Deer Crossing, Dead End, Bike Route and One Way are only a few signs that Boris Bally uses to to create platters, light switch plates, mailboxes, chairs, coasters, and key fobs made from salvaged metal street signs.

“Signage has become my passionate medium of choice not only because of the recycling message, but also its appeal to me as an extreme variation on the age-old tradition of enameling,” said Bally. The Providence, Rhode Island artist said that all of the signs that he uses are purchased as scrap aluminum. He extracts the most important elements to create exciting color and image combinations, then highlights and accents the fine details. After a piece has been cut and sanded, the edges are filed, all bends are completed and holes drilled. Each piece is then vigorously scrubbed with sanitizing soap to remove road grime and grease, and a protectant is applied and rubbed in to preserve the weathered finish. All components are then re-assembled.

Bally’s work has been on display around the world, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Sara’s shameless plug: Hi, it’s your editor. De-lurk, dear reader, and leave this fabulous writer a comment. (We love chatting.) You can also share this post with friends – just click your favorite social bookmark listed below. New reader? Be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter to win free eco goodies! You can also subscribe to any RSS feed your heart desires.