Dumpster Diving Artist's Mosaics To Be Presented At LES Pop-Up

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — A 28-year-old artist who creates mosaics from items scavenged from the trash will present new works at a Lower East Side pop-up space starting Tuesday.

Cameron Welch, who hails from Indianapolis, brings together various items, like CDs, mirrors, tiles, brooms, a keyboard and other items to create colorful mosaics exploring his personal identity through his art.

Welch's new mosaics will be on display April 30 through May 2 at a pop-up at 198 Allen St. between East Houston and Stanton streets.

In an interview with VICE last May, Welch said when he first began combining paintings with mosaics with objects scavenged from the trash, he "was trying to combat institutional painting, a very white history of painting, and surround it with a story of blackness."

"I create mosaics because there' something kind of cozy about them that's inviting and beautiful and asks, 'Where are you within this story? What do you see when you literally see yourself reflected in this thing?'" Welch told VICE.

Welch's art has been displayed in Sweden, Belgium, New York, and Los Angeles, where he currently has a solo exhibition, "MONOLITH," on display.

In conjunction with the three-day exhibition, New Jersey-based art school, One River School, will present Welch the school's first annual $5,000 emerging artist award Tuesday evening.

"I'm incredibly honored to receive this award from One River School," Welch said. "The prospect of enriching lives of young people by connecting them to contemporary art is an invaluable one. I believe One River School accomplishes just that. I am beyond thrilled to be collaborating with such an impactful organization."

One River School teaches art to students across 10 schools and five states for artists of all ages.

Former School of Rock chief executive officer Matt Ross founded the school in 2012.

"I am inspired by Cameron’s work and the sheer determination that he and so many other emerging artists demonstrate by committing their lives to creating art," Ross said. "This is another step that allows One River School to educate beyond our classrooms and we are thrilled to produce Cameron’s first solo New York show during the week of the Frieze Art Fair, so that people from around the world who are visiting New York can engage with the art and help us celebrate the contributions Cameron is already making to the art world."