Biography        

Andy's creative expressions in metal sculpture rely upon his experience with a wide range of media and methods. Andy has been formally trained in ceramic and jewelry design and techniques, and has made both clay sculpture and jewelry for over 21 years.  He also draws on his experience with leather, having worked for over 14 years designing and creating leather hats.

Metal work is a culmination of his experience with ceramics, jewelry and leather, fused with a desire to use recycled materials. Andy is inspired by metal as a material for fine art because of its permanence.  His work is permeated with design elements derived from his fascination with contradictions - an example is his frequent use of refined finishes on crude raw materials such as old hardware (nails) and recycled pipe. Using hardware in an untraditional manner, he makes something interesting and provocative out of simple elements.

Andy's processes in the creation of his work include sawing, grinding, tumbling, gas and electric welding, sand blasting, and baked-on finishes. The completed works are a commentary on both the absurdity and the relative impermanence of our lives.

Andy Byrne -- 800 676-6275 -- andyerupts@volcano.net

PO Box 1391 Pine Grove, CA 95665