This Jersey City Artist Finds Treasure in Trash
The New jersey artist Theda Sandiford
Theda Sandiford is a Jersey City-based mixed media artist whose work has been featured in galleries across the US, won industry awards, and mentioned in international publications. But her real goal was getting the viewer to think a little differently.
Emotional Baggage cart
Theda’s work is made with found materials, there is plenty of cleaning and tidying to do before it’s ready to be worked into art. In trash, Theda sees treasure. Her most recognizable pieces are made from items that most people would see as the flotsam and jetsam of urban living: discarded plastic bags, bottle caps, bits of fabric, and other random items.
“The first time I was inspired by garbage, I was maybe 5 years old,” Theda said. “I would see buttons and bottle caps and shells and I would drill holes in them and make necklaces for myself. They were like treasures. I have been collecting things from the time I was small.” Theda said in an interview.
Theda is always on the lookout for materials. She collects things on her own, and people will ask her what she’s on the hunt for. “People say they collect a certain item and they’ll give it to me. At my shows, people will come up to me. Or I’ll post on social media or on my blog. I get a lot of DMs saying ‘I have that!’”
Theda's bottle cap artwork
Theda said, “Particularly among people who work in fashion, I like to get all their textile waste. I’ll have a courier pick those up. I get two or three boxes organized and then the courier will pick them up and deliver them to me. About 90% of my materials are donated and recycled materials.”