The Best Places to Find Objects for Assemblage Art

Treasure hunting at the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market, where countless forgotten objects wait for a second life in assemblage art.

One of the questions I hear most often is, "Where do you find all of those things?" The truth is that assemblage artists learn to see potential almost everywhere. Objects that others overlook—a worn photograph, a rusty hinge, a vintage game piece, or a weathered piece of wood—can become meaningful elements in a work of art. The challenge is not finding objects; it's learning to recognize them.

Some of my favorite places to search for assemblage materials are antique malls, flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores, and garage sales. Events like the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market in Ohio are especially inspiring because they bring together thousands of objects, each with its own history. Walking through the aisles and booths, I am rarely looking for something specific. Instead, I keep an open mind and wait for an object to catch my attention and suggest a story.

The best assemblage materials are often the ones that would otherwise be discarded or forgotten. Over time, I've learned that the most interesting finds are not always the most valuable ones. Sometimes the smallest, most ordinary object becomes the piece that brings an entire artwork together. For me, the joy of assemblage art begins long before I enter the studio—it starts with the hunt.