Among Harvey’s best-known installations, begun in 2001, are diaphanous walls and chandeliers amassed out of thousands of plastic water bottles. Designed to simulate the pulsating energy of falling water or the luminous qualities of crystal, they are alluring from a distance, while up-close the plastic detritus reads like an environmental message on consumer excess. To date, she has created 20 iterations, with each version reusing the same bottles. Corporate clients like Brookfield Properties and Cadillac Fairview commissioned the artist to create large-scale works for their building lobbies in order to educate their tenants about recycling.

MORE KATHARINE HARVEY ARTWORK