My White Trash Family

Philadelphia based artist Kim Alsbrooks paints miniature portraits on trash – specifically, 17th and 18th century museum portraits on flattened beer cans, glass liquor bottles and discarded milk cartons. The inspiration behind My White Trash Family came from Kim’s frustration with witnessing the extreme disparities of class while living in the South. By juxtaposing regal portraits with common trash, she dispels the idea of historical social biases . . . at least in her world. 

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(via Beautiful Decay)

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10 Comments

  1. Oh wow, that a cool concept and a creative way to pass a message.

    http://thinkworkandgo.blogspot.com/

    6.12.14
    Reply
  2. These are rad. I am always pleased when someone addresses history in a social context I hadn’t thought much about before.

    Love your art posts, always!

    xo

    Michaela

    http://michaelajeanblog.com

    6.12.14
    Reply
  3. Jamie wrote:

    Very cool! I love this merging of old and new!

    Xo,
    Jamie

    http://inspirationlush.com

    6.12.14
    Reply
  4. matthew wrote:

    I love the fact that Kim puts a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on a PBR can this denigrates anyone! Actually her whole premise is based upon historical prejudice rather than historical accuracy. Should she actually do an historical research of multiple biographies then would she only began to understand the racial bigotries that existed and exist still in both the “North” and the “South.” Few people now recognize the NYC draft riots because no one wanted to fight to free the slaves. Having lived in both NYC and in the South and asking many black people in both regions about racism, almost all preferred the South because at least they knew where they stood… unlike the North where everyone believed they could not be prejudiced because they were “northern.” While virtually every “group” hated at least one other. Unfortunately my 11 yrs in NYC proved the city to be the most prejudiced and racially divided place I have ever been.

    6.12.14
    Reply
  5. Jeanne wrote:
    6.12.14
    Reply
  6. Lauren wrote:

    These are so funky, great idea
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

    6.13.14
    Reply
  7. I like her idea, and they are really nice portraits!

    6.13.14
    Reply
  8. Kim wrote:

    what a cool concept! she’s very talented 🙂

    6.14.14
    Reply
  9. Casey wrote:

    LOVE it.

    10.18.14
    Reply