American artist John Chamberlain (1927–2011) is best known for his dynamic, vibrant sculptures made from crushed and twisted automobile parts. He transformed salvaged metal into three-dimensional, abstract expressionist masterpieces. In the late 1950s, he discovered that discarded car parts provided an abundant, cheap "art supply" that already featured colorful, weathered paint. He cut, bent, welded, and compressed car fenders, bumpers, and body panels into complex, abstract shapes. While his works heavily resemble high-speed car wrecks, Chamberlain often stated they were about form, color, and volume, and had little to do with actual car crashes.