Cobie Wijlens @ artavita

Cobie Wijlens

My name is Cobie Wijlens (1958, Enschede).

I live in Haaksbergen, the Netherlands.

Mixed-Media-Mosaic Artist.

Autodidact.

My passion is creating works of art from discarded materials. I'm a mosaic artist who uses the most unusual materials, such as construction waste, empty bullet casings, old jewelry, clock wheels, bicycle and car parts, buttons, and of course, a lot of discarded tableware. Literally everything I use is discarded. I can often be seen at dumpsters and thrift stores... I also receive a lot of materials from people who know me, hence my nickname "Secondhand Co."

Waste containers and thrift stores attract me like a magnet!

I recently came out in public with my art.

Because I work with all kinds of materials, that are not flat, the grouting of an object is quite a job.

I always see the beauty in discarded objects.

Recycling is the key to my (he)art!!!

My mosaicwork is often a converstion piece, not only with adults but also with children.

I try to radiate positivity and happiness with my work in this often negative world.

My love for discared, broken and worn objects can be found in my artwork but also in my interior and garden. It's a way of life.

I am creative in several areas such as painting, drawing, gardening, welding and so on.

My work has been exhibited in galleries in; The Netherlands, England and Italy

This year, I received awards from France and America

I also work on school projects to teach children that you can create something beautiful from discarded materials.

See more of my art:

Instagram: cobiewijlensmosaics

Facebook: cobie wijlens

Portfolio:

"Second skin body"

This body has been made of an old mannequin body lying in the trash.
Various materials are melted together into a work of art.
Its from trash to treasure.....and that's my PASSION!!!

“"Second skin body"”

Dit mozaïek object is gemaakt van afgedankte materialen..........de vreemste voorwerpen smelten samen tot een bijzonder geheel.

"The key to happiness"

An old large tealight holder is covered with a lot of eggshell porcelain from thrift stores, construction waste, buttons and much more. In the dark it creates a fairytale-like atmosphere.
The light shines trough the eggshell porcelain.

“"The key to happyness"”

Waxinelicht houder gemaakt van afgedankte materialen.

"Music was my first love."

A neglected violin found at a flea market........I let it shine with my found discarded materials!

“"Music was my first love."”

Met afgedankt servies en vele andere materialen komt er aldoende een stralende viool te voorschijn.........
Verwaarloosd en afgedankt heb ik deze viool gevonden.............nu doet hij mensen verbazen door zijn unieke schoonheid.
Van niets tot iets...........van afval tot kunst..........dat is mijn passie.
"Music was my first love" heeft staan stralen in een galerie in Nederland en ook in Londen.............en ook heb ik met dit object een onderscheiding gekregen in Parijs.

"Please Peace!"

In a dumpster was this worn-out base of a mannequin. The peace sign was once a broken lamp. I reunited the two. The times we live in nowcould certainly use a little more peace.
This piece of art is full of symbolism........if you look closely, the clock is at 5 minutes to 12!
.

“"Please Peace!"”

Doordat mijn mozaïek kunstwerken geen glad oppervlak hebben is het invoegen een langdurige bezigheid........alle stukjes moeten weer te voorschijn komen onder de dikke laag voegsel.

"The Japanese shoe"

This shoe is made from various discarded materials such as Japanese egg-porcelain, old jewelry and more
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“"The Japanese shoe"”

Door de vorm van Japanse kopjes op de juiste ronding van de schoen te krijgen krijg je een mooi strak object.
Hergebruik van diverse materialen is mijn passie!

"Find the key to your heart".

This heart is full of symbolism.
A gifted box full of old keys was the inspiration for this work of art.
Take your time and observe how the strangest materials together create an eyecatching effect.

“"Find the key to your heart"”