ADVERTISEMENT

If you've ever set foot into a thrift shop, you know what an uncharted territory it is. Treasure hunting gets a whole new meaning there.

And there’s one Instagram account that celebrates beyond weird findings from the land of second-hand. “Thrift Store Art” collects the trashiest art and design-themed objects that fall out of any normal category. From puffy “The A-Team” stickers to the backpack shrouded with Nicolas Cage’s face to the point that it resembles a pinkish egg, the stuff is both eccentric and an inspiration to hold on to the bold side of life.

163K Instagram followers must be loving the weird vibes, and even if the description of “The Best Art. Ever.” sounds like a tiny bit of an exaggeration, we forgive it. Scroll down for Bored Panda's interview with Bryan Dickerson, the man behind the miscellaneous Instagram account, to find out more about the project.

More info: Instagram

In the past decades, thrift store hunting has become a trendy thing to do, with millennials flocking to the second-hands to browse for unique and budget-friendly items. Thrift shops became popular in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis when cash-short people opted for affordable wear. According to a report by IBISWorld, the size of the thrift store market is estimated at a whopping $10 billion.

#4

Shopping Liszt

Shopping Liszt

isabelladevoy Report

Add photo comments
POST
officialjob-p-d avatar
DforDorothy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"liszt" in Hungarian actually means flour...Sooo I guess this fits perfectly. 🙃

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Disco Attack

Disco Attack

beetlebugs Report

Bored Panda contacted Bryan Dickerson to find out more about the project. It turns out, Bryan is a freelance content creator from San Francisco who combines two of his favorite things—surfing and the thrift scene. Today, he runs the miscellaneous Instagram page and the “Wave Pool Mag” platform.

ADVERTISEMENT

After Bryan got tired of running a news website as editor-in-chief, he decided to go against all journalistic training, and that’s how “Thrift Store Art” came about. “I wanted a space where I could post fan art of Tom Selleck and say that it’s Pat Sajak or claim that every post is our 'first post ever and still our favorite!'”

The idea of Thrift Store Art is “not to bash art but to expand what can be considered as art—clothing, album art, book graphics, vacation souvenirs,” Bryan explained. Plus, it celebrates “some truly WTF projects like finding a clock with each minute marked with photos of Leonardo DiCaprio.”

#7

The Sower

The Sower

christian_nightmares Report

ADVERTISEMENT

The absurdity level of these thrift items is what inspires Bryan: “It is something I would never make. But someone out there thought it was the best idea in the world and spent the time to see it through.” That’s a way to walk in “someone else’s shoes” and “experience what they feel is important in a benign and non-politically-charged way,” he explained.

ADVERTISEMENT

It turns out, Bryan used to be a big thrift store fan himself. “Before punk rock moved to the shopping malls, all we had were thrift stores to find and create a look, decorate the apartment, or construct some kind of aesthetic,” he told us. “Table cloths became fashion ponchos, Ronco food dehydrators became wall art, and crocheted doggie pants became beer koozies,” Bryan recounted the creative days.

#11

Male Sounds

Male Sounds

thatsmr.tubbstoyou Report

Add photo comments
POST
casper_slinkman avatar
Slinkman
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooh what a day... let's put on something nice to listen to: 'Ugh, yeah, Hard Hat!, Die - Slice-, Juuueeeeaaahhh!!, More Beeer!! Footbaaaalllll!! Me Mates!! Honey where are my shoes? Fart-sounds, Burb sounds, snort sounds etc. Throwing away the trash sound, 'Honey i'm off to the pub!', Loud snoring sounds for 5 hours...'

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Jazzy Dragon

Jazzy Dragon

beardy.and.boomer Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you ever look at something and think: How was this thing made? Someone had to design this, pitch this to the bosses, get it mass produced, molded, painted and for what market exactly the crossover between fantasy and jazz enthusiasts?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Now his Instagram page runs on reader submissions. “We get about 50 per day during non-pandemics so it’s all community fed and not mine.” Some of the posts, though, aren’t liked by the Instagram algorithms. “Inexplicably, a salt-and-pepper shaker of a boy and his dog got nixed, while an oil-on-canvas of a well-hung Jesus made it through.” But it’s definitely “the most awkward virtual thrift store find,” said Bryan.

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Snail Baby

Snail Baby

thevintagegoofball Report

Add photo comments
POST
casper_slinkman avatar
Slinkman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'Why?!' , yeah snailbaby, that is exactly what i'm thinking.

peachikeen avatar
Peachikeen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh well I didn't need a reason to drink, but it's good to have one now.

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best present ever to that distant family member you absolutely cannot stand, either that, or to finally win that longstanding competition of who can find the kitschiest, most ridiculous gift to give between siblings (try it, it's fun!)

sophieknight avatar
Maiun
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WTF? How many people had to approve this design before it went into production? I'm guessing they went out of business long ago.

imatomboi avatar
eep_the_sheep
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it weird that I really really like this and would like to purchase it at once?

niala2irm avatar
Zelda Blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Creepy as hell. What kind of mind creates something like this?

mariodiaz avatar
temmie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it took me a second to look at this image until i heard a screem in my head to go with this image

dysamoria-accounts avatar
Jace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is only horrifying because babies are already ugly and disgusting.

l_kouwenhoven avatar
Not-so-MadMax
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is hillarious. But now I kinda want to see the turtle version on the shelf below.. Horrific..

emmterry avatar
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would most definitely go to a house party or my friend's house and hide these somewhere, either in their house or their yard/garden, and keep one for myself and when they notice or find it, say "Oh my gosh!! You got one too?!?"

dutchvanzandt avatar
Dutch VanZandt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever thought this would be a good concept for a decorative garden ornament has some serious issues...

mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Junji Ito fan, I'd buy this in a heartbeat if I saw it.

nataliamorgadonardi avatar
NMN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol that awesome, I'd put in a terrarium with a big Theraphosidae

kjorn avatar
Kjorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If Jeff Goldblume use a different animal in his teleport machine

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Devotionals For Teens

Devotionals For Teens

audtales Report

#18

Help Me Lord

Help Me Lord

madelinewaits Report

Add photo comments
POST
arild_settli avatar
Arild Settli
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you need a god to help you love your own child, u need serious help yourself.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Fluffy Pink Cat

Fluffy Pink Cat

ats.in.paintings Report

#23

Sign Language Tutorial

Sign Language Tutorial

whoaitschaparles Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is when I decided to teach my daughter about sex. She came up to me and said “I know what this means” whilst doing the action that is pictured.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

Wonky Jesus

Wonky Jesus

decorhardcore Report

Add photo comments
POST
grubbster55 avatar
Andrew Gibb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus warned them not to sin, but he was too righteous to say "I told you so"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Faceless Cat

Faceless Cat

cats.in.paintings Report

Add photo comments
POST
casper_slinkman avatar
Slinkman
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kitty Kitty smiles with grace, Kitty Kitty missing half her face...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Still Stripping

Still Stripping

omnicoco Report

Add photo comments
POST
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eleanor Burns is a master quilter. "Strip piecing is a patchwork quilt-making technique that is accomplished by sewing multiple fabrics together to create a "strip set" that looks just like a portion of a quilt block. The strip set is cut apart to yield segments that replace two or more pieces of fabric." https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/strip-piecing-tips-and-techniques-2821620

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 87 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.