In the hierarchy of “The Three Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), reuse comes before recycle for a reason– it’s better to use materials again and give them a second purpose before recycling them. That’s why we’re so obsessed with the amazing artwork of our friend Javad Ashrafi.
Every few weeks, Javad (or Jay, as he’s known to the Research Alloys crew) stops by our recycling center to dig through boxes and buckets of metals, searching for pieces that strike his imagination and inspire his works of art. While many of Jay’s pieces depict animals and the natural world, he also likes to play with the mechanical and industrial aspects of metals and often melds the themes of “organic” and “man-made” into compelling creations. Jay uses copper, brass, bronze, aluminum, and many other metals in his art and may spend hours on the shop floor looking for the perfect pieces. And we just love the way he creatively utilizes the metals, fashioning them into beautiful sculptures and mixed-media display pieces.
Research Alloys is proud to supply materials for Javad and other artists like him. Anyone wishing to shop our selection is welcome to stop in and peruse our recycling buy-in center– the boxes are always changing, so you never know what you’ll find!
You can see more of Javad’s work on his Instagram page. For commissions and inquires, drop him a line at ArtByJavad@gmail.com.