Creepy Cyberpunk Fantasies Come to Life

Articulated Singer Insect, 2005

This model was handcrafted from found antique mechanical parts, including a vintage Singer sewing attachment. Though Conte prefers to use existing parts rather than build each model from the ground up, he has to make sure each preconstructed piece stays true to his original vision.

"When I found this, I knew it was the body of a bug," Conte said. "All I had to do was build the legs."

Carbon-Fiber Spyder, 2004



This spider sculpture, like many of Conte's creations, has working joints and limbs, making it fully manipulable, but the artist elected to exclude any element of autonomous movement. Instead, he constructed the fully articulated model to look as though it could begin walking at any moment.

"I design my work with the sole purpose of being static art," Conte said. "But I build with the idea that they could move, so each one looks as though they are about to take a step."
Photo: Amanda Dutton, Synesthesia Photo, courtesy of Christopher Conte