The art of
Collin Douma
the art of
COLLIN DOUMA
Shell Shocked
Epoxy Sculpt, Metal, Acrylic, Found Items
2026
5"x3"x3"
Hermit crabs are indicator species of beach and coastal health, threatened by habitat loss, shell scarcity, pollution, and ocean acidification, which dissolves the calcium carbonate shells they depend on.
Shell markets have collapsed. What's left gets hoarded by collectors or ground into sand by warming seas. So this hermit crab did what any creature does when priced out, found what nobody wanted, and made it work.
Now he has freedom to relocate when the beach gets overrun by glampers.
Hermit crabs are indicator species of beach and coastal health, threatened by habitat loss, shell scarcity, pollution, and ocean acidification, which dissolves the calcium carbonate shells they depend on.
Shell markets have collapsed. What's left gets hoarded by collectors or ground into sand by warming seas. So this hermit crab did what any creature does when priced out, found what nobody wanted, and made it work.
Now he has freedom to relocate when the beach gets overrun by glampers.