Art Made From “Trash”

Art made from materials that might uncharitably be described as “trash” creates a striking contrast within luxury spaces. Yet this tension is precisely what many hotels and public-facing businesses seek.

Acta+, a sustainability-focused company that matches clients with a network of 500 artists working with discarded materials, has seen strong demand since its founding almost two years ago.

Co-founder and CEO Kiwako Hashimoto says there are two main reasons for the demand for upcycled art.

“Firstly, the hotel thinks the use of sustainable materials is cool,” she says. “The other reason, a softer one, is about projecting the company’s worldview, its desire to create a more sustainable world, through art.”