What started as a fascination with insect anatomy quickly evolved into an exploration of their narrative qualities and representational nature through the use of metal. By distilling the appearances of different species into general shapes, I push the limits of what people identify as “insect” while urging them to consider how astounding insects truly are. I use steel to capture these creatures through a detailed process involving both hot forging and fabrication techniques.

I have become very interested in the interaction between viewers and insects, a subject matter that is not normally seen or witnessed on such a public stage but generally ignored by the average person because it is merely part of everyone’s everyday life. I have been working around the idea that location and environmental interaction with sculpture and how the viewer internally digests this interaction is what gives life to each insect. I have also realized not only are the intentions of each piece important but that the construction is equally important, the use of steel lends itself wonderfully to outdoor sculpture and has the ability to maintain its form and weather well over time. 

This pieces was forged from a piece of 6”x3/4”x3/4” steel as part of the Hereford College 150 mm challenge in 2019

This public sculpture was made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and the arts and cultural heritage funds in 2018.

It is to be publicly displayed at the National Ornamental Metal Museum (Memphis, TN), ArtReach St. Croix (Stillwater, MN) and as part of the River City Sculpture Tour (Stillwater, MN).

Dimensions: 3’x4’x4.5’