Trash Cans as Canvases: Quinn Corey
This spring and summer, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council launched a bold new phase of our Litter-Free Woonasquatucket campaign — turning the humble trash can into a tool for public art, community pride, and environmental action. Along the Greenway, three local artists painted bins to inspire people to keep our shared spaces clean — because litter doesn’t stay where it’s dropped, especially in a watershed.
With support from RIDOT and the statewide Litter-Free Rhode Island initiative, this project brings local creativity to the forefront in the fight for a cleaner, greener Woonasquatucket.
Meet the Artist: Quinn Corey
Quinn Corey is an Artist, Designer, and DJ with a studio in Providence, RI. He holds an MFA in Painting with a thesis in Subcultural Studies. Quinn’s work pulls from the spectacle of popular culture — remixing symbols, colors, and references into a “visual mega-mix” that reimagines reality as a more playful, revolutionary place. Whether through paint, sculpture, print, sound, or light, his work aims to create immersive, interactive experiences that feel both familiar and freshly radical.
As a DJ, Quinn hosts ProviDance, a weekly radio show on 101.1FM WVVX Providence that’s been running for over 300 episodes. His musical collages influence the imagery he paints, making sound and vision part of the same creative language.
“Although my work is graphic and bright, most of my ideas are born from nature,” Quinn says. “Bird watching gives me a peaceful break from studio work — and I often spot birds right from my studio at Riverside Park”
His Design
Located under the Glenbridge and Gotham Greens, Quinn’s bins are vibrant homages to urban birding — capturing the movement, energy, and life of native birds along the Woonasquatucket. His playful yet powerful aesthetic grabs attention, inviting passersby to stop, look closer, and consider their role in preserving the habitats these creatures rely on.
Relationship to the River
Quinn’s studio sits inside the Atlantic Mills building, right by the Greenway. He looks out onto Riverside Park and regularly wanders through the space, observing birds and finding peace in nature just steps from his workspace.
Why Not Litter?
“To me, littering is just… thoughtless,” he says. “I can’t imagine bringing something into a space and just leaving it behind. Not littering should be a default human behavior.”
Explore More from Quinn Corey
Follow his radio show: @providance_radio
More of his work: quinncorey.com | @quinntronix