If you’ve been to the Mt. Lebanon Artists’ Market, or Handmade Arcade at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, or the Warhol or other places artists and crafters show, you’ve likely seen the creations of  Academy Avenue resident Kim Fox of Worker Bird, who uses recycled materials for much of her work.

Why “Worker Bird?”  My husband calls me Bird. I used to keep bees and I love the fact that the worker bees are all female and they’re the ones making the hive run smoothly. When I was thinking of names for my company I played around with all the variations and loved Worker Bird.

Creating art can be a very solitary endeavor. Is it difficult for you to stay connected
outside of the studio? It can be sometimes. Thankfully I have an amazing group of friends and artists that I surround myself with. I love collaborative projects in order to get inspiration from others.

What inspires you? Being outside in the woods is my favorite thing ever. Going junking, reading, Instagram and
magazines, hanging out with my friends. Lately I’ve found that I do some of my best thinking when I’m out riding my scooter.

Where are the best places to find the used material that is so elemental to your work? Estate sales are the best for old tins and salvage yards are the best for finding the wood. My favorite guy knows I love “old, chippy paint.” And dumpsters for finding the lath that I use to frame my pieces. I’ve been doing this for enough years now that friends and neighbors keep their eyes out for tins and I’ll often come home to find great tins waiting for me on my porch. I don’t want to use valuable collectibles—for obvious reasons—I prefer to give new life to things that otherwise would end up in the recycling bin.

—Photo by Martha Rial