Artist Statement

Kirt Rebello - KR's Metal Art Forms
Kirt Rebello – KR’s Metal Art Forms

My artwork is the result of a life-long pull that has been drawing me in for as long as I can remember. It has become a peaceful endeavor for me that provides a three-dimensional outlet for the non-dimensional thoughts that occupy my mind and the two-dimensional drawings that make it to paper. As I’ve developed my artwork, I’ve come to enjoy working with the different types of metals that exist, as each one has its own characteristics, compatibilities, vulnerabilities and patinations that similarly reflect, and can be used to represent, life.

My primary artistic focuses have been on large abstract and representative works that reflect my fascination with the contemplation of the origins of our existence. I also enjoy creating representative and functional works that often reflect my love of coastal New England life.

I enjoy working with found items and I strive to use reclaimed materials in a majority of my pieces. My primary mediums are weathering steel, stainless steel, mild steel, copper and bronze. I like to embrace the natural beauty that each metal possesses. I prefer to avoid coatings, unless they are functionally appropriate and I am continuously exploring the contrasting finishes I am able to attain with each. I also enjoy creating functional artworks in the forms of structural art, railings, furniture and lighting.

Equally as important to me as the artistic quality of the final piece, is the ability of the piece to withstand the elements and the test of time. Each piece that I create is structured from materials and processes that ensure decades of enjoyment and heirloom potential.

I enjoy the many peaceful hours that pass behind my welding mask, in my shop, as my sketches and thoughts coalesce with a pile of steel on the ground… and my artwork is born. However, time passes quickly behind the mask and as one piece is born, I long for the opportunity to represent my thoughts in the next.