You care about the planet and you love good design. You’ll find both in the work of UK artist Zak Miskry, who transforms disassembled electronics and salvaged materials into striking animal sculptures—and builds a global conversation about waste, beauty, and responsibility along the way. His short film The Natural and the Manmade captures that mission: show how “unnatural” technologies displace the natural world, while revealing the hidden elegance of resistors, capacitors, and circuit boards that most people never see. You’ll see the message in his art—and feel it, too.
The art journey of Zak Miskry: from a school project to global reach
Zak started “Creations” as a GCSE art project in 2013 and stayed with it through university, where he studied Biomedical Sciences and refined a distinctive style that blends organic animal forms with the purposeful geometry of electronics. He’s spent over a decade learning how to deconstruct devices and recompose their parts into lifelike movement—welding, shaping, and editing his process so it educates and inspires.
Sustainability sits at the center of his practice. Zak uses e‑waste to tell two stories at once: how industry pushes into habitats and replaces what’s natural with the manufactured, and how so-called “trash” still holds value, beauty, and utility. He wants viewers to pause and recognize both consequences and potential—what we throw away, and what we can still make from it.
The work found an audience quickly. In 2022, one video rocketed his Instagram from 2,500 to 200,000 followers in two weeks; today, his audience spans Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube with hundreds of thousands following his builds and ideas. He kept showing up through that surge—focusing on the art, learning new techniques, and using his reach to champion reuse and responsible consumption.
Alongside solo work, Zak collaborates with organizations that take sustainability seriously. A standout: NOVA, a butterfly sculpture created for Colt Technology Services from their retired network equipment—turning corporate e‑waste into a public commitment to circular design. He’s also developing impact-led projects at source—like transforming beach waste in Zanzibar into sculpture to spotlight marine pollution and the urgency of keeping ecosystems clean.
Zak describes starting with a school project, then developing a practice that blends scientific curiosity (informed by studying biomedical sciences) with a sculptor’s craft, evolving toward more anatomically faithful pieces and clearer sustainability messages over time. He emphasizes welding skill, self‑taught through trial and error, and video storytelling to educate and engage a growing audience across platforms.
Zak shares full build videos, process breakdowns, and the short film “The Natural and the Manmade,” which documents his philosophy and techniques in depth. His portfolio highlights commissions, materials, and display locations for public viewing.
Why Zak Miskry does it ?
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Show the beauty of unseen components and challenge the idea that electronics are disposable.
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Visualize how technology displaces nature—and make that tension impossible to ignore.
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Encourage people and companies to reuse, upcycle, and treat materials as resources, not trash.
Key facts about the artist
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Practice and materials: Animal and insect sculptures built from recycled electronics, scrap metal, and salvaged parts, welded for strength and longevity.
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Origin story: Began in 2013 as a GCSE project; refined a signature style during a Biomedical Sciences degree.
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Recognition: Featured in Precious Magazine after placing 5th in an eco‑themed competition in 2020; ongoing press includes interviews with Bold Journey (2024) and Canvas Rebel (2023).
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Film: The Natural and the Manmade by Sophie Tuckwell documents his process and philosophy, with production credits to Sophie Tuckwell, Kobi Westwood, and Samuel J. Robinson.
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Social reach: Grew rapidly after a 2022 viral moment; now engages a large cross‑platform audience while expanding into longer YouTube content.
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Techniques: Self-taught micro pulse arc welding, video editing, and iterative prototyping—skills he cites as essential to both craft and storytelling.
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Collaborations: Works with companies to turn end‑of‑life hardware into art that communicates sustainability commitments (e.g., NOVA for Colt Technology Services).
If you make art, you lead with conviction. Zak shows how you turn a problem—mountains of e‑waste—into form, feeling, and change. You can do the same with your materials, your community, and your message. Start with what’s in front of you. Build. Share. Teach. Your voice matters.
For artists who want to share their story on Art Tellers, email: info@arttellers.com. Tell us who you are, what you make, and why it matters. We’ll help you reach people who care.
Frequently asked questions
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What materials does Zak Miskry use?
Recycled electronics, scrap metal, and salvaged parts—disassembled and rebuilt into organic forms. -
What message drives the work?
Highlight the displacement of nature by technology, and show the beauty and value in materials we call “waste”. -
Where can I seeZak Miskry working process?
Watch The Natural and the Manmade on YouTube and follow his social channels for builds, techniques, and behind-the-scenes content. -
Does Zak Miskry take commissions or collaborations?
Yes—especially with organizations committed to sustainability and responsible end‑of‑life processing of equipment. -
How did Zak Miskry audience grow?
A 2022 viral video accelerated his reach; he continued posting and focused on craft, which built long-term engagement.
Zak Miskry Creations : Website | Instagram
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