Josh Gluckstein is a London-based wildlife artist who transforms humble, recycled cardboard into life-size sculptures that pulse with presence, personality, and purpose. Sustainability sits at the heart of his practice: he embraces the material’s accessibility and varied textures to capture raw emotion while working with a near zero-waste ethos. Inspired by extensive travels and close encounters with wildlife across Asia, East Africa, and South America, his art doubles as advocacy—raising awareness for endangered species and supporting conservation through partnerships and donations.
The Journey—How Cardboard Became His Canvas
Josh’s artistic roots lie in traditional portraiture, a discipline he later found creatively limiting as his fascination with animals deepened and his environmental conscience sharpened. Dissatisfied with paint alone, he pivoted toward sculpture while at university, experimenting with found materials scavenged from charity shops—sheepskin, shoes, curtain tassels—before landing on forms that embodied the scale and presence of wildlife. Those early bricolage experiments laid the groundwork for an approach where material and message are inseparable.
Travel proved catalytic. From Borneo and Rajasthan to the Galápagos, Josh encountered animals in their element and also the sobering footprint of human consumption—plastic on remote shores, waste where wilderness should reign. These experiences reshaped his practice into a mission: create work that doesn’t create waste, and channel its impact toward conservation. Cardboard, ubiquitous and overlooked, became the perfect conduit—rich in tones and textures, endlessly versatile, and available to everyone.
During lockdown, cut off from his usual materials, Josh turned to the stacks of delivery boxes at home and discovered the expressive power of tearing, cutting, and layering corrugate into fur, hide, and bone. Pieces can take days to months depending on scale and detail, and he often works on several sculptures at once, building cross-sections like a child’s bolster model before refining surfaces into lifelike portraits. The result is a menagerie of elephants, big cats, pangolins, primates—and, more recently, immersive marine worlds—rendered with sensitivity and startling realism.
Recognition followed swiftly. After storming success at the Affordable Art Fair’s Recent Graduate programs, Josh secured gallery representation, staged group and solo shows, and began donating a portion of sales to organizations including WWF and Helping Rhinos. His work continues to evolve: the “Gold” series highlights trafficked species with gold leaf, while “Reef,” a 2.5-meter-tall installation teeming with 50+ marine species, marked his most ambitious piece to date and featured at Homo Faber 2024 in Venice.
About the Artist—Technique, Exhibitions, and Conservation Work
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Name: Josh Gluckstein; London-based wildlife artist specializing in life-size sculptures made from recycled cardboard.
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Artistic focus: Endangered and iconic wildlife rendered through layered cardboard textures to convey expression, presence, and vulnerability.
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Method: Tearing, cutting, and gluing cardboard into cross-sections and surfaces; occasional thin paint washes or gold leaf for conceptual emphasis; works on multiple pieces simultaneously; timelines range from a week to several months.
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Origin story: Transitioned from traditional portrait painting to sculpture at university; early experiments with found materials; breakthrough with cardboard during lockdown.
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Inspiration: Extensive travels and volunteering across Asia, East Africa, and South America; encounters with elephants, primates, sea turtles, sharks; shock at global plastic waste spurred zero-waste ambitions.
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Conservation & outreach: Aims to raise awareness for endangered species; supports conservation through artwork donations and collaborations, including WWF and Helping Rhinos.
Notable Works—Gold Series and Reef Installation
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Notable works and milestones:
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Early animal sculptures like a camel inspired by India travels.
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“Gold” series on trafficked animals using gold leaf to underscore poaching pressures.
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“Reef,” a large-scale marine habitat installation shown at Homo Faber 2024, featuring 50+ species.
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Galleries and features: Represented and exhibited with Woolff Gallery; profiled by outlets such as Affordable Art Fair, Colossal, WWF, and Euronews Culture.
Art can be a bridge between empathy and action. Josh’s sculptures remind us that materials dismissed as waste can carry a powerful message—and that beauty can advocate for life itself.
For artists with a story to tell: Share it with the world. If there’s a journey, a purpose, or a practice that could inspire others, send it to Art Tellers—we’d love to hear it and help amplify it. Email: info@arttellers.com.
Frequently Asked Questions : (FAQ)
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How does Josh Gluckstein make cardboard sculptures?
He tears, cuts, and glues recycled cardboard into layered forms, starting with slotted cross-sections like a child’s bolster model, then building up textures and contours; he sometimes adds thin paint washes or gold leaf for emphasis and often works on multiple pieces at once, with timelines ranging from a week to several months depending on scale. -
Where can I see Josh Gluckstein’s work?
His work is shown with Woolff Gallery in London, including solo and group exhibitions and art fair booths such as the Affordable Art Fair in 2024; recent features also highlight major installations like his 8-foot coral “Reef” project and coverage by outlets such as WWF and Euronews Culture. -
Does he sell or commission pieces?
Woolff Gallery represents his work and lists exhibitions and sales, and his practice includes producing and showcasing new pieces through gallery shows and fairs, indicating availability for purchase and gallery-mediated inquiries about acquisitions or commissions. -
How does his art support conservation?
He donates portions of sales in collaboration with partners—examples include supporting WWF through his “Trafficked” series and previous shows that pledged 10% of sales to conservation charities like Born Free; his themes spotlight endangered and trafficked species to raise awareness.
Josh Gluckstein : Website | Instagram
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