For almost four years, multimedia artist Tibbie Dunbar collected plastic debris from the streets of Los Angeles, composing, and assembling them into small sculptures.
The medium of plastic trash can be interpreted as political, but Dunbar’s work is not meant to be political. She finds there is a beauty in detritus. The shapes, colors, and material qualities of these plastic pieces compel her to assemble them; to transform them, resulting in forms that hope to transcend their combined elements. These plastic shards, in most cases, have undergone a metamorphosis during their gutter life; run over by cars or transmogrified by other trauma. Collecting them and giving them new form, Dunbar positions them back in the world with fresh meaning.
Virtual Gallery:
Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360ยบ view of the virtual space, including tags with object information and images.
Image Gallery:
View the objects in the exhibition below and click on each image for additional information.
Assemblages
Tibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (yellow, citron, blues), 2019. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (grey, white, black, blue), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (yellow, black, grey, red), 2020. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, blue, teal), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (blue, yellow, white, black), 2018. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (blue, white, black), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, black, blue), 2020. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (orange, lavender), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (green, mirror), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (yellow, brown, blue), 2018. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (wood, yellow, blue, shell), 2018. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, blue, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (red, green, light blue), 2020. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, grey, yellow), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, black, red), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (green, black, white), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (pink, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (beige, grey, red), 2019. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (orange dot), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (turquoise, white, orange), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (orange, black, grey), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (yellow, red, brown), 2019. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (yellow, white, grey, red), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (black, grey, red, pink), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (blue, black, white), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (red, black, turquoise), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, grey, red, yellow), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (orange, blue, white), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (ochre, grey, black), 2020 Tibbie Dunbar, Untitled (Pink Blue), 2019/2020Tibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (white, red, grey), 2019. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Untitled (Green Black), 2019/2020Tibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (orange, blue), 2019. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Untitled (Black Orange), 2019/2020Tibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (red, white), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (bright orange, blue, white), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (red, grey, white), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (red, white, yellow, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (pink, red, white, clear), 2021. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (black, white, yellow, blue), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (black, white, chrome, orange), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Assemblage Untitled (blue, gold, white, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Collages
Tibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (ochre, pink, red), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (orange red, blue stripes, grey), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (yellow triangle), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (olive green, ochre, grey lavender, orange), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (light green, light grey, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (red, blue, peach), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (peach, grey, blue), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (orange, lavender, light green), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (light teal, dark grey, light grey), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (ochre, light blue, reds), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (light blue, ochre, flowers), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (yellow, grey, forest green), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (red, pink, brown, blue), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (yellow, black, brown, red orange), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (lavender, brown, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (green teal, orange red, brown), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (orange, red, brown), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (yellow, black, dark pink), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (grey blue, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (grey, orange red, water blue), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (pink, blue, brown), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (grey blue, gold, brown), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (blue, ochre, peach, grey blue), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (ochre, dark green, stripes), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (blues, stripes, sage), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (light teal, blue, walnut), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (light green triangle), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (flowers in the corner), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (green, pinkish, black), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (light green, light blue, brown, buff), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (olive green, black, grey), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (brown, red, blue, teal), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (dusty pink, red, lavender), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (red, lavender, brown), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (olive green, light teal, light blue), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (orange ochre, lavender, dark teal), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (orange, blue, green), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (orange red, light teal, yellow), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (peach, orange red, teal, ochre), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (grey blue, gold, salmon pink), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artistTibbie Dunbar, Collage Untitled (red, yellow brown, grey stripes), 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Gallery View:
Gallery View Tibbie Dunbar: AssembleCraft in America, Tibbie, Dunbar, AssembleGallery View of Tibbie Dunbar: AssembleGallery View of Tibbie Dunbar: AssembleGallery View of Tibbie Dunbar: Assemble
Artist Bio:
Tibbie Dunbar is Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist with a background in architecture and design. Dunbar received her MFA in Metal and Jewelry arts from State University of New York New Paltz. Her work is included in private collections and has been shown in group and solo exhibitions across the country, including: Fifth Floor Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, Andi Compogni Projects in Pomona, CA, and bulthaup in Los Angeles, CA. For eleven years, she served as the Executive Director of A+D Museum and sits on the board of Architecture for Communities Los Angeles.
