by: Zak Lodhi
Christine Veitch doesn’t see abandoned objects the way most people do. A rusty bolt in a parking lot, a forgotten toy at a thrift store, or a pile of discarded trinkets at an estate sale are not scraps destined for the trash. To her, they are possibilities waiting to be rearranged into something entirely new. What others overlook, Veitch transforms into layered, textured works of art filled with color, memory, and surprise.
The Arizona-based artist discovered her passion for found-object art during the stillness of the COVID lockdown. Looking for a creative outlet at home, she began by mosaicing her garage wall with broken plates and collected objects. It all started as an experiment. Veitch immersed herself in videos about assemblage art and studied artists who used discarded materials to create something meaningful. Before long, she was developing her own distinctive style, built entirely around recycled and thrifted objects. Today, everyday errands have become part of her creative process. She says that even just crossing a parking lot can feel less like walking and more like treasure hunting. Veitch is constantly observing colors, textures, and shapes, mentally cataloging possibilities for future work. She often finds inspiration in unexpected places: Hot Wheels cars left on the ground, worn pieces of jewelry, scraps of plastic, rusty hardware, or forgotten household items with their own histories.
That’s all just preparation, however. After that, the real work begins. Veitch compares her process to solving a puzzle, though unlike traditional puzzles, she chooses the pieces herself. Each object becomes part of a larger composition, carefully positioned until the work feels complete. Some pieces evolve slowly over several weeks as she works across multiple projects at once, sourcing materials from garage sales, thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and even online auctions. She cites the process as deeply meditative for her. There are days when she begins working in the morning only to realize hours later that the entire day has disappeared. But what makes Veitch’s work especially compelling is the experience viewers have when standing before it. From a distance, the compositions feel cohesive and visually striking. But up close, the individual objects begin to reveal themselves. Tiny toys, jewelry pieces, bolts, plastic fragments, and forgotten relics emerge from the surface, inviting viewers to slow down and explore. Often, those discoveries spark memories.
Her work has a certain quality. Like childhood moments, objects they once owned, or pieces of your past you’ve forgotten about. That emotional connection has become one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. Her art is not simply about repurposing materials. It is about rediscovering meaning in things once discarded and reminding people that beauty can exist in the overlooked. As a self-taught artist, Veitch initially questioned whether people would even consider her work “art” because it did not fit into traditional expectations of painting or sculpture. But audiences connected with it immediately. Her work has since been exhibited in galleries across Arizona, earning numerous awards, including Best of Show recognition.
Despite the growing recognition, Veitch remains grounded in the joy of creating itself. For her, the process matters as much as the final piece. Searching, arranging, experimenting, and discovering are all part of the experience. Every artwork becomes a visual conversation between forgotten objects and new imagination. In Christine Veitch’s hands, discarded materials are never truly abandoned. They are simply waiting for their next story to be told.
To explore Christine Veitch’s collections or inquire about custom work:
recycledbyveitch@gmail.com
recycledbyveitch.artcall.org
@RecycledbyCVeitch
