Colin Selig

Upcycled Functional Sculpture

Street Furniture  |  Park Benches  |  Garden & Patio

Artist's Statement

My work is a synthesis of sculpture and sustainable design.  My unique process is to upcycle salvage propane tanks into whimsical, comfortable, durable and environmentally responsible sculpture, seating and planters.  


Aesthetically my work is modern, organic, and playful.  My designs range from abstract compositions to contemporary riffs on iconic furniture from past eras, including Victorian and Mid Century modern.


My work is extremely eco-friendly from start to finish.  I begin with locally sourced tanks, which are an abundant and sustainable material due to strict regulations limiting their service life.   Next I carefully dissect the tanks and reassemble the pieces, while doing no additional reshaping of the metal.  Known as upcycing, this process uses less energy than recycling because the source material reused in it’s current form.  Upon completion each of my pieces contain 99% post consumer recycled content.  


I have done extensive research to ensure the comfort of my seats.  After trials with numerous test subjects an ideal relative position of curved seat to curved backrest was determined which provides good lumbar support for a wide range of body sizes.  The combination of curved seat and backrest allows smaller bodies to slip slightly further back and down into the seat and receive good lumbar support.  This arrangement provides an ergonomic advancement over traditional benches with flat seats.  


Many of my seats are prototypes created with mass production in mind.  I have been granted a series of design patents and also have a utility patent pending to protect my concept.


My work is designed to be interactive - to be touched, sat on and climbed on.  Its durability and playfulness make it ideal for the public realm.  I prefer propane tanks as a sculpting medium because they are so common and recognizable.  By being careful not to deconstruct them too far most people who see my work are able to appreciate the ecological statement associated with their transformation into functional works of art.