Sculpture
Code: S1514-23
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Digital Foundry
Sep 11 - 22, 2023
9AM-5PM
Concept
This workshop explores the role of 3-D printing technology in the context of traditional lost-wax casting of bronze and aluminum. Starting with 3-D scanning and basic 3-D modeling techniques in Rhino 3-D, students learn to build files that take advantage of the characteristics of both 3-D printing and metal casting. Objects are outputted on the FDM 3-D printers in PLA plastic, dipped in ceramic shell, and directly burnt out in the kiln in preparation for metal. We discuss the tensions between technology and tradition, and how artists maintain a human element in their final work.
Media & Techniques
Bronze, aluminum, Rhino 3-D, 3-D scanning, photogrammetry, FDM 3-D printing, ceramic shell, “lost-plastic” casting, chasing, patina
Supply ListFaculty
Leah Aegerter
Leah Aegerter is a sculptor working with a combination of digital fabrication techniques and traditional processes in wood and paper to investigate her relationship to geology and deep time. Aegerter received a BFA in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2017 and was named an Aspen Art Museum Artist Fellow in 2022.
Leah Aegerter, Mirror
Join Waitlist for Digital Foundry
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Sculpture
Express your creativity and vision by exploring the limitless art of sculpture. At Anderson Ranch, our sculpture program offers a vibrant spectrum of workshops that reflect a variety of studio practices. At the confluence of tradition and technology, these programs are material and technique-rich, ranging from classical metal fabrication to experimental digital production.
Students work in communal and interactive studios designed for all levels of experience, supporting traditional and nontraditional methods. The sculpture studios are fully equipped with advanced machinery and offer additional outdoor covered workspace.
Our renowned sculpture faculty work closely with students through critical discussions, material demonstrations and individual assistance. Instructors encourage exploration and experimentation, emphasizing process and idea development. We complement this with a focus on process and sound construction. You leave with far more than finished pieces—you walk away with the tools and inspiration required to elevate your studio practice.
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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Level I
Students are new to sculpture and have no formal training.
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Level II
Students have a basic knowledge of 3-D art making and sculpture concepts and are comfortable using a variety of hand and power tools. Students have taken one or two sculpture classes or workshops.
Jun 2 - 6, 2025
9AM-5PM
The Brutal and the Delicate: Steel Combined with Soft Materials
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Tuition $1,290
Code S0102-25
Throughout art history, steel has been associated with industry, violence, and strength. This workshop challenges such connections by investigating ways steel can become visually delicate, and by inventing new meanings and visual relationships through combining steel with materials with opposite characteristics. Exercises address technical and creative inquiries regarding how steel is cut, shaped, and physically joined, and how to challenge material assumptions if steel becomes a secondary, rather than primary, compositional element. We explore the aesthetic and technical consequences of combining steel with soft, vulnerable, contradictory, and unexpected materials.
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Level II
Students have a basic knowledge of 3-D art making and sculpture concepts and are comfortable using a variety of hand and power tools. Students have taken one or two sculpture classes or workshops.
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Level III
Students have experience with a variety of materials and fabrication techniques and know how to use hand and power tools competently and safely. Students are self-starting with some formal training in critical aspects of sculpture and have completed a portfolio of work. Students have taken a minimum of three classes or workshops.
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Level IV
Students have advanced skills and knowledge of sculpture. Students are highly motivated, have a minimum of five years experience in the field and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Typical students are academics and professional artists.
Jun 2 - 13, 2025
9AM-5PM
Building With Clay and Steel
Trey Hill
Tuition $2,010
Code S0101-25
Investigate new materials and approaches to building sculpture in this two-week exploratory workshop. Students discover innovative ways to combine different materials, creating dynamic mixed-media sculptures. This workshop experiments with adding different materials to students’ work—such as clay, steel, and found objects—while considering how each adds formal information and intensified content. This rigorous studio environment gives access to a variety of new materials and fresh ways of approaching students’ studio practice. The workshop is open to students working in any media who are looking to try something different and add new skills to their toolbox.
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II
Level II
Students have a basic knowledge of 3-D art making and sculpture concepts and are comfortable using a variety of hand and power tools. Students have taken one or two sculpture classes or workshops.
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III
Level III
Students have experience with a variety of materials and fabrication techniques and know how to use hand and power tools competently and safely. Students are self-starting with some formal training in critical aspects of sculpture and have completed a portfolio of work. Students have taken a minimum of three classes or workshops.
Jun 16 - 20, 2025
9AM-5PM
Material Mimicry: The Question of the Reproduced Form
Aaron T Stephan, Betsy Alwin
Tuition $1,290
Code S0303-25
Enhance mold-making knowledge and skills in this fast-paced casting workshop. We focus on the physical and conceptual implications of casting multiples, sharing and discussing strategies many artists use to shape space and create meaning with the cast form. Students refine their skills, learning how to cast a variety of materials- including silicone, plaster, and foam. Along with demonstrations of different mold-making techniques, students learn best studio practices for economical and efficient casting processes. Participants leave with new skills and a broader understanding of the role of the cast form in contemporary art.