Corbett’s work features mainly cars with a focus on the illusion of motion. Photos from Crane Cams Facebook fan page.

Thomas A. Edison, one of this country’s greatest inventors, once said: “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.”

While most of Corbett’s work is automotive related, there are some animal sculptures like this Ram with spark plug coat of wool.

That phrase is true and extends past the boundaries of mechanical and electrical inventions. Extending beyond the useful machinery into a whole new realm. Art. Not just any art but craft art from mix medium. Using a parts from a pile of junk to complete an image that the artist has in his head.

Corbett was running a recycling business in Brisbane, Australia, when he discovered his unique talent of creating amazing assemblage sculptures out of used automotive parts in early 1999. As an active racer and auto enthusiast, Corbett’s first pieces of art centered around the sport that he knew and loved. His first piece was an off road race buggy, inspired by a sport Corbett had participated in for over ten years.This is what James Corbett does and no matter how many times we see his work, it never gets old. Corbett uses junkyard parts of old cars to create masterpieces of new art. Mostly sculptures of old cars racing or motorcycles, or an occasional tractor. This type of sculpture is formally called an “assemblage” sculpture because the technique involves the collation of several different materials and objects within a single piece of work.

After getting favorable responses from his friends, he created more pieces that were inspired by cars, bikes animals and birds, all of which sold readily. Corbett developed a few guidelines in his work. He likes to incorporate old and interesting car parts into his sculptures and nothing is bent into shape. The original integrity of each car part is maintained. “The parts themselves are often interesting, some are as much as eighty years old”, said Corbett.

Corbett’s Manx Norton.

His work has been exhibited all over the world after his first successful exhibition in Brisbane in June of 1999. He was asked to be the feature artist at the Brisbane International Motor Show, an invitation which was extended for three consecutive years.

Corbett was commissioned by Unique Cars magazine to provide the trophy for the “Unique Cars” “Car of the Century” Award, which was subsequently awarded to Ford, for their Model T. This trophy now resides at the head office of Ford Australia , Melbourne.

Corbett’s sculpting became his full time occupation in 2000 as his popularity soared with successful exhibitions in Sydney & Melbourne. In August 2001, Corbett travelled to the U.S. where he displayed works at the “Concourso Italiano” at Pebble Beach, California .

Corbett likes to use old race cars like this Mercedes as inspiration for his work.

In November of 2002, Corbett was commissioned to provide a feature piece for the Essen Motor Show in Germany . His choice of a ¾ life-size Type A Union race car was met with much admiration and acclaim. The finished piece was 11 feet long and had used over six-hundred car parts.

Another Mercedes inspired design.

“I have a strong vision in my head of what I want to achieve. I try to imagine the mood or purpose of the subject. My goal is to create the illusion of life and movement from inanimate cast-offs,” said Corbett. This illusion of life is very visible in his work. Hair blowing in the breeze, cars leaning into a turn or bikers crouching down to become more aerodynamic.

In 2003, Corbett was commissioned by PIRTEK to create the season championship trophy for the Austalian V8 Supercar series. Officially called the PIRTEK Enduro Cup, PIRTEK CEO Stephen Dutton challenged Corbett to create a “trophy that represents the qualities of endurance, reliability, precision and teamwork – ideals PIRTEK and everyone in V8 Supercars strive for.”

Corbett was commissioned by PIRTEK to create the inaugural PIRTEK Enduro Cup. Photo from www.pirtek.com.au

The end result of the PIRTEK Enduro Cup project. Photo from www.pirtek.com.au

A social media program was created which allowed fans and the teams that were fighting for the trophy, to watch the build process. Corbett created a main perpetual trophy and then an original “likeness” which will be presented to the team for them to keep.

“I like the challenge of making something work. I have always needed to be creative. Those instincts have led me to where I am now,” Corbett said.

“You should be confident in your ability but also your own strongest critic. If there’s something about a finished piece that you are not 100% confident with then your sculpture isn’t truly finished. You must be brave enough to accept the challenge of making it 100%.”

Corbett’s parting words are a great fit for anyone looking to perfect their craft. Challenge accepted!

Enjoy this gallery of James Corbett’s work (Click on image to enlarge):