Trash Talking

TRIGGER WARNING: This art may contain sensitive material, including but not limited to: gun control, mass shootings, childhood obesity, drug addiction, fossil fuel depletion, collective trauma, excess consumption and rampant outsourcing. Experience at your own risk.

‘Trash Talking’ is a series of more than 100 sculptures shining a light on toxicity and waste. Now with many pieces under wraps awaiting their next adventure, this series was designed for an old gas station mini mart. Each a life-size scale replica made with recycled cardboard and pallets salvaged from ‘real’ mini marts, every object and bit of reclaimed packaging was purposely chosen with a story. All graphics are native to the found material. No paint or ‘foreign’ matter was used to make the internal structures. Even when using his own templates, Leavitt builds each piece from scratch by himself in his garage with no assistance or outsourcing, and no AI.

“One of those rare occasions where the content of the work, the site where it’s located and how it’s arranged all come together brilliantly.” - Gayle Clemans, Seattle Times

“Colorful and tremendously clever… an example of how powerful art can be when the medium is expertly matched with the message.” - Brangien Davis, Crosscut

“Part of me wants to wear a ‘real’ pair of lego Adidas and wonders what Nike-branded Chinese takeout food would taste like.” - Attaboy, Hi Fructose

“Leavitt has somehow managed to distill complex, of-the-moment narratives about ecology, violence and distraction in these staggering objects.” - Leah Baltus, City Arts