Contemporary metal sculpture artists USA are redefining what’s possible in the medium, far beyond the famed legacies of Calder or Serra. In the galleries of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and beyond, a vibrant cohort of established innovators and rising talents are transforming steel, bronze, aluminum, and found objects into urgent expressions of form, concept, and technical mastery. This is the living, breathing heart of the American metal sculptors arthouse movement, where boundary-pushing techniques—especially welding—meet deep artistic vision.
This guide highlights not only the most essential names in active US sculpture, but also how to truly discover them: which galleries champion their work, what makes their style unique, and where you can experience (and collect) their latest creations. Whether you’re a collector, curator, advisor, educator, or an art lover in pursuit of new frontiers, let this be your entry to the scene where metal’s future is being forged—now.
Leading Voices: Established Contemporary Metal Sculpture Artists in the US
The following masters are shaping today’s conversation on metal sculpture. Each is actively represented by major arthouse galleries and continues to push the medium forward.
Melvin Edwards
- Key Style/Concept: Abstract welded steel reliefs exploring history, memory, and African diaspora
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded steel, found industrial and cultural objects (chains, tools)
- Arthouse Representation: Alexander Gray Associates, New York; Mene Mene Gallery, Los Angeles
- Recent Notable Shows: “Brighter Days,” deCordova Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA, 2023; Solo at Alexander Gray Associates, 2024
- Artist Quote: “Welding allows me a directness… It’s about the immediacy of joining metal, of making connections—literal and metaphorical.” — Melvin Edwards
- Where to See Now: Current works available at Alexander Gray Associates, NYC
Ursula von Rydingsvard
- Key Style/Concept: Monumental forms, often evoking natural landscapes or primal gestures; recent embrace of cast/fabricated bronze
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Bronze casting, cedar, copper, large-scale fabrication
- Arthouse Representation: Galerie Lelong & Co., New York
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo, Galerie Lelong, NYC, 2024; Outdoor commission at Madison Square Park, NYC, 2023
- Artist Quote: “The physicality of metal means I can push the monumentality of form without losing intimacy.”
- Where to See Now: Recent install at Madison Square Park; works on view at Galerie Lelong’s current group sculpture show
Chakaia Booker
- Key Style/Concept: Expressive, quasi-figurative assemblage using industrial scrap, with dynamic surfaces
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded steel armatures, recycled tires, rubber, found metal
- Arthouse Representation: Galerie Lelong & Co., New York
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo, ICA Miami, 2023; “Global Positioning,” DeCordova, 2024
- Artist Quote: “I use the resilience of industrial materials to talk about transformation, endurance, and identity.”
- Where to See Now: Work available at Galerie Lelong, New York; selected sculpture at ICA Miami through September 2024
Richard Hunt
- Key Style/Concept: Modernist, lyrical abstraction in metal; merging organic and geometric forms; public monuments
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded and cast stainless steel, bronze, aluminum
- Arthouse Representation: Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo, Kavi Gupta Gallery, 2023; Permanent commissions in public spaces across the US
- Artist Quote: “I want steel to soar. To have it seem light, even when it’s heavy, is part of the challenge.”
- Where to See Now: Ongoing at Kavi Gupta, Chicago; traveling installation at The Power Plant, Toronto, 2024
Carol Bove
- Key Style/Concept: Abstract manipulation of steel into both elegant and industrially distressed forms, often staged as site-specific installations
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Cold-bent steel, painted finishes, stainless steel, found metal
- Arthouse Representation: David Zwirner, New York/London; Maccarone, Los Angeles
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo at David Zwirner, NYC, 2023; “Women in Sculpture,” Storm King Art Center, 2023-24
- Artist Quote: “Sculpture for me is improvisation—you’re in direct confrontation with mass and gravity.”
- Where to See Now: New works at David Zwirner, NYC (by appointment); works on long-term view at Storm King Art Center, NY
Leonardo Drew
- Key Style/Concept: Large-scale reliefs/installations, abstracted landscapes referencing history and entropy; recent welded/rusted steel
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded steel, found metal, aluminum, wood, oxidation/rust patinas
- Arthouse Representation: Galerie Lelong & Co., Talley Dunn Gallery, Dallas
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo, Galerie Lelong, NYC, 2024; Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, 2023
- Artist Quote: “The act of assembling, welding, distressing… it’s about material transformation mirroring emotional landscapes.”
