Sam Keller's 'Aftertaste' Transforms Junk Food into Art at Martha's Austin

Sam Keller's solo exhibition 'Aftertaste' at Martha's in Austin features sculptures made from discarded consumer goods like crushed cans, Cheetos, Doritos, and McDonald's french fries. The show runs through August 31, 2026. Keller's work critiques American consumer culture and capitalism by elevating trash into art, often encrusting found objects with Swarovski crystals. His process involves sourcing materials from the streets of Brooklyn, where he grew up. The exhibition includes pieces like 'Ancient Grease,' a White House made of McDonald's fries, and 'Can (White Monster),' a crystal-covered aluminum can. Keller discusses the duality of high and low, the importance of humor with deeper meaning, and the role of Instagram in his career. He began making can pieces in 2017 and previously showed at Martha's around 2018-2019. The work is influenced by Claes Oldenburg and Judith Leiber. Keller studied painting but shifted to object-based work after experimenting with pizza crust and other materials.