Renewable Energy, Sustainability and Contemporary Art
Date added: Tue 15 Apr 2025
Art in the Age of Sustainability
The art world is increasingly turning its focus toward sustainability and environmental themes. As climate change and ecological concerns dominate global conversations, many contemporary artists have become eco-artists, using their work to address issues like renewable energy, waste and climate crisis. This movement, often called sustainable art or environmental art, reflects a broader cultural shift: creatives are responding to the urgent need for environmental responsibility and imagining a greener future through their art. In studios and galleries across the UK and beyond, artworks now explore how we live with nature, how we consume resources and how we can spark positive change. From installations powered by the sun to sculptures made of recycled rubbish, sustainability is shaping contemporary fine art in profound ways.
Upcycling: Turning Waste into Art
One major trend in sustainable art is the use of upcycled and recycled materials. Rather than sourcing new canvas or fresh marble, artists are digging through junkyards, beaches and thrift shops for inspiration. By repurposing waste, they not only reduce the environmental footprint of their work but also convey an empowering message about consumption and waste. For example, British artist Jane Perkins refers to herself a “re-maker” who transforms found objects into vibrant portraits. She collects discarded buttons, plastic toys, beads and other colorful materials, which are often donated or picked up at car-boot sales, and arranges them into mosaic-like recreations of famous paintings and portraits. Remarkably, Perkins adds no extra paint; every hue comes from the original material itself, proving that rubbish can become treasure in the right hands. Similarly, London-based artist Nick Gentry gives obsolete technology a second life through art. Gentry is known for assembling old floppy disks, VHS tapes and film negatives as the “canvas” for his futuristic portraits. In his works, the silvery square of a floppy disk might double as a subject’s forehead, or a strip of film might become a streak of color on a face. By incorporating analog media destined for the landfill, Gentry sparks a conversation about our throwaway culture and the rapid pace of technological change.
These upcycling pioneers, along with many others across Scotland and the UK, demonstrate ingenuity in using eco-conscious materials. They turn ocean plastic into sculptures, scrap metal into fine art and torn fabrics into tapestries, creatively proving that sustainable materials can rival traditional ones in beauty and expressiveness.
Beyond individual artists, entire exhibitions have celebrated recycling and upcycling. In Edinburgh, the National Museum of Scotland hosted ‘Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania’ (2023–24), which featured an immersive installation called ‘Bottled Ocean 2123’. Created by artist George Nuku with the help of local volunteers, this undersea-themed artwork was crafted entirely from reclaimed plastic bottles. It imagined the state of the oceans 100 years in the future, inviting visitors to literally step “underwater” into a world of coral and sea creatures made of translucent plastic. The message is both urgent and hopeful, highlighting humanity’s unsustainable relationship with plastic while encouraging audiences to rethink how we use (and dispose of) this material.
Solar and Wind: Powering Artistic Imagination
Sustainability in art isn’t just about materials; it’s also about energy. A number of artists are plugging into renewable energy sources like solar and wind to power their creations. In some cases, the artworks themselves harness clean energy, blurring the line between functional technology and artistic expression. This fusion of art and engineering can be awe-inspiring – spinning sculptures moved by the breeze, or glowing installations fed by the sun’s rays.
At COP26 in Glasgow, Scottish artist Robert Montgomery unveiled “Grace of the Sun,” a solar-powered light installation built from 1,000 small solar lamps. The piece, which is illuminated each evening at sunset, displays a poetic call to “End the Oil Age” and embrace renewable energy, merging art with climate activism.
Not only did ‘Grace of the Sun’ run entirely on renewable power, its very message promoted solar solutions. After the summit, the individual solar lamps were donated to communities in Sub-Saharan Africa without electricity, extending the artwork’s impact beyond the gallery. Montgomery’s approach shows how clean technology can inspire new artistic mediums – in this case, turning solar panels and LEDs into tools of creative expression and activism.
Another pioneer integrating renewables into art is UK media artist Chris Meigh-Andrews, who has spent decades embedding solar panels and mini wind turbines into his installations. As early as 1994, Meigh-Andrews created ‘Perpetual Motion’, a gallery piece powered by a small wind turbine. He continued to experiment with self-sustaining artworks: outdoor video projections run by photovoltaic panels, or sound sculptures driven by wind. By installing solar PV cells and wind turbines inside gallery spaces or outdoor sites, Meigh-Andrews highlights the very flow of energy from nature to art. Through such works, viewers not only see art about renewable energy but they see art powered by renewable energy, in real time. This creates a subtle, visceral connection to sustainability: the artwork lives only by the grace of sunlight or wind, reminding us of our planet’s elemental forces.
Artists are also captivated by the kinetic beauty of wind. In Scotland and across the UK, sculptors are building mesmerizing moving sculptures that come alive with each gust of air. These wind-powered kinetic sculptures have no motors; instead, they rely solely on natural breezes to rotate, swing, or flutter. British sculptor Will Carr, for instance, creates outdoor sculptures engineered to move “in an ever-changing dance” with even the lightest wind. His polished metal artworks twirl smoothly, “reflecting the beauty of our shared world, and bringing a spark of joy to their surroundings”. Standing before one of these sculptures, viewers can literally see the invisible wind made visible, as art – it’s a bit like watching a kinetic wind turbine that’s designed for enchantment rather than electricity. The effect is often described as hypnotic and calming, forging a closer connection between people and the environment through motion. Even though these sculptures don’t generate power, they symbolically celebrate wind as a clean force.
