Cult art project NYC Garbage launches first international pop-up in Amsterdam
Following worldwide viral fame for selling out of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce wedding trash, artist Justin Gignac expands his iconic project globally with a solo show hosted by creative workshop Preacher.
NYC Garbage, the groundbreaking conceptual art project that seals city street litter inside hand-signed, clear acrylic vitrine cubes, is making its international debut. Launching its first-ever solo show and the first stop of the NYC Garbage World Tour, the project will host a one pop-up experience in Amsterdam on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Hosted at the storefront of creative agency Preacher in the historic Jordaan district, the one-day event runs from 11:00 to 17:00 CEST.
Founded in 2001 by artist and creative director Justin Gignac, NYC Garbage originated as a challenge to prove the power of packaging design by packaging something nobody would ever want and persuade people to buy it. Over the past 25 years, the project has transformed into a globally recognized cultural archive, selling over 1,800 cubes to collectors across more than 30 countries.
The international pop-up arrives just eight weeks after Gignac captured global media attention when his limited-edition “Pocket Garbage” collected outside Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s star-studded Madison Square Garden wedding sold out in less than 24 hours.
For the Amsterdam edition, Gignac scoured five distinct neighborhoods across the city—including De Jordaan, De Pijp, De Wallen (Red Light District), Noord, and Centrum—collecting hyper-local trash to preserve a snapshot of Amsterdam street life. Each piece is encapsulated in a hand-labeled acrylic cube stamped with the collection date and neighborhood, priced between €30 and €100.
Featured items in the Amsterdam collection range from everyday relics to distinctly local artifacts: Heineken cans, coasters, and bottle caps; Tony’s Chocolonely wrappers; FEBO snack packaging; wooden friet (fries) forks; pre-roll tubes; cut bicycle locks and gears; and, picked up near a brothel in the Red Light District, an empty condom wrapper and a discarded Viagra packet.
“What we throw away is a direct reflection of who we are and what’s happening in a specific moment in time. In New York, garbage is like a living character of the city. Extending this project internationally allows us to look at the unique personalities and cultural artifacts of cities whose trash is truly worth preserving,” said Justin Gignac, Founder and Artist behind NYC Garbage. “It blurs the line between art and commerce—the real art happens in that exchange and the stories these discarded items tell.”
“Justin has been championing creative people and acts his whole life. His work inspires us, and we’re proud to have built a company that can naturally collaborate with him and host his international premiere,” said Seth Gaffney, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Preacher.
Throughout its 25-year history, NYC Garbage has commemorated milestone moments in modern history, including President Obama’s 2009 Inauguration, the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and championship parades for the Yankees, Giants, and Liberty. The project has also collaborated with brands and organizations including Dyson, Only NY, Squarespace, and Sesame Street.
Event Details
Event: NYC Garbage World Tour: Amsterdam Edition
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Time: 11:00 – 17:00 CEST
Location: Preacher Storefront, De Jordaan, Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Lijnbaansgracht 32B
Pricing: €30 – €100 per acrylic cube
