Richard Lang and Judith Shelby Lang have been collecting plastic debris from a small stretch of Pacific beach since 1999. They carefully sort it and use it as a medium to create works of art that speak to wasteful consumption and a throwaway culture. “The opposite of beauty is not ugly,” says Richard Lang. “The opposite of beauty is indifference, and we’re trying not to be indifferent about this.” It’s a surprisingly powerful story that shows the ways in which art can elevate consciousness.

More at the artist’s site.