Currently entered into the Lake House Arts Awards for the month of April - please feel free to contact me about purchase
Unlock the power of transformation with Metalmorphosis, a one-of-a-kind upcycled key sculpture that reimagines discarded objects into a powerful, symbolic art form. Created by Lisa Watkins, this mixed media piece is built from community-gifted keys, repurposed metal, and found objects, embodying a journey of unlocking new possibilities.
Featuring an intricate assembly of vintage and modern keys, each with its own history, Metalmorphosis speaks to the themes of freedom, resilience, and reinvention. A striking bicycle wheel halo, adorned with colorful resin details, elevates the piece, signifying motion and rebirth. The metallic elements catch the light, creating a dynamic interplay of textures and reflections.
Whether as a statement sculpture for an art collector or an eco-conscious centerpiece, Metalmorphosis invites conversation and contemplation.
Handcrafted from reclaimed materials
Sustainably created with a zero-waste approachOriginal, one-of-a-kind artwork
Size: Height 90 cm, Width 50 cm.
This sculpture comes in three parts for ease of installation. The bicycle wheel is removable, allowing you to position it at any angle you prefer.
Metalmorphosis – Upcycled Key Sculpture | Sustainable Art by Lisa Watkins
My Shiny Perspective:
I’m guessing a thousand keys. Sourced from the community, with a little help from the key cutting place in New Lynn (apparently, I’m not alone in the sustainability game—sometimes their stocks were raided by school upcycling projects—yay, but also, boo!). This was my second entirely community-led, free-standing sculpture. What I’ve learned from these endeavours is that gathering all the keys, nails, and screws takes time. You get some, clean some, glue some—it’s almost therapeutic at first. But as you collect more materials, the ideas start to shift. Then, as these epic projects take shape, the process becomes more elaborate. You start making decisions, pulling off a few keys that just don’t fit, and before you know it, you’re wrestling with four giant plastic containers full of turps and resin, tears streaming as you painstakingly remove and re-glue keys (feel free to count them after purchase, I’m still recovering!). And no, this does not get covered in the price! But despite it all, I love it, and my heart and soul are in every single piece.
