The official page of renowned steel artist & sculptor Carl Vanderheyden @ www.FineSteelArt.Com
Born in 1958 in Green Bay, WI and still residing there, Carl spent his formative years ripping things apart to find out “What Made Them Tick”. Some of these things made it back to their original form but most were sacrificed “For the Cause”, and Carl’s been designing, building and ripping things apart ever since.
In 2004 Carl bought a welder and was astounded by the simplicity and permanency of joining steel and his life was about to change. Carl was introduced to local steel artist and legend Miles Amorelli where he was tutored in the fine art of “Becoming an Artist”. This new found talent was something neither Carl (nor apparently anyone else) knew existed even though Carl had been “Creating” his whole life. Carl went back to the Technical College he graduated from decades earlier to refine the art of manipulating cold, hard steel.
Carl uses mostly recycled steel and other “found objects” to create spectacular lifelike animals, eagles, angels, and a variety of creations from his mind or “Yours”?
Technical training includes: 6 years of junior and high school shop classes where he studied, plastics, electricity, metals, small engines, physics and woodworking, and is a 1976 graduate from Preble High School in Green Bay. Following high school he earned a degree in “Wood Techniques” from Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College and started his own “Rent a Carpenter” business for the next 30 years. He also spent 27 years with United Parcel Service where they are currently paying him “Not to Come”.
Accomplishments and Awards include: A co-patent on an innovative, industry changing archery sighting device that employs a two point system that is “Tuned to the Bow”.
Grand Prize in the 3rd annual “Property Fix-up Contest” sponsored by the Green Bay Board of Realtors for extensive renovation of his now home at 2620 Bellevue St.
Exhibit of “Alpha Rooster” in the 63rd annual Neville Public Museum Juried art exhibit.
Awarded a public commission from “Park in the Art”, “Olde Main St.” where he created “Bessie the Cow”, an artistic bike rack in use at the CVS Pharmacy on Webster Ave., Green Bay, WI.
3 Memorial steel art installations displayed in the scenic surroundings at the Bay Beech Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay, WI.
2 Memorial steel art installations situated on the shore of Lake Michigan along the Mariners Trail in Manitowoc, WI. August 2013 Participant in “Art Street”, One of the Midwest’s Largest Juried art shows, held annually in Green Bay, WI.
