Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is usually something people want out of sight as fast as possible. Old circuit boards, cracked screens, tangled wires, dead laptops. But for a handful of artists around the world, those forgotten pieces of tech become the raw material for something surprisingly beautiful. Today we are highlighting three creators who take electronic waste and turn it into art that challenges the way we think about what we throw away.

If you own or manage a business in Utah and you have aging computers or other hardware piling up, these artists serve as a reminder that your retired tech still has value. And as a company committed to responsible electronics recycling, we love seeing where these materials can end up.

Elias Sime

Turning Old Tech Into New Creativity: How 3 Artists Transform E-Waste

Image source: https://www.slam.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Currents-118-Elias-Sime-9-1200×908.jpg

Elias Sime is known for creating incredibly detailed, large-scale installations using discarded electronic components. He works with circuit boards, wires, chips and other remnants of the digital world. His pieces are colorful and dimensional, and they push viewers to think about the life cycle of the devices we rely on every day. Instead of seeing e-waste as junk, Sime shows how much story and texture is hidden inside it.

Steven Rodrig

Turning Old Tech Into New Creativity: How 3 Artists Transform E-Waste

Image source: https://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/11/pcb-creations8.jpg

Steven Rodrig is another artist who finds personality in printed circuit boards. He transforms them into sculptures that mimic organic forms such as plants, insects and shells. The contrast between technology and nature is deliberate. By reshaping discarded electronics into something that looks alive, Rodrig reminds us that our old devices still have plenty of life left in them when placed in the right hands.

Formafantasma

Turning Old Tech Into New Creativity: How 3 Artists Transform E-Waste

Image source: https://sixtysixmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Formafantasma1.jpg

Formafantasma is a design studio that explores the environmental impact of materials, including electronic waste. Their work blends research, design and sustainability. They have taken e-waste and reimagined it as furniture, functional objects and sculptural pieces. Their approach bridges art and industrial design, proving that recycled materials can be both beautiful and useful.

Why Creative Reuse Matters

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. Even a single computer contains valuable materials that can be reused or safely processed when handled responsibly. Artists like Sime, Rodrig and Formafantasma show what can happen when discarded electronics are seen as resources rather than trash.

Creative upcycling brings awareness to the impact of technology on the planet. It encourages businesses and communities to think more critically about what happens to their equipment after it reaches the end of its useful life.

How Recycle IT Helps Businesses in Utah

At Recycle IT, we want to make responsible electronics recycling simple for local businesses. We serve Utah County, Salt Lake County, Davis County and Weber County, and we offer free commercial electronics recycling pickup. That includes computers, laptops, monitors, cables and most other office electronics.

Our goal is to keep harmful materials out of landfills and make sure the valuable components inside your old devices are reused or processed the right way. When businesses recycle their electronics with us, the materials can go toward manufacturing, responsible recycling or even end up in the hands of artists and designers who give them a completely new life.

If your business has outdated devices collecting dust, schedule a free pickup with us. We are here to make electronics recycling easy, responsible and cost-free.