Upcycle: A term used to describe taking an object (usually discarded) and improving upon it to alter its function. El Anatsui uses discarded bottle caps in his sculptures
Motif: a decorative design or pattern. El Anatsui references traditional Ghanaian motifs from Kente cloths in his artwork.
Unity: A principle of art that means to combine all the elements together in a way that works well in an interesting way.
Traditional vs non-traditional art: Traditional art encompasses folk art and art from native people and is often functional. Non-traditional art is made by trained artists and is often made to be aesthetically pleasing.