Trash to Treasure: Powerful Artworks by Kun Zhao

Kun Zhao is a mixed media artist and educator who uses discarded materials to produce impactful works of art. Through her practice, she repurposes everyday items like plastic bags and snack packaging, using them to deliver powerful messages about waste and consumerism, and the harm they inflict on the environment.

Zhao’s collection includes beautiful representations of mountainous landscapes, colorful butterflies and sparkling diamonds. But one of her most interesting projects is the Rose Window series, where she uses vibrant colors and intricate pointillism to craft striking mandalas that mimic the effect of stained glass windows, similar to those seen in old cathedrals. She intentionally appropriates this motif to draw a parallel between the past constraints of religious authority and the modern constraints imposed by consumer culture.

If you would like to continue exploring Kun Zhao’s creations, take a look at her website.

More art on the grid Visit her website