Do you ship internationally?

Yes, Gabriel Dishaw ships sculptures worldwide. Shipping costs vary depending on the size and destination of each piece and are calculated at checkout.

Are the luxury brand materials used in your sculptures authentic?

Yes, all luxury materials used in Gabriel Dishaw's sculptures are authentic. These materials are carefully sourced and incorporated into each piece to create a unique blend of luxury and upcycled art.

Do you accept custom sculpture commissions?

Yes, Gabriel Dishaw accepts custom sculpture commissions. Each commissioned piece is handcrafted using upcycled materials and tailored to the client's vision. To inquire, email gabriel@gabrieldishaw.com.

How long does it take to create a sculpture?

The time required depends on the size and complexity of the sculpture. On average, a medium-sized piece takes approximately 40 hours to complete.

What materials are used in your upcycled sculptures?

Gabriel Dishaw primarily uses reclaimed electronics, e-waste, vintage typewriters, and adding machines, often combined with luxury materials including Louis Vuitton and Gucci hardware and leather, to create one-of-a-kind sculptures.

How much do your sculptures cost?

Prices vary depending on the size, complexity, and materials involved. Original sculptures start around $5,000 for busts and smaller works, with most pieces ranging between $6,500 and $15,000. Large-scale and life-sized works are priced higher based on the scope of the build. Every piece is a limited edition 1 of 1. Art prints and merchandise are also available at more accessible price points.

Where I Find Materials for My Sculptures?

May 21

Written By gabriel dishaw

Overhead view of Gabriel Dishaw's Indianapolis sculpture studio showing workstations, upcycled materials, e-waste components, and works in progress — Behind the scenes image of Gabriel Dishaw’s Studio Upcycled Foundry

Where Do I Find the Materials for My Sculptures?

This is probably the question I get asked the most. My work is heavily influenced by the materials I use and their lived history, from authentic vintage Louis Vuitton leather to old circuit boards, typewriters, floppy drives, and other vintage hardware. Every piece has its own story before it arrives in my studio.

Let me share with you the hunt for the perfect materials with a story I can share or add to.

The Find That Started Everything

The best way to explain how I source materials is to tell you about the moment that created an entirely new series.

I was traveling through northern Michigan on vacation, doing what I always do when I travel — scanning antique shops and estate sales for anything unusual that might make its way into my work. I walked into a shop in Petoskey, Michigan, and there they were: a stack of three heavily loved vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases from the 1970s, sitting there calling me to them. I took a few laps around the place and kept coming back to them.

I knew there was something there. I'd been working with e-waste and found objects for years, but looking at that luggage, I thought — why not explore what happens when luxury fashion meets my favorite subject, Star Wars? What does Darth Vader look like when he's built from authentic LV canvas, the original zippers, the luggage hardware?

I picked up one of the three for $300, drove home, and started working the very next morning. To my surprise, the piece sold the moment I published it on social media. I called the shop back and had them ship me the two I'd left behind.

That moment was the start of my Luxury Series.

Luxury Materials: Estate Sales, Antique Shops, eBay, and Japan

Authentic vintage Louis Vuitton and Gucci pieces come from many places. I find them at estate sales, antique shops, and on eBay, but some of my most interesting finds come from an unexpected source — the Japanese resale market.

Japan has one of the strongest secondhand luxury markets in the world. Vintage LV and Gucci pieces that have been well cared for over decades often appear there, in conditions and at prices you rarely see at home. eBay's international listings are now one of my most reliable sources for items with the right patina, hardware, and that lived-in look. That history comes through in my finished work.

Estate sales are where I find the most unexpected things. You never know what might be hidden in someone's attic. Some of my most unique pieces began with a suitcase or bag from an estate sale that no one else saw the potential in.

E-Waste: My Personal Recyclers

The circuit boards, keyboards, hard drives, floppy disk drives, typewriter parts, and adding machine components come from a completely different supply chain.

A lot of it comes from family and friends. Over the years, I've become the person people call when they're cleaning out a basement or replacing old technology. I'm their personal recycler. Boxes show up at my studio with vintage computers, old printers, and obsolete tech that would otherwise end up in a landfill. I go through everything.

For the more unusual pieces — the ones with interesting shapes, unique mechanisms, or anything that stands out — I go hunting. Flea markets, antique malls, and eBay are all places I check regularly. My goal is always the same: to find something that was once useful or important to someone and give it a new life as something completely different.

What I'm Always Looking For

The material has to have character and be uniquely lived; mass-produced, modern, or generic doesn't work for what I do. I'm looking for things with age, with texture, with a history you can feel. Vintage tech from the 70s, 80s, and 90s has a physical weight and craftsmanship that newer electronics don't. Vintage luxury goods from the same era have a patina that can't be faked.

When I find the right piece, whether it's a stack of LV luggage in a Michigan antique shop or a vintage Gucci bag listed on Japanese eBay, I know right away. The material always tells me what it wants to become.

gabriel dishaw

I create sculptures using recycled materials from adding machines, typewriters, computers and up-cycling old technology.

https://www.gabrieldishaw.com