turkle, 1988
- "Sunset with Plastic", poured acrylic on photo, 40"x60", Tyler Turkle, 1990
References
- Mustalish, Rachel. "Modern Materials: Plastics". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Sherman Fairchild Center for Works on Paper and Photograph Conservation, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Roxy Paine | Acrylic Art | Plastic Artwork. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- Paine, Roxy. "Roxy Paine - Scumak No. 2, Auto Sculpture Maker 1998-2001". YouTube. MediaArtTube. Roxy Paine | Art | Acrylic Art. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- curatorial, intern (9 August 2010). ""Found Art" and Commodity Sculpture". New Britain Museum of American Art. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- Valentine, Ben (26 August 2015). "One Artist's Quest to Turn Beach Plastic into Art". Hyperallergic. Ben Valentine. Art | Roxy Paine | Plastic in Art | Acrylic Art. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- "PAPER MACHE VASES FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES". Creative Jewish Mom. Creative Jewish Mom. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- "Plastic Water— The Last Criterion, Greenberg Wilson, New York, September 7 to October 7, 1989, pg.4" (PDF). erudit.org. erudit. Retrieved 21 October 2016.