Sculptor Scott Nelles takes bronze and turns it into magic! Similar in tone to the sci-fi sculptures of Rik Allen, these gorgeous objects are certainly very modern but still seem like they’d have been at home on the desk of William Randolph Hearst. These pieces are all style and substance and clean lines, and I think they’re gorgeous!

Nelles says he takes his inspiration from his childhood fascination with metal production.

“As a boy growing up in SE lower Michigan I was exposed to industry through my father, a manufacturers rep in the steel business. He would sometimes take me on tours of steel mills and foundries and I believe the heat and flame got into my blood. As a kid I was always making things out of clay and wood and whatever I could get my hands on.” -Scott Nelles in interview by The Art Inquirer

Interested in preserving the foundry arts, Nelles uses the sand casting method of mold making. This method has the added benefit of keeping his production costs down, thereby allowing him to sell his works for a lower, more accessible price than those produced by the more popular lost wax method.

These and more beautiful sculptures can be purchased from his Etsy shop. (I just realized his irresistible flying pig coin bank was front and center in my 2015 holdiay gift list, too!)

All images property of Scott Nelles and used with permission.