This Artist Takes Ordinary Cans And Sculpts Them Into Works Of Art

Chances are likely you are keen on recycling used aluminum cans. But have you ever considered them a work of art?

For Detroit-born artist Noah Deledda, they are exactly that. In fact, Deledda has grown his artistic portfolio by taking old aluminum cans and turning them into sculptures.

Made entirely by hand, Deledda starts by scratching away the the can’s original design. He then uses his thumb to add dents and creases to the can, resulting in unique geometric patterns.

Take a look at this mesmerizing video of Deledda at work:

Turning Trash Into Treasure

Deledda said by scratching away the surface of the can with what appears to be sandpaper, he is able to reveal “a brilliant raw material of the otherwise ordinary consumer item.”

And it’s true — the cans are stunning once Deledda works with them a bit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbu4pnDAdKp/?taken-by=noahdeledda

“Through sculpture I try to create something unique out of an ordinary object,” he said in the video.

This process is achieved through a technique that Deledda said took years of trial and error — and, of course, practice.

“It’s important to me that this is all carried out by hand without any special tools or extraordinary manipulation,” he said.

The Finishing Touches

Once Deledda finishes his sculptures, he frames them in glass display boxes. He also uses film to document his finished piece from a different perspective, a process he says that furthers the narrative behind his art.

“My goal, and reason for ever making art, is to raise awareness of the importance of the creative process,” he said. “This drives me to create work that challenges perception and inspires curiosity.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbPy3FhgSLa/?taken-by=noahdeledda

Behind The Scenes

Deledda also documents his process on his social mediums — especially on Instagram. Not only can followers get an inside look at what it takes to craft one of his sculptures, but they can see Deledda’s work showcased in various art studios and settings.

Deledda also offers thought-provoking captions with some of his photos.

“Before the beginning the object is assigned anonymous status. Stripped of its identity, it reflects the world around it,” he wrote with one of them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg_sYXpAKua/?taken-by=noahdeledda

Want to learn more about Deledda’s work? See more of his portfolio, and purchase his reimagined aluminum cans on his website.