24 inch Painted Gecko Tree of Life

Before this piece hung on a wall, it was a steel drum carrying oil through the streets of Port-au-Prince. Village artisans in Haiti cut, cleaned, flattened, and hand-painted it into something entirely different — a 24-inch Gecko Tree of Life that brings together two of Haiti's most enduring symbols: the resilient gecko and the life-giving tree.

Every mark, every curve, every painted detail is made entirely by hand. No two are identical. Hang it indoors as a statement piece or outdoors as a garden focal point — it's built to weather both.

Product Details

• Type: Metal wall art
• Material: Upcycled steel from recycled 55-gallon oil drums
• Finish: Hand-painted with a clear lacquer protective coat
• Diameter: Approx. 24 inches
• Use: Indoor or outdoor
• Outdoor care: Apply a clear lacquer spray once or twice a year to protect against rust from prolonged exposure
• Hanging: Use pin-head nails in the open spaces of the design; darken nail heads with a black marker to make them disappear visually

The Story Behind the Art

In Haiti, recycled oil drums are the canvas. Artisans in small villages source steel drums used to transport oil into the capital, burn off the residue to clean the metal, then flatten and cut each sheet entirely by hand. The result is upcycled wall art that carries the story of its material — and the skill of the hands that transformed it. The coloration, patina, and painted details will vary slightly from piece to piece, which is exactly what makes each one worth owning.

Due to the handmade and upcycled nature of this piece, minor variations in color, patina, and finish are natural and expected. Each piece is one of a kind.