foundobject

Foundobject is a term used in modern and contemporary art and design to describe works that incorporate everyday, non-artisan objects retrieved from the surrounding environment and repurposed as art. The practice foregrounds material reality and often raises questions about value, authorship, and function, distinguishing the object from its original use.

Origin and context: The concept has roots in the early 20th century with Marcel Duchamp's readymades, where manufactured items were presented as art with minimal alteration. The approach evolved into assemblage and collage in the postwar period, with artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns integrating found items into sculptural and pictorial works. Louise Nevelson and later, mid-to-late 20th century artists continued the use of found objects to construct cohesive environments or commentaries on consumer culture.

Practice and characteristics: Foundobject works may be sculptures, installations, or mixed-media pieces. They often juxtapose mass-produced items with crafted elements, draw on vernacular or sentimental associations, and invite viewers to re-evaluate ordinary objects as carriers of meaning.

Contemporary relevance: In recent decades, the idea of Foundobject has extended into design, architecture, and curatorial practice, emphasizing sustainability, reuse, and the dialog between art and daily life.

See also: Readymade, Objet trouvé, Assemblage, Found object (art).