Design Hunter's Journal

I used to work at Studio 817, an antique store where the owner had a delightful and eclectic assortment of yard art and whirligigs in front of his shop: pigs made from recycled oil tanks, gigantic chickens, even the odd dinosaur or two. These amusing sculptures were designed to attract the attention of passersby and lure people in. While I was there, the shop sold at least one of these lawn sculptures every day, so I know firsthand how popular these things are.

I have since discovered a whole genre of lawn sculptures made from recycled silverware, golf clubs, hammers, screwdrivers, bowling pins, you name it. I am impressed by the creativity: birds with elaborate plumage, goofy dogs and cats made from springs, hammers, and golf clubs, and even a moose on skis made entirely from reclaimed metal.

Spring is the perfect time to decorate your yard with lawn sculptures. Here are some of my favorites:

Recycled Metal Dog Art

Made by craftsman Jim Billmeyer, these dogs have a lot of personality. They would look great lounging on the porch or greeting your visitors out by the gate.

This dog just wants someone to play with him. He is holding a golf ball in his mouth and looking around expectantly. The glasses make him look a little like Mr. Peabody from the popular cartoon series.

Available from nbillmeyer on Etsy, this dog is made from golf clubs and scrap metal, and a is holding a real golf ball. What a genius gift for dog lovers and golfers alike!

I can’t resist including another dog sculpture that caught my eye, this one made from a hammer, metal rods, and ball bearings. He looks like he wants to shake.

Jim Billmeyer also makes amazing cats, fish, birds, and caterpillars from scrap metal and reclaimed materials. His work is very popular, so don’t wait too long to purchase anything on his Etsy site!

These sculptures from Gallagher Metalwork on Etsy are smaller but no less amazing:

Bird Family Silverware Art

Crafted by Gallagher Metalwork, these ingenious birds have plumage made from spoons, forks, and knives. Small and delightful, they would look great perched on a table or windowsill!

Metal Word Sculptures

Some metalsmiths make recycled lawn art featuring words and slogans spelled out with all sorts of reclaimed objects. This sign is an unusual version of a very popular word:

Made by MandMChico, this unique sign seems to suggest that love is manufactured or reclaimed, not homemade. The artisans of MandMChico can use this same approach to create any word that has meaning to people, such as “Peace”, “Home”, “Dad” etc. Because this company uses reclaimed materials, no two signs will be the same.

Bull Folk Art Sculpture

It is amazing how a bull made from an axe head and horseshoes can remind me of Picasso! This bull is handmade by Ralph Possa of Gilroy, CA, a retired sheet metal worker who still loves to work with metal. This folk art sculpture would look great on a ranch or home with a Southwestern theme.

I have saved the wackiest piece for last, the aforementioned skiing moose. This moose demonstrates remarkable coordination and ability for his species:

Skiing Moose Metal Sculpture

Wouldn’t this be a great sight, gliding down the slopes of your yard? This sculpture is made from reclaimed metal by Kentucky artisans and available on modernartisans.com.

With this post, we are doing our part to help you amaze your neighbors with your unique taste in yard art. And these pieces proclaim that you care about recycling too! We hope you have enjoyed this tour through the wacky world of recycled metal yard art.

-Louise Hunter Burton