Charming Animal Sculptures Built From Abandoned Furniture

Over the past 15 years, Barcelona’s residents have come to expect Marc Sparfel’s weekly visits to their rubbish heaps. Just don’t call it "upcycling." When French sculptor Marc Sparfel left the École des Beaux-Arts, precipitated by “an overwhelming feeling that I was wasting my time," he did what most people in need of a fresh start do: He moved--to Barcelona, specifically, where he spent his first few weeks wandering through the streets of his new hometown. It was on his long walks that he discovered the material that would form the basis of his current practice: discarded furniture. “I was immediately intrigued by the amount of furniture abandoned in the streets,” says Sparfel, who has lived in Barcelona for almost 15 years now. “Initially, I found the furnishings by chance during my walks, but later realized that in every neighbor...