Rebecca Welz

Sculptor Rebecca Welz’s work is inspired by natural wonders and ecological processes that combine to give us biodiversity. Welz is concerned with the role that humans have in sustaining or destroying our biodiversity. Her steel sculpture utilizes lines that combine together to make form relating to systems and networks in nature such as the underground mycelium fungi that connect plants and trees together. Studying and teaching biomimicry led her to discover a myriad of remarkable functions in the natural world which continue to energize her today.

Observing how rivers cut through land and seeing the types of curves the water forges is another source of inspiration for Welz. From above, rivers appear to be veins in the earth carrying life blood. Networks of lines symbolize wireframe skeletal structure at its most minimal to veins flowing through our bodies to roots carrying nutrients to trees.

Welz’s sculptures begin with straight, round steel rods of varying thicknesses. The steel is bent, curved and welded in an entirely intuitive process to build form using the primal elements of heat and fire from an oxy-acetylene torch. The heating, bending and welding process is repeated until the form is complete and there appears to be no beginning or end to the lines. The resulting pieces appear light and organic but they have the weight of steel.