- Where to See Now: Works currently at Galerie Lelong, NYC; upcoming solo at Talley Dunn, Dallas, Fall 2024
Rising Stars: Emerging & Mid-Career Welded Art Artists in the US Arthouse Scene
A new generation of emerging welded art artists is pushing boundaries with daring technique, inventive material choices, and fresh conceptual approaches. These are the names to watch in 2025.
Sebastian Martorana
- Key Style/Concept: Playful, narrative-driven sculptures combining welded steel armatures with cast stone
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded steel, stone carving, powder coating
- Arthouse Representation: Waller Gallery, Baltimore
- Recent Notable Shows: “Metalmorphosis,” Waller Gallery, 2024; SOFA Chicago 2023
- Artist Quote: “Welding is a form of storytelling for me—a way to sketch narrative in space, in materials that endure.”
- Where to See Now: On view at Waller Gallery through September 2025
Abigail DeVille
- Key Style/Concept: Site-specific assemblage using found/reclaimed metal; explorations of memory, migration, public space
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded steel, found urban detritus, architectural salvage
- Arthouse Representation: Van Doren Waxter, New York
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo, Van Doren Waxter, NYC, Spring 2024; Prospect New Orleans Triennial, 2024
- Artist Quote: “There’s history encoded in every scrap—in welding, I turn those fragments into new stories.”
- Where to See Now: New installation at Van Doren Waxter, NYC
Lyle London
- Key Style/Concept: Fluid, often biomorphic forms realized in intricate stainless steel and copper; emphasis on public art
- Signature Materials/Techniques: TIG welding, stainless steel, copper, kinetic elements
- Arthouse Representation: Evo Gallery, Santa Fe
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo at Evo Gallery, Santa Fe, 2024; Public commission, Denver, 2023
- Artist Quote: “I’m fascinated by the tension between the industrial nature of steel and its potential for almost organic form.”
- Where to See Now: Evo Gallery, Santa Fe; permanent outdoor works in Phoenix, Dallas, Denver
Rachel Garrard
- Key Style/Concept: Minimalist, geometric sculpture bridging digital 3D and welded steel; explores science and mysticism
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded stainless steel, mirrored aluminum, 3D modeling, powder coating
- Arthouse Representation: Lehmann Maupin, New York
- Recent Notable Shows: “Matter & Light,” Lehmann Maupin, 2024; Pulse Art Fair, Miami, 2023
- Artist Quote: “My structures are interventions—both material and meditative—enabled by the versatility of metal.”
- Where to See Now: New works at Lehmann Maupin’s Tribeca location, NYC
Ruben Ulises Rodriguez Montoya
- Key Style/Concept: Fusions of found steel, copper, fabric, and organic matter; borderland mythology, hybrid forms
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welding, metal fabrication, mixed media installation
- Arthouse Representation: Luis De Jesus Los Angeles
- Recent Notable Shows: Solo, Luis De Jesus LA, Spring 2024; group show at El Museo del Barrio, NYC, 2023
- Artist Quote: “Welding is alchemy—liberating energy and generational stories buried in material.”
- Where to See Now: Luis De Jesus, Los Angeles; fall 2025 installation at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Tariku Shiferaw
- Key Style/Concept: Hybrid abstraction, integrating welded steel, fabric, and painted gesture; investigates black identity, sound, and urban fabric
- Signature Materials/Techniques: Welded steel, steel mesh, fabric, acrylic, LED
- Arthouse Representation: Galerie Lelong & Co., New York
- Recent Notable Shows: “From the Root,” Galerie Lelong, Spring 2024; The Shed, NYC, 2023 group show
- Artist Quote: “Steel is both a symbol of strength and a canvas for vulnerability—that duality is what excites me.”
