Anna Chan is Creating Stunning Animal Sculptures With Seashells and Sand

There’s something incredibly calming about strolling down the beach and looking for beautiful seashells—and Anna Chan managed to turn this common hobby into an art form. She’s making mesmerizing animal sculptures with beautiful seashells she found on the beach.

Chan is a New York-based artist who spent over two decades working in the jewelry industry, and even did a five-year tenure with Tiffany and Co. before starting her own brand. Her work slowed down during COVID-19 lockdowns, and this was when she discovered a new passion – collecting seashells with her daughter and transforming them into works of art.

Chan collects most of her seashells locally in New York, and she works from a home studio in her garage. After years of working with clay, wax, and metal, she’s now using sand, shells, and pebbles to bring her artworks to life, and she enjoys their intuitive nature.

“The seashells are like little jewels to me, each one a mosaic piece finding its place in the big picture. I’m inspired by their colors, texture, and shapes, and even the broken pieces, I find beauty in it,” she told My Modern Met.

Chan’s sculptures usually take the shape of animals, from turtles and crabs to lions and elephants, and she always makes sure that the shells she’s using match their characteristics.