Tulsa Artist Makes Funky Art From Cast Off Objects

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There's a Tulsa artist who makes art out of all kinds of funky objects. Her name is Mary Bradshaw, and she likes to give everyday items new careers.

How'd she get started?

"I was dodging turtles on a two lane road," Bradshaw explained, discussing the origin of her artwork. She had to replace some bent wheels on her car after avoiding the turtles.

What to do with the replaced wheels? Bradshaw decided to have them painted bright colors, and now they're the base for her coffee table.

The wheels aren't the only car parts Bradshaw has turned into pop art objects and one-of-a-kind decorations.

"The cam shaft was a gift," she said. A friend had it painted red, and Mary was pleased to get it.

She has pieces of an old transmission in a glass vase.

"I've got truck springs all over the place," she said.

All of them have been painted bright colors - some hold candles, some have flowers in them. Some just sit.

"I've also turned it up like this and put it on a desk - you can use it as an organizer," she said of one of her creations.

Check out Mary Bradshaw's Art and Vintage Furniture: Funky Lamps & Re-Vamps

Bradshaw loves to add bright colors to vintage furniture pieces. She finds house numbers make great drawer pulls.

The garage is the workshop for things yet to be saved.

They're been painted and are hanging on the wall above the bed.

"This is the pop culture collectable room," Mary said during a tour of her home. There's a Statue of Liberty in the backyard too.

Tulsa artist Mary Bradshaw also has three rescue dogs: Miss Pearl, Truly Love and Albert Winston.

"Just showed up; they've saved me," she said, "and I have a transmission in a vase."

And a transmission in a vase.

Bradshaw sees new life in people's cast offs. That's a gift.

See Mary Bradshaw's Photoart.