I turn corrugated boxes inside out to reveal the colors and textures hidden within.

Artist Statement

I have been concerned and involved with recycling since the late sixties so I am not surprised to find myself creating with recycled materials. I enjoy catching people unawares with the beauty of their trash transformed.

I am drawn to the subtle beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and humble. I enjoy transforming corrugated cartons into something that is both useful and beautiful. I want other people to become sensitized to the possibilities of objects usually called “waste”. I am fascinated with used packaging materials – when no longer pristine; they have begun to interesting. Everyone sees corrugated boxes as brown but when dissected and examined closely, a full spectrum of color appears where once only brown was noticed.

When I started making shadowboxes, I built the frame with corrugated cardboard. I chose corrugated as a plentiful and sturdy material that was simple to cut and manipulate. At first, I covered the corrugated with recycled or decorative paper, but soon I found myself fascinated with the scraps – the thin slices and cross-sections that accumulated on my work table. I began experimenting with these scraps, fascinated by the wide variety of ridges and colors and gradually developed the style I call “Corrugated Mosaic”.

Crushed and baled corrugated boxes; ready to be recycled into new boxes.

Corrugated Mosaic Construction Methods

Using a utility knife, straight edge, tweezers and white craft glue, I construct the frame or foundation for each piece from recycled corrugated cartons.

The primary surface embellishments are created in a style I call Corrugated Mosaic, which relies primarily on the subtle color of the paper itself, plus the texture and shadows created by the corrugations. To expose the corrugations to best effect, I peel away the surface layer of paper. The peeled corrugated is then cut into pieces which I use as tiles for the mosaic pattern. I also cut thin cross sections through the corrugations, which I use to separate the corrugated pieces.

In the final stage, I spray each piece with clear, acrylic varnish to protect against moisture.

Artistic Influences

Louise Nevelson, who picked up the detritus from the streets of NYC and created amazing sculptures with what she found.

Frank Gehry, who designed comfortable, sturdy and recyclable furniture made from corrugated materials in the 1970's. He went on to become known for his ultra-modern building designs.

Tramp Artists of the 20th Century, who created something from nothing and most remained anonymous. They would be astonished to know that their work is now worth a fortune.



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