Rubbish by Claude Charlier Get a load of these cans

Artists are inspired by all sorts of things, although it’s quite obvious not enough are inspired by the one named Ben Grimm, who, thanks to cosmic-ray exposure, boasts rock-hard skin and an even harder demeanor. To see work from a dude who’s inspired by equally random things, hit the Rubbish exhibit, now on display at Markowicz.

The pull-tabbed brainchild of French fashion photographer/ artist Claude Charlier, who (and the following is 100% real) says he saw the true beauty in aluminum beverage receptacles after moving to Tokyo, Rubbish is a collection of paintings inspired by the unique shape of smashed cans he’s been scooping up all over the world, getting from friends, and nabbing from homeless people for the past 25 years. The for-sale works cover pretty much the entire spectrum of the drinking apparatuses, ranging from PBR, Busch, and Bud, to Pepsi, Mug Root Beer, and Monster, all thrown on huge canvases using brightly colored acrylic and oil paints, with lots of silver/iron/copper to make the cans look all shiny and new again, a process usually handled by Christian Troy. If you're not feeling any of the ones on display, or if for some reason you have a can you really, deeply care about, bring it over to Claude, and he’ll gladly squash it down with his car, then paint it for you (note: service unfortunately not available for Dane Cook).

Next up, Claude plans to pull together a retro show in which he'll showcase designs of throwback, "brilliant" cans, which in any other context, would give pretty much everyone a rock-hard exterior.