Found Art

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Completely Brilliant Art Project

A good eye for detail and a very clever format yield super-interesting results. Plus a new Inconspicuous News Roundup!

Aug 20 •

A Close Look at Security Envelope Patterns

These classically inconspicuous designs, which are hiding in plain sight, have inspired collectors, artists, and at least one architect.

Aug 19 •

The Mind-Blowing Geometric Design of Diatomaceous Earth

To the naked eye, it’s a plain white powder. But if you zoom in with an electron microscope, a stunning industrial landscape emerges.

Jul 22 •

How a Hornets’ Nest Totally Blew My Mind

I write a lot about human-designed products, the culture surrounding them, and the stories they have to tell (all of which led to a bit of…

May 13 •

A Very Beautiful Book About ... Math

Even math-phobes will find plenty to like in this 19th-century classic.

Oct 2, 2024 •

The Coolest Street Art Ever

An impromptu illustration gallery has sprouted up beneath my feet (and it’s not what you might think).

Sep 23, 2024 •

Oddly Compelling: Cylindrical Objects on Escalators

What is the source of this fascination?

Aug 22, 2024 •

Art Is Where You Find It

And I recently found it coming through the bedroom window at three in the morning.

Aug 6, 2024 •

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