Michael Foster

Michael Foster

All of my work is created with recycled and repurposed items. 95% of what I make is salvaged metal. Could be mild steel, stainless steel and copper. You will see old retired tools, nuts, bolts, automotive gears and parts as well as hardware from just about everything. The other 5% is made up of things like old cameras, disassembled typewriter or movie projector parts.
From this amalgamation of salvaged “junk” I create a variety of different pieces. From organic pieces based on living things, Horses, fish, animals, plants to Sci-fi type things, mostly robots to functional art, things like book ends or phone/card holders, or kitchenware and furniture.
I use a variety of techniques to create my works. I use both Mig and Tig welders, silver solder, a propane forge, and both propane and acetylene torches. This variety lets me form just about any piece of metal into the shape that I want. I also use a large selection of hand tools, too numerous to list them all, but a few would be; angle grinders, files, sanders, hammers, saws, clamps, vises, etc. The metal work that I do requires cutting, cleaning, heating, forming (both hot and cold) and the vision to see what parts need to go where to create the finished piece.
I tend to look at parts and see them as something else. Sometimes I will build something all around one part, just because it is so cool, other times I will have an idea of what I want to make and will find the parts in one of my numerous parts boxes. I make things because it is relaxing and therapeutic to create. There is something deeply satisfying about turning an old iron into a boat or building a robot around using a camera for a head. Equally as satisfying is knowing that the parts that I use would have ended up in a landfill, and instead they end up with new life as art in someone’s home.

Email: builtbyfoster@sonic.net
Website: www.builtbyfoster.net
Instagram: builtbyfoster
Facebook: joe.meinecke