Most people discard animal bones without a second thought, treating them as little more than waste. But in a small, dimly lit workshop in Srinagar, Kashmir, Aziz Ul Rehman sees them as something entirely different. To him, they are untold stories, raw canvases waiting to be transformed into intricate masterpieces. As he runs his fingers over a discarded sheep skull, its curling horns still intact, he envisions the art it could become. Where others see scraps, he sees potential.
From Corporate Job to Creative Calling
Aziz hails from the Gulab Bagh area of Srinagar, a place steeped in tradition but not necessarily in the kind of artistry he has chosen to pursue. At just 25, he made a bold decision—one that many would consider unconventional. After spending five months in a corporate job that never quite felt right, he walked away from financial security to embrace his true calling: turning waste into art.
He founded Stick and Bones, a brand that specializes in sustainable and unconventional artistry. His most intriguing and unique raw material? Animal bones. Aziz is likely the first artist in Kashmir to specialize in bone art, crafting stunning wall décor, table pieces, and jewelry from discarded remains. But he doesn’t stop there. His work also incorporates coconut shells, metal scraps, porcupine quills, feathers, and even reclaimed wood from fallen trees.
The Viral Turning Point
Initially, Aziz’s artistry remained within a small circle of admirers. He shared his work on Instagram, but with limited content and only around 8,000 followers, his reach was modest. Then, everything changed with a single creation—a rustic table lamp crafted from a discarded piece of wood he found in his backyard.
He chiseled and shaped the wood, manually carving a plank to serve as the base. Once the structure was complete, he carefully added lights, transforming what was once waste into a warm and functional piece of art.
“No one expected that a lamp could be made out of waste wood, let alone something as simple as a wicker-wood hat,” Aziz recalls. The uniqueness of the piece captivated people, and when he posted the making-of video on Instagram, the response was staggering. The reel went viral overnight, bringing him 40,000 new followers in a matter of hours.
Suddenly, the world was watching.
Defying Doubts and Crafting His Own Destiny
Pursuing art as a career was not without its challenges. As a master’s student in ichthyology, Aziz faced significant criticism from those who believed he was throwing away a stable future. His parents doubted him. Friends and relatives dismissed his dream as impractical.
“I still remember people laughing at what I did, telling me it was a useless pursuit,” he says. “But I picked up the discarded bones and wood anyway. I kept carving, kept creating, and with every piece, I proved them wrong.”
Through it all, there was one person who never wavered in his belief: Aziz’s older brother, Khaleel.
“I always knew he would take things to a different level,” Khaleel says. “He doesn’t follow trends. He doesn’t create for the sake of profit. He creates because he sees the world differently. Every piece he makes tells a story, and what sets him apart is his dedication to showing the process as much as the final masterpiece.”
Art Meets Heritage
As Aziz’s work gained global recognition, it caught the attention of the local government, which praised his innovative approach to art. But he wasn’t content with simply repurposing waste. He wanted to create something that connected to his roots. That’s when he started incorporating traditional Kashmiri papier-mâché techniques into his bone carvings, fusing sustainability with heritage.
In 2023, his work was exhibited at the prestigious Kashmir Arts Emporium. Mahmood Ahmad Shah, the former Director of Handicrafts and Handlooms, commended his artistry, stating:
“While many have reinvented art using waste materials, what makes Aziz’s work unique is how seamlessly he integrates Kashmir’s cultural heritage into each piece. When art is sustainable, it carries both meaning and responsibility.”
A Legacy in the Making
From discarded bones and fallen trees to exquisite wall décor and handcrafted jewelry, Aziz Ul Rehman isn’t just creating art—he’s redefining it. With resilience and passion, he has built his craft from the ground up. He started with nothing—no tools, no proper workspace. Using his own savings, he built a small shed in his backyard and began collecting hand tools, investing every penny he earned back into his art.
To date, Aziz has sold over 2,000 unique pieces, each one a testament to his dedication and ingenuity. His workshop at home remains the heart of his creations, a space where waste transforms into wonder.
And this, he says, is just the beginning.