Exhibitions Leading the Way in Scotland
Scotland has emerged as a vibrant centre for sustainability-themed art, with galleries and museums showcasing exhibitions that address climate change, renewable energy and ecological responsibility. Scottish museums are weaving sustainability into their programming, often partnering with designers, scientists and local communities to deepen the impact. A great example is the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum, which has hosted innovative exhibitions spotlighting environmental issues. Recently, V&A Dundee premiered ‘Plastic: Remaking Our World’, a major exhibition examining the past and future of plastic; one of the most problematic materials of our time. This exhibit traced plastic’s 150-year history, from its hopeful origins as a sustainable ivory substitute to the modern crisis of plastic pollution. Alongside historical artifacts, it featured creative installations that propose new solutions and mindsets. Notably, all the plastic used in the show’s displays was locally sourced and prepared with a Dundee recycling group, ensuring the exhibit practiced what it preached about reuse. Exhibitions like this engage visitors not just with information, but with tangible examples of how sustainable thinking can yield stunning art and design.
Other Scottish venues have followed suit. The National Museum’s ‘Rising Tide’ exhibition brought global and local perspectives on climate change to Edinburgh, featuring Indigenous Pacific artists alongside Scottish voices to explore rising sea levels and plastic waste. Smaller galleries and art festivals across the country have embraced themes of renewable energy and sustainability as well. For instance, community art centers have hosted shows on wind farm landscapes, or invited local schools to create art from recycled materials as a way of education outreach. These exhibitions do more than showcase art, they foster dialogue about Scotland’s own environment and the planet’s future. Importantly, they also reflect Scotland’s broader commitment to sustainability. Creative Scotland (the national arts funding body) has been a pioneer in requiring arts organizations to track and reduce their carbon footprints, understanding that the cultural sector itself must “green” its practices. Through funding initiatives and partnerships, Scottish institutions encourage artists to consider everything from eco-friendly materials to energy-efficient exhibit lighting. The result is a thriving scene of art that not only depicts sustainability but also embodies it.
Art Meets Clean Energy Industry
While artists and museums shine a spotlight on environmental themes, they are part of a larger picture; one that includes renewable energy companies transforming the way we power our lives. Interestingly, the dialogue goes both ways: just as renewable technology inspires art, the ethos of sustainability in art echoes the real changes happening in energy and industry. At The Natural Energy Company, we have been installing solar panels, heat pumps and batteries in homes and communities for over 15 years, effectively helping to build a low-carbon future. Our mission is practical but visionary: to harness the power of natural energy and empower people to embrace a cleaner future. In concrete terms, companies like us are taking renewables from abstract concepts to everyday reality – fitting solar PV arrays on rooftops to let households reduce reliance on the grid & power homes with clean energy, or installing wind and solar-powered heating systems that cut emissions.
This green infrastructure is changing how we live and artists have taken notice. The presence of wind turbines on a distant hill or solar panels on a city rooftop is no longer just background scenery; it’s a symbol of innovation and hope. In some cases, the technology itself has become part of artistic creations, blurring boundaries between utilitarian design and aesthetic statement.
Crucially, both artists and renewable energy innovators share a common vision: imagining a world that is cleaner, more sustainable and hopeful. Art has a way of translating the technical into the relatable. A solar panel might not excite the average person but a beautiful artwork lit by solar power can capture hearts and minds. As one advocate noted, for too long renewable energy “sat at the sidelines of mainstream culture,” but working hand-in-hand with artists can help create a “groundswell of changing hearts and minds” toward a fossil-free future. We see energy companies sponsoring eco-art installations and artists in turn acknowledging the advances in green technology. Montgomery’s solar poem was supported by a green electricity provider and many galleries now partner with sustainability organizations. It’s a symbiosis: clean energy technology provides new tools and inspiration for artists, while art provides inspiration and public enthusiasm for clean energy.
A Cultural Shift Towards Responsibility
The rise of sustainability in fine art is part of a larger cultural shift towards environmental responsibility. Across the UK and Scotland, creativity and climate consciousness are intersecting like never before. This reflects a growing understanding that tackling climate change isn’t just a job for scientists or policymakers; it’s a societal transformation that involves all sectors, including the arts. By embracing renewable energy themes, eco-friendly materials and greener practices, artists are not only reducing their own impact but also using their influential voices to shape public perception. A sculpture made of ocean plastic can educate and move people in ways that a scientific report might not. A solar-lit installation can spark curiosity and optimism about technologies that might otherwise seem technical or distant. In essence, art has become a powerful messenger for sustainability, translating the urgency of the climate crisis into visual, emotional experiences that resonate widely. The conversation between art and renewable energy is only just beginning and as innovation continues, we can expect to see even more inspiring collaborations shaping both cultural and environmental landscapes.