Most people find it hard to imagine another purpose for a broken steam iron or worn out high heel shoe. Artist Willie Cole, however, has no such problem.

Mr Cole is an acclaimed conceptual artist, based in New Jersey, specialising in found objects. He is known for witty and thought-provoking installation pieces that use a range of domestic objects, such as his piece Downtown Goddess 2012 made from bronzed shoes.

He has won a number of awards including the 2006 David C Driskell Prize. Established by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s the first American award to honour contributions to African-American art and art history. Mr Cole’s work has appeared in many prestigious museums and galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He’s to give a talk this week at the Bermuda National Gallery as part of the Partner Re Lecture series.

Question: What is the message you would like to convey through your work?

Answer: Each piece is different. In general, I am interested in unveiling spiritual or life energy in everyday objects. My message is that everything is anything and anything is everything because all things are the same thing. It’s about oneness and the world of illusion.

Q: What is the most interesting or unusual found object you have used in your work?

A: The most interesting object to me is always the most current object, which in this case is the 16oz water bottle.

Q: Where do you find most of your materials?

A: There is no one place. I collect them from wherever I can.

Q: How much do you alter the materials that you find?

A: I don’t alter the physical appearance of objects, but through multiplication and juxtaposition they often appear altered in my final compositions.

Q: Is the challenge getting people to first see the art object as a whole and then see the individual found objects that made it, rather than vice versa or does it not matter?

A: You will always see the altered object first.

Q: What is your relationship to Bermuda? Have you been here before?

A: I have no relationship to Bermuda. This is my first visit.

Thursday’s lecture begins with a 5.30pm reception at the BNG at City Hall. Mr Cole’s talk begins at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. RSVP 295-9428 or admin@bng.bm. For more information visit www.bng.bm.