found object

[/faʊnd ˈɑːbdʒɪkt/]
nounpl: found objects
objeto encontrado
1. An object discovered by chance, typically discarded or abandoned, that is collected and presented as art or given aesthetic or symbolic value
The artist created an installation using found objects from the street, including old bottles and broken furniture.
O artista criou uma instalação usando objetos encontrados da rua, incluindo garrafas velhas e móveis quebrados.
2. In art and literature, any ordinary item repurposed or recontextualized to create meaning or provoke thought
Marcel Duchamp's readymade 'Fountain' is one of the most famous found objects in modern art history.
O readymade 'Fonte' de Marcel Duchamp é um dos objetos encontrados mais famosos da história da arte moderna.
Found objects are central to contemporary art movements, particularly in Brazil and internationally. The concept gained prominence through Marcel Duchamp's readymade movement and remains influential in Brazilian street art, installation art, and socially conscious art practices. The term reflects broader cultural shifts toward sustainability and recontextualization of everyday materials as art.
NYC Slang
street find; urban salvage
Synonyms / Sinônimos
readymadeobjet trouvésalvaged objectdiscarded itemscrap material
Antonyms / Antônimos
handmade objectcustom-made itemmanufactured good

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
objeto encontrado
Standard term used in contemporary art discourse
General Brazilian
achado
More colloquial term meaning 'finding' or 'discovery'
São Paulo
objeto reciclado
Often emphasizes the recycling/reuse aspect in art communities
Portugal
objeto encontrado
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; objet trouvé also used in artistic contexts

Related Words

assemblage artmixed mediainstallation artready-madescavengingappropriation artjunk artcollage

Related Idioms & Phrases

one person's trash is another person's treasure
found art
art from scraps
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