Cathedral of Junk, Installation artwork in South Austin, United States
The Cathedral of Junk is a three-level art installation made from over 60 tons of discarded materials including furniture, car parts, and household objects. The structure combines these items into one large, complex composition built outdoors.
Artist Vince Hannemann started building this structure in 1988, turning his backyard into an ongoing art project. Over the decades, it has continued to grow and change, becoming what visitors see today.
The structure is seen as a place where discarded objects gain new meaning and tell stories about consumption and transformation in everyday life. Walking through it, you notice how ordinary things are given a second existence.
The artwork sits on private land and is only open by appointment. Visitors should arrange access ahead of time to make sure they can enter.
Inside there are multiple tunnels, viewing platforms, and a special room called the Throne Room where the artist meets with visitors. This space shows how the creator sees the work as a place to inhabit.
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