Ben O’Brien - Inspiration

Inspiration

I’m inspired by discarded objects and forgotten pieces that were once vital parts of machinery. What fuels my work is a desire to give a second chance to these beautiful and unique original shapes and forms.

I’ve always wanted to find a way to reuse and recycle these objects I find in junkyards (and the occasional dumpster). I’m amazed at how so many beautiful and unique, once-useful forged steel and iron parts end up in scrap yards only to be melted down or even worse, left to rot in the dirt.

After working on my old Toyota pickup, a pile of intriguing scrap parts emerged. The shapes and forms appealed to my creative side and I couldn’t bear to throw them away. Rather than see these forms rot away, I embraced their beauty and character by incorporating them into new functional and aesthetically pleasing sculptures.

“Why the name Dead Fish Designs?” Because I like fish, everything about fish – even dead ones. They’ve always appealed to me aesthetically.