- Where to See Now: Summer 2025 group exhibition at Galerie Lelong, NYC
Exploring the Landscape: Contemporary US Metal Sculptors Compared
Top Contemporary Metal Sculpture Artists in the US Arthouse Scene: At a Glance
| Artist Name | Primary Technique(s) | Signature Style/Concept | Key Materials | Representation (Primary Gallery) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melvin Edwards | Welding, Assemblage | Abstract, Diasporic Narratives | Welded Steel, Found Metal | Alexander Gray Associates, NY | Established Master |
| Ursula von Rydingsvard | Fabrication, Casting | Monumental, Earthy Abstraction | Bronze, Copper, Cedar | Galerie Lelong & Co., NY | Established Master |
| Chakaia Booker | Welding, Assemblage | Expressive, Eco-Industrial | Steel, Rubber, Found Objects | Galerie Lelong & Co., NY | Established Master |
| Richard Hunt | Welding, Casting | Modernist Lyrical Abstraction | Stainless Steel, Bronze | Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago | Established Master |
| Carol Bove | Welding, Cold-Bending | Improvised, Formalist Abstraction | Steel, Stainless, Found Metal | David Zwirner, NY/London | Established Master |
| Leonardo Drew | Welding, Assemblage | Abstracted, Textural Relie | Welded Steel, Found Metal, Wood | Galerie Lelong & Co., NY | Mid-Career Innovator |
| Sebastian Martorana | Welding, Carving | Narrative Metal/Stone Hybrids | Steel, Stone, Powder Coat | Waller Gallery, Baltimore | Emerging Talent |
| Abigail DeVille | Welding, Assemblage | Urban, Found Metal Installations | Steel, Architectural Salvage | Van Doren Waxter, NY | Emerging Talent |
| Lyle London | TIG Welding, Fabrication | Biomorphic, Fluid Abstraction | Stainless Steel, Copper | Evo Gallery, Santa Fe | Mid-Career Innovator |
| Rachel Garrard | Welding, 3D Modeling | Minimalist, Geometric | Steel, Aluminum | Lehmann Maupin, NY | Emerging Talent |
| Ruben Ulises Rodriguez Montoya | Welding, Mixed Media | Mythic, Borderland Hybrids | Steel, Copper, Fabric, Found | Luis De Jesus LA | Emerging Talent |
| Tariku Shiferaw | Welding, Assemblage | Hybrid Abstraction, Multilayered | Steel, Mesh, Fabric, Acrylic | Galerie Lelong & Co., NY | Emerging Talent |
Discovering More: How to Follow the US Metal Sculpture Scene
To deepen your engagement with contemporary metal sculpture artists USA, use these effective strategies:
- Follow Arthouse Galleries:
Bookmark and follow the social media/newsletters of the profiles above—especially leading spaces like Alexander Gray Associates, Galerie Lelong & Co., David Zwirner, and regionally vital galleries like Luis De Jesus LA and Evo Gallery. - Attend Art Fairs, IRL & Online:
Discover metal sculpture in context at Frieze LA, SOFA Chicago, Sculpture Milwaukee, and prominent gallery viewing rooms. - Leverage Online Platforms:
Explore Artsy, Artnet, Cultured Magazine, and gallery websites for up-to-date exhibition info. - Visit University MFA Shows:
Leading MFA programs (Yale, SAIC, UCLA, Hunter College, Cranbrook, UCSD) frequently feature emerging welded art artists with radically new work. - Subscribe to Artist Newsletters:
Direct, behind-the-scenes insight and invitations from the artists themselves—many offer pre-sale access or virtual studio visits.
The Enduring Power & Innovation of Metal in Contemporary Art
Across the US arthouse scene, today’s contemporary metal sculpture is more vital than ever—blending rigorous technique (from expert welding to massive cast and fabricated installations) with radical innovation in concept and style. The voices highlighted here—masters, mid-career innovators, and breakthrough creators—reflect the full spectrum of what’s possible when artists harness the raw, transformative potential of metal.
FAQs
Who are the leading gallery-represented American metal sculptors right now?
See our curated list above for both established and emerging names.
Where can I see new welded sculpture in the US?
Check the “Where to See Now” in each profile; visit major art fairs and gallery websites for updates.
How do I discover more emerging welded art artists?
Follow university MFA shows, regional galleries, and our recommended online platforms.