NICOLE BUITRAGO
Designer • Illustrator
- CREAR
- BACKBONE
- CRAWL
- GOOD/BAD HISTORY
- TRASH MUSEUM
- URBAN GLYPHS
- SIDDHARTHA
- EYE EXAM
- SKENSE
- BROOKLYN STEEL
- COMIC CON SERIES
- STEREOGUM
- illustration work
About
Resume
Highlights discarded objects. The Trash Museum transforms lost objects into a narrative of value and reinvention. Its exhibition, "TUNED OUT," reflects the overlooked potential of everyday objects. It is inspired by Ken Butler's creations of hybrid musical instruments from everyday objects, which turn trash into art. The title challenges us to tune back in, to rethink what we disregard, and to recognize art hidden within the everyday.
Originally curated by Nelson Molina, a retired sanitation worker, whose mission was to create a narrative of value and reinvention.
Exhibition wall features a motion piece that is inspired by Ken Butler's bassy sound, activated in sync with the music played through his hybrid instruments. The movement responds dynamically to the sound, creating a visual interpretation of the deep, resonant tones that emerge from his unique sculptures.
Logo concept inspired by recycling symbol to turning waste into art and celebrating the endless cycle of rebirth.
The catalog cover of the exhibition plays off with the division between the object and instrument.
The staggered typography was intentionally designed to mirror the dynamic, fragmented nature of Ken Butler's hybrid instruments. Just as Butler's sculptures combine diverse elements to create something new and unpredictable, the typography is arranged in a way that disrupts the traditional flow, adding visual tension and energy
The museum is exhibited in NYC’s Salt Shed due to its unique design as a concrete structure built to store 5,000 tons of salt for the NYC Department of Sanitation. Its industrial, utilitarian function aligns with the museum's theme, offering a space that reflects both the city's infrastructure and the artistic potential of repurposed, functional architecture.