Which artist is described as an unknown creator of sculptures made from refuse?

• A. Romare Bearden
• B. Janet Echelman
• C. The Philadelphia Wireman
• D. Theo van Doesburg

Answer: (C)

An anonymous, found-object sculptor who works with discarded materials best fits this description. The Philadelphia Wireman is exactly that: sculptures made from refuse and scrap metal created by an unknown artist, whose identity was not revealed for a long time. The mystery of who made them adds to their outsider-art allure, and these works are typically small wire and metal assemblages found in urban detritus. In contrast, the other artists are well known for different, recognizable practices—Bearden for collages, Echelman for large-scale net sculptures, and van Doesburg for De Stijl paintings and design—none of which centers on anonymous, scrap-based sculpture.