Artist Statement: Doug Powell’s introduction to recycling began as a teenager growing up in Central New Jersey.As a member of the local Boy Scouts, he would go door to door collecting used newspapersand glass containers, which were delivered to Saturday morning paper drives. This earlyexposure to sustainability and resourcefulness laid the foundation for a creative path that would later become his life’s work. After serving ten years in the US Navy, including an eight-month deployment during the GulfWar, Doug answered the call of his long-dormant artistic spirit. What began as a personalexploration has since evolved into a full-time artistic career. An innovative contemporary artist, Powell transforms recycled keyboard keys into captivatingmosaics. By carefully arranging these keys, he creates the illusion of three-dimensional formand texture. Each piece reflects the tangible history of countless keystrokes and carries thephysical remnants of ideas, communication, and invention. “I want the viewer to ponder the infinite, profound combination of thoughts, ideas, andinspirations that have surely passed through this intellectual portal—all made possible by thecommon computer key,” Doug explains. Up-cycling plays a key role in his work, offering a positive environmental impact by rescuingand re-purposing manufactured objects. This practice aligns him with a long lineage of artists—from Amish quilters and American folk artists to modern masters such as Picasso, JosephCornell, and Robert Rauschenberg—who have transformed found materials into expressive,layered works of art. Since pioneering this distinctive medium in 2010, Doug has created numerous mosaiccommissions for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, now permanently installed in over a dozenmuseums worldwide. Since 2017, he has exhibited regularly at Art Basel Miami, includingprominent features at Spectrum Miami Art Show, where he earned the Director’s Award (2017,2018), Spectrum Selects, and Spotlight Awards. His work is frequently showcased at leadingevents in Palm Beach, including Art Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Show, and Modern +Contemporary, all held at the Palm Beach Convention Center. Doug’s list of notable commissions continues to grow and includes installations for MarriottResorts (Santa Clara, CA), Mary Kay Headquarters (Dallas, TX), Intel Corporation, HyattHouse Orlando, Hilton Garden Inn, Cape Canaveral, University of Miami, and University ofDenver, among others. His work is also held in private collections around the world, withpatrons in the Dominican Republic, Finland, Mali (West Africa), Austria, Hollywood(California), Boston, Canada, and New York City. “As we move deeper into the digital age and the rise of artificial intelligence, I believe there’sa growing risk of drifting away from real, tangible creativity. My hope is to inspire youngand emerging creative minds to continue exploring hands-on discovery in the arts—becausethey are the future architects of invention.”