Exploring the Soul of Upcycled Creativity this Summer at Kulturnest

What do we do with what’s been broken, discarded, or forgotten? At Kulturnest this summer, we chose to transform it.

Our latest exhibit showcases a powerful collection of upcycled art and fashion pieces by a diverse group of local artists. Each piece begins with what most would overlook, scraps of metal, torn fabric, shattered glass..., and ends as something wholly unexpected. Something alive. Something meaningful.

There’s a quiet philosophy behind this kind of work. It’s not just about being sustainable or creative; it’s about refusing to let anything go to waste. In Lebanon, where we are constantly adapting, rebuilding, and reimagining, this kind of art feels especially urgent. It mirrors our lives. We have learned to survive with less, to create from chaos, to find beauty in what remains.

Some of the pieces are bold and confrontational. Others are delicate and intimate. All are infused with deep intention. You will find wearable fashion made from fabric remnants and metals; sculptures welded from scrap iron and broken appliances. Wall hangings layered with stitched fabric and forgotten paper. Every piece is different, just like the artists behind them. But together, they speak a common language: resilience.

There’s something sacred about this process of reclamation. In a culture obsessed with the new, the perfect, and the polished, upcycled art offers another way. It values the marks of time. It honours damage. It doesn’t cover up history; it works with it. That’s what makes this exhibit more than just a display. It’s a statement. A kind of gentle defiance.

And perhaps most importantly, it’s accessible. We have made sure that the prices reflect the spirit of the work: democratic, grounded, inclusive. Because we believe art should be lived with, not just admired from a distance. It should be for everyone, especially now.

So come walk through our space. Let yourself slow down. Touch the textures. Read the labels. Ask questions. Look again.

What once was broken… now speaks.

The exhibit is on view until August 13, 2025. 
Wednesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 5 PM - Free entry.

Featured Artists: Ikoai by Patricia Roukoz, Saki Kimono by Sarkis Assadourian, Echo Her Eco, Rayya Nizar Salim, Sitt Naila, Claude Milky, Laila Chehab, Tala Beydoun, Terre de Brumes by Elie Boudjok, Salman Houri, Ingrid Swave, Emberly Bliss, C. Glass Boutique by Beatrice Accad, and Third Eye Arts.