Dallas-based artist Michael Shellis has always prioritized finding beauty and value in all things, no matter how unlikely. His work is largely made from recycled materials, such as trash and plants. He’s never thrown away a paintbrush and is currently reworking some older ones into sculptures and chandeliers.
Shellis has been chasing both beauty and sustainability for his entire career. His old graffiti moniker, which he now has tattooed on his knee, was “Found.”
“I’ve never had a real job,” Shellis tells the Observer. “I left high school at 17 and just started painting. […] I ran from the cops two or three times from graffitiing and decided, ‘You know what? I don’t want to go to jail, so I’ll just put this on canvas.”…