About the art
Colin Selig's work is a synthesis of sculpture and sustainable design. His unique process is to upcycle salvage propane tanks into functional sculptures. He carefully dissects the tanks and reassembles the pieces, while doing no additional forming of the metal. The result is an object which is playful, comfortable, durable and ecologically responsible. Aesthetically Colin draws on a variety of influences. Some designs are abstract compositions of geometric or organic forms, others are purely whimsical, and some pay homage to iconic furniture from past eras. After extensive research an ideal relative position of curved seat to curved backrest has been determined which provides good lumbar support for a wide range of body sizes, an ergonomic advancement over traditional benches with flat seats. Colin has been granted a series of patents for his designs, which have won national and international awards for their aesthetic, technical, and innovative qualities. His work has been installed in public, commercial and residential locations across the US and in Europe.
Artist bio
Raised in an ecologically conscious household the importance of conserving our planet’s resources was instilled in Colin from an early age, although his parents had mixed emotions when he took their message to heart and searched through the neighbors’ garbage on his way home from elementary school retrieving appliances and furniture he could repair. While studying metal sculpting at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston he earned a degree in Philosophy from Tufts University in 1987. His education from that time included apprenticeships with a machinist, race car fabricator, and public art sculptor. In the next couple of decades he continued to master his craft, restoring a wide variety of antique vehicles and machinery. In 2007 he began to focus on sculpting. Committed to a sustainable lifestyle he resides and works within an intentional community in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Awards
Smithsonian Craft Show “Exhibitors’ Choice Gold Award” 2012
American Society of Landscape Architects national expo “Most Interesting Products” 2012
Eco Arts Awards (international), Second Place, Repurposed Materials, juried by Lloyd Herman 2013
Core77 Design Awards (international), Runner Up, DIY category 2011
Spark Design Awards (international), Finalist 2012
Patents
US D 683,146 Design patent: Propane tank bench
US D 683,147 Design patent: Propane tank chaise bench
US D 683,148 Design patent: Propane tank lips bench
US D 716,572 Design patent: Propane tank asymmetric backless bench
US D 721,237 Design patent: Propane tank club chair
US Pending Utility patent: Methods for making seating from pressure vessels (link)
Selected Press & Blogs
San Jose Mercury News “Tanks for the comfy seating,” artist interview, November 23, 2012
Hampton’s Magazine, Artist Interview, Memorial Day issue 2014, p. 150
Walnut Creek Magazine, "Liquid Waves," artist interview, Sept./Oct. issue, 2015
San Francisco Examiner, “New West Coast Design 2” exhibit review, Jan. 2, 2014
American Style Magazine, Fall 2012 issue, p. 39.
Washington Post, “Home is Where the Art Is,” October 26, 2012, p. C8
Farm Show Magazine, artist interview, March 2013 issue
contemporist, May 31, 2013
Critical Response
“The massive, upcycled Propane Tank Club Chair by Colin Selig is bubbly, curvaceous and looks like something from a James Bond film.”
-San Francisco Examiner, 2/2/14
“Whether referencing Salvador Dali's "Mae West" sofa with bold, ruby-red "lip" benches, or boggling the mind of the best engineers with stunning, continuous-piece asymmetrical chairs, Selig has full command of his craft.”
-San Jose Mercury News, 11/23/12
“People were a little 'shocked' in a good way, as it is really different than anything else around in the major design period between Maison & Objet and Paris Design Week. So it really stood apart, which is an amazing accomplishment in a high density period of product presentation. The chair was also VERY comfortable and extremely well made. ”
-Melissa Regan, owner
Galerie Joseph, Paris, 10/15/13
