Artist Encourages Sustainable Practices For Animal Conservation By Using Recycled Cardboard To Make Monumental Art Installations

There’s a lightness of being emanating from Josh Gluckstein’s wholesome art that permeates the soul of those who behold it. The calming choice of colours, placement and details of the pieces cohesively create a welcoming illusion around the depictions. His subjects are animals from the wild savannahs or marine seascapes , which he chooses to design using only sustainable materials for his creations. 

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The London-based artist has previously used recycled cardboard to handcraft sculptures of various animals found in Africa. His works include life-sized renderings of lions, orangutangs, elephants and more crafted from sustainable cardboard. The tones, textures, versatility and easy availability of the material allow him to capture many details and raw emotion while creating zero waste. 

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In an interview, Gluckstein gave us more insight into his artistic journey. Speaking about how long he has been experimenting in his artistic efforts, he revealed, “Art has been my passion and purpose for as long as I can remember. I studied fine art painting, and began by creating large, expressive portraits. At the same time, I have always been drawn to sculpture and have a profound love for wildlife. Ever since school, I have made animal sculptures out of found and recycled materials; using old furniture and clothes from charity shops to create an ostrich and a life-sized camel at university”. He further explained, “After university, I saved up to travel with the intention to see animals in the wild. My wildlife encounters are definitely my main source of inspiration. A big part of my work is capturing the emotional connection I had with an animal when I first saw them, and translating that into a sculpture for other people to connect with. Seeing people interact with my art is one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice”.

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Gluckstein maintains that his ambition is to raise awareness of endangered species through his art and to help contribute to their preservation in some way. The artist divulged, “Alongside the positives of travel, I was shocked and saddened that even in the most remote places I visited, human destruction and plastic waste were rife. I knew that I wanted to create art that didn’t have a negative impact on the environment. I would say my art is born from love and appreciation for wildlife, the natural world, and the diverse creatures that inhabit it. Sustainability is at the heart of my practice, and I want to help protect the animals that inspire me and promote environmental consciousness.”

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Breaking down his creative process and how he got into this particular art form, Gluckstein said, “It was during the pandemic, in lockdown, that I first started making sculptures out of recycled cardboard. I couldn’t travel to my art studio, I didn’t have access to many materials – but I did have a lot of inspiration and a drive to create. That’s when I discovered cardboard, which I had lying around at home. It was love at first sculpture! Working with cardboard, with its many tones and textures, allows me to capture unique details and draw out the presence and personality of an animal. My first cardboard sculpture was a life-size Giant Galapagos tortoise, and I’ve now made around 80 pieces which have found homes all over the world. Since 2021, recycled cardboard has become the fundamental material in my practice, which is now also zero waste”.

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Elaborating on his current ongoing projects, Gluckstein mentioned, “This year, I created a large Cardboard Pangolin sculpture for The Big Egg Hunt in London, which was displayed at Battersea Power Station before being auctioned at an event at Kew Gardens, where HRH King Charles and Queen Camilla were in attendance. The piece raised £15,000 for The Elephant Family. I have recently been shortlisted as a Finalist for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025 for my sculpture Reef, which will be exhibited at Mall Galleries in London between 9 and 13 September.”

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