Baltimore’s Hubcap Collector Turns 700 Lost Wheels into Art

In a city known for its quirky art scene, one cyclist has turned a habit of finding lost hubcaps into a public art project. Over the past two years, Barnaby Wickham, a 54‑year‑old marketing professional, has gathered more than 700 discarded hubcaps from Baltimore streets and beyond, assembling them into sculptures ranging from Christmas wreaths to a 16‑foot‑tall Snoopy head.

The Spark of a Hobby

Wickham’s journey began in early 2024 when, during a routine ride, he picked up a single lost hubcap and decided to bring it home. “I think it’s sort of the excitement of the hunt, for one thing,” he said. From that moment, he started stringing the hubcaps he found onto his backpack and keeping a detailed record.

He tracks each find on a Google map, pinning the location of every hubcap he collects. “I keep track of them, and I have a Google map,” Wickham explained. The map has become a digital trail of his scavenging adventures, and he refers to the catalog of items as “hubcaps in the wild.”

Building the Pieces

The construction process is surprisingly simple. Wickham uses expanded metal as a frame, attaching sheet metal with holes and wiring to hold the pieces together. Zip ties secure the hubcaps to the sheet metal, and the entire assembly is held together with more zip ties. “It’s all held together with zip ties,” he said.

The scale of his work is impressive. His largest piece, a Snoopy head, measures 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall and about 21 feet (6.4 meters) wide. Other projects include Christmas wreaths, a giant fish, and several smaller sculptures that have been displayed in public spaces around Baltimore.

Community and Collaboration

Wickham’s hobby has attracted the attention of locals who spot hubcaps on the road. When they see one, they often send a quick note or a text, letting him know where the next find is. “There’s a lot of that,” he said, describing the conversations that start when a fellow cyclist signals him to a nearby hubcap.

His wife, Kate, plays a supportive role. She helps hold materials during construction and offers practical advice. “I’m just support team, and occasionally the cautious person who says, you can’t drive on this road, you can’t bike on this road or whatever. So I’m just more kind of supporting his love of trying new things,” she said.

A City of Quirky Art

Baltimore’s reputation for offbeat creativity provides a fitting backdrop for Wickham’s projects. The city is famous for director John Waters, dubbed the “Pope of Trash,” and hosts the American Visionary Art Museum, a national repository for self‑taught artists. Wickham’s hubcap sculptures fit neatly into this tradition of turning discarded objects into celebrated art.

Traveling for Finds

While most of the hubcaps he uses are sourced from Baltimore, Wickham occasionally travels to acquire unique pieces. Visits to Kent State University to see his son added a few Ohio‑origin hubcaps to his collection. A business trip to Italy, which included a bike tour in Rome, yielded a hubcap that he brought back to Baltimore. He explained to his guide why he was collecting it: “And I was like, oh, I collect these. I’m just going to take this back with me. And I showed her a photo of the wreath, and she was like: ‘Oh, OK.’ Whenever anyone hears about it and understands it, they’re onboard,” Wickham said.

Giving Back

Last year, Wickham donated two Christmas wreaths he had made. One was presented to the city, and the other went to a local nonprofit. These acts of giving underscore his belief that art should be shared with the community.

Conversations Sparked by Art

Wickham noted that his sculptures often spark conversations. “It starts a lot of conversations, and it’s just something that people love to talk about,” he said. The projects have become a talking point for residents, cyclists, and art lovers alike.

Key Takeaways

• Barnaby Wickham has collected over 700 lost hubcaps, turning them into public art.
• His largest piece is a 16‑foot‑tall Snoopy head, built with expanded metal and zip ties.
• The project relies on community participation, with locals helping locate hubcaps and Wickham sharing his finds on a Google map.

Barnaby Wickham’s hubcap art demonstrates how everyday objects can be transformed into communal creativity, echoing Baltimore’s long‑standing love for the unconventional.