Ole Nelson is a Montana sculptor who primarily works in steel, aluminum and glass. In 1995, he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with an emphasis in graphic design and sculpture. Since then, he has established a successful design and fabrication studio in Bozeman, Montana where he continues to build award winning signs and large scale welded steel sculptures.

Artist Statement

In my current work I am creating contemporary welded steel sculptures that tell my own unique story as an artist while still offering endless interpretations of abstract imagery.  With experience of telling stories I have developed a process that shows in my pieces.  While focused on a subject or an object I’m fascinated with, I capture some of the representational elements as well as reveal an energetic side. This embodiment of energy and gesture gives my pieces a life of their own beyond a flat image.  While my work is definitely 3D, it can appear to flip back and forth between seemingly flat and static when viewed from one angle and full of motion and filling a large space when viewed from another.  When viewed from just the right angle its like the sculpture has disappeared and is just a singular rectangular shape with various shadow lines. My pieces generate a push and pull effect with dimensionality while not denying they can appear to be totally flat.  This contradictory nature of my work offers up new interpretations from every new angle its viewed from.