Jonathan O’Dea creates abstract sculptures out of waste material from construction sites. In so doing, he makes art in a sustainable way. In this episode, he talks about his Irish background in which he was making objects from an early age, how working on building sites as a young man inspired his future art, how he discovered sculpture after studying painting at Central St Martins, the kind of materials he takes from construction sites such as Crossrail and the Olympic Park, how he puts them to use in his sculptures and how his artworks offer a metaphor for the human condition.

Jonathan O’Dea talking with Bob Chaundy

Accompanying images on consideringart.com

From Carbon Dating series

Wooden Polymer

Wooden Polymers 2 and 3

All images are © Jonathan O’Dea

Jonathan’s latest exhibition, Material Art, is at The Winn’s Gallery, Lloyd Park, London E17 5JW,

12-25 June 2025

Music: Ibiza by MBB | https://soundcloud.com/mbbofficial