Assemblage Art

Inspiration & Exploration

Assemblage art is sculpture made from everyday found objects — bottle caps, keys, wire, old toys, wood scraps, broken clocks — arranged and joined to create something new. Start by searching "Joseph Cornell boxes" on Google Images; Cornell is the godfather of assemblage and his shadow boxes are endlessly inspiring. Watch "Louise Nevelson: The Art of Found Objects" on YouTube. Closer to home, visit the Gilgal Sculpture Garden in Salt Lake City, a free outdoor park filled with found-material and folk art sculptures created by Thomas Child. Notice how ordinary objects take on new meaning in unexpected combinations. You're ready for the next step when you can describe two assemblage artists' approaches and name three types of found objects that interest you.

Tools & Techniques

Assemblage requires fewer purchased supplies than almost any other art form — most of your materials are free. Start collecting now: a box for odds and ends (buttons, wire, corks, packaging, hardware scraps, fabric bits, printed paper). For joining materials, you'll need a hot glue gun with plenty of sticks, plus Mod Podge for layering paper and fabric. A pair of wire cutters and needle-nose pliers open up metal and wire work. Watch "Assemblage Art for Beginners" on the Art Sherpa YouTube channel. Visit thrift stores and Deseret Industries in Salt Lake for cheap source material — old picture frames make excellent structural bases. You're ready for the next step when you have a collection box with at least 20 different found objects sorted and ready to use.

First Creations

Make your first assemblage piece without any pressure to make it "good" — just combine objects. Lay everything from your collection box out on a table and start grouping things that feel connected: by color, texture, theme, or pure instinct. Choose a base (a shoebox lid, a piece of cardboard, or a wooden panel) and start placing objects on it before gluing anything. Step back and photograph the arrangement. Rearrange it at least twice before committing. Then glue everything down and let it dry completely. You're ready for the next step when you have one finished piece — however rough — and can describe what drew you to put those specific objects together.

Style Development

Develop your personal style by choosing a theme or concept for your next pieces. Strong assemblage often has an emotional or narrative thread — memory, nature, time, loss, childhood, humor. Make two more pieces, each with a deliberate theme. Try one that uses a restricted color palette (spray paint found objects the same color to unify them — a technique used by Nevelson). Try one that uses a small, intimate container like a cigar box or jewelry box in the style of Joseph Cornell. Watch the YouTube documentary "Outsider Art: Found Object Artists" for inspiration from self-taught assemblage makers. You're ready for the next step when you can look at your three pieces and describe a consistent visual interest or theme that connects them.

Refine Your Craft

Expand your technical skills by learning to work with more challenging materials. Try incorporating electrical wire, rusted metal, or natural found objects like bones, bark, or stones — all findable on Utah trails. Learn to use E6000 adhesive (stronger than hot glue for heavy or smooth objects). Experiment with surface treatments: gesso to prime, acrylic washes to add color, or paste wax for a finished look. Read "The Found Object in Textile Art" by Cas Holmes for cross-medium ideas. Study how Utah artist Lee Deffebach incorporated text and paper in her mixed-media work. Post a photo of your process in progress to r/assemblage or the SLCTrips community and ask for technical suggestions. You're ready for the next step when you've successfully joined at least two different material types (like metal to wood) using the right adhesive for each.

Portfolio Piece

Create your best assemblage yet — a finished, intentional piece that could hang on a wall or sit on a shelf as a completed artwork. Choose your theme first, then go collecting specifically for it (a focused scavenger hunt). Work larger or more three-dimensional than your earlier pieces. When it's finished, photograph it from multiple angles in good natural light. Write a 3–5 sentence artist statement: what objects you used, why you chose them, and what the piece means to you. Consider entering it in the Utah Arts Festival open call or displaying it in your home or workplace as a conversation starter. You're ready for the next step when you have one finished piece with an artist statement and at least two photographs you'd be proud to share.