Anderson Ranch will be closed from December 23rd to January 1st. We will gladly assist you when we reopen on January 2nd. Happy Holidays!

Sculpture

Code: S0102-25

    • I

      Level I

      Students are new to sculpture and have no formal training.

    • 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.

The Brutal and the Delicate: Steel Combined with Soft Materials

Jun 2 - 6, 2025

9AM-5PM

Concept

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.

Media & Techniques

Steel, fabric, soft materials, found objects, hardware, cold saw, sanders, grinders, torches, metal fabrication, cutting, forming, welding, cold connections

Faculty

Carl Reed

Carl Reed is a sculptor and professor emeritus at Colorado College. His sculpture ranges from gallery-scaled pieces to large, site-specific public projects. He is particularly interested in the expressive capacity of materials and often combines stone, wood, metal, and concrete. His work has been exhibited nationally and in Sweden.

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Workshop participant Anna Heath cuts pieces for her sculpture with the plasma cutter

Tuition: $1,290.00
Studio Fee: $190.00
Registration Fee: $45.00

NEW: Tuition includes the welcome dinner and daily lunch
Registration Information

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.

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Workshop Details

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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2020 Artist-In-Residence: Sculpture

    Jan 6 - 24, 2025
    Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM
    Participants may register for one, two, or three weeks
    TUITION is $1,110 per week or $3,300 for three weeks

    January Studio Sessions: Sculpture

    William Lanzillo

    Tuition $1,110
    Code ZSS0101-25

    Anderson Ranch’s January Studio Sessions provide artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff and interns. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation, and access to equipment, as well as some morning group demonstrations and / or critiques. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. *Studios are open 24 hours a day and on weekends for students enrolled in multiple weeks, with limited use of equipment due to safety requirements. The machine rooms are only available when monitored – weekdays 9 AM-5 PM. Evening monitoring hours are Mondays - Thursdays, 7 – 9 PM. IMPORTANT DETAILS: Students will be responsible for all material costs associated with their projects. Participants who register for multiple consecutive weeks will gain access to the studios on weekends (with the exception of the machine rooms due to safety constraints.) Private dorm rooms are available at Anderson Ranch for one, two or three weeks for an additional fee; click here to view January 2025 lodging options. TO APPLY: Applicants must submit project proposals or portfolios for approval. Contact Betsy Alwin to apply: [email protected]

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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.

    • 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.

    • IV

      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.

    • 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.

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