Vermont sculptor Bill Heise had a knack for turning rugged metal components into delicate sculptures. Discarded iron and steel from scrap yards, farms and old railroads turned into ethereal sculptures with graceful lines and distinct personalities. He honed a sculptural style by salvaging scraps of obsolete farming equipment into distinct, eloquent designs. Railroad spikes and joiners transformed into graceful galloping horses. A pitchfork refashioned became a flying falcon, plow discs into tropical fish.
Bill Heise inspired his nephew Chad to look at discarded materials with a keen eye and he became a sculptor too. Chad carries on the tradition of his uncle’s technique of salvaging metal and turning it into art from a metal studio based in the Mission District of San Francisco. The wealth of discarded, antiquated material from the Bay Area’s industrial past has enabled Chad to easily translate his uncle’s Vermont designs on the west coast since he opened the annex in 2002. Soon after, Daniel Raimond joined the studio and began fashioning sculptures based on Bill Heise designs.
After Bill’s passing in 2011, Chad and Dan work in tandem to create numerous sculptures based on Heise’s original designs. Each piece includes a provenance of exactly where the materials came from, which are now scavenged across the United States. They take pride in the art of using reclaimed materials to create life-like sculptures. But they take the most pride in carrying on the artistic legacy of Bill Heise, an artist, sculptor and a major influence on his nephew’s zeal for living life to the fullest.
Heise Metal Sculpture participates in several major art fairs on the west coast each year. To find their next show and for more information visit Heise Metal Sculpture.
