Oliver Sarkis

Artist Statement

I build handcrafted post-industrial robots meticulously assembled from salvaged mechanical parts, discarded electronic components, and found objects sourced from across the globe. They possess a humanoid, skeletal frame and a rugged, intricate design. Their personality is defined by a mischievous, sentient nature. I call them Limbots (tm). They sit about a foot tall and live inside custom cases made from broken mirrors and scrap. I give them adjustable eyebrows so you can change their expressions on the fly. To finish them off, I use sand to grit up the surface and hide the glue marks, making the whole piece look weathered and worn. The Limbots are the foundation of my universe; without them, nothing functions. They are the blueprints for everything I build, from my animated series to my trading cards and clothing. But more than that, creating them is my therapy. I battle anxiety, and when I have a glue gun in my hand, the rest of the world goes out the window. This process is my addiction—it gives me a sense of mental clarity I can't find anywhere else. My process is completely unplanned and intuitive. I don't go out hunting for materials; the objects just find me. Whether I’m riding my bike or walking through a parking lot, I’ll spot a piece of trash and immediately see it as a limb for the next character. Using a high-quality hot glue gun, I build each Limbot piece-by-piece, usually starting with the torso and letting the rest follow the natural flow. There is no blueprint—the sculpture tells me what it needs to be as I go. It is a deeply emotional process that moves through me with a heavy intensity. I have literally sweat, bled, and cried over these builds. Every piece carries that weight. I love seeing people get blown away by them, because that shared excitement is what keeps my engine running.