Getting Creative With Cable Ties

You may not necessarily expect cable ties and art to be linked together in the same sentence, but there are some talented artists out there, creating the most incredible jewellery, sculptures and installations using the humble cable tie as their material of choice.

When you think about it, it is no stranger than Picasso pairing an old bicycle seat with a set of handlebars to create ‘Tete la Taureau’, (Bulls Head), the world famous piece which now sits proudly on display in the permanent collection of the Picasso Museum in Paris.

Using Cable Ties As A Creative Medium

Cable ties actually lend themselves very well to use as a creative medium, because they are a lightweight, readily available material that can be fastened, woven and interlinked to create all kinds of different forms, without the need for any technical equipment or expensive tools.

The different sizes, types and colours inspire artistic and creative minds to come with all kinds of variations and these features mean that completed pieces are easy to transport and incredibly durable. Plastic ties are well suited to outdoor installations because they are able to withstand the weather come rain or shine...

Jaw Dropping Sculpture

The most impressive cable tie sculpture I have seen to date, would have to be a piece called  Massimal, created by a New York design firm  Design Office Takebayashi Scroggin, (or D.O.T.S  for short), for the 2011 Beaux Arts Festival.

The finished piece was created by linking 20,000 standard white cable ties together and although it was described as an ‘abstract animal form’, it bears a remarkable resemblance, (pardon the pun), to a huge fluffy polar bear. The sculpture stands and holds its shape with the help of a discreet cable suspension system, which anchors to the ceiling.

With their creative vision, D.O.T.S created an inspirational sculpture that appears to radiate energy, setting the bar high for all who followed in creating their own cable tie art.

Andi Regan

Based in New Zealand, Andi Regan is a mixed media artist who uses plastic cable ties as the material of choice in the majority of work she creates.

Much of Regan’s work using this unconventional material consists of lifelike organic forms; including jellyfish, butterflies, sea urchins and seaweed, but her vision when it comes to creating sculptures from this industrial material genuinely seems to know no bounds.

As well as making instantly recognisable items including tiered wedding takes, tea sets, vessels and bowls, Andi has made a huge success of being recognised for her award winning, wearable cable tie creations that have included bikinis, dresses and gowns!

Unleash Your Creativity

Cable ties may be used exclusively to create a piece of art, or combined with other everyday materials to create anything you put your mind to. So next time you are in the mood for being creative, it may be worth exploring the use of the humble cable tie. Let us see what kind of masterpiece you can come up with!