Description
About me
Luke Russell was born in Oak Park IL, and lived there until the age 8, moved to Stillwater, MN and at age 16 moved to Brookfield, IL where he finished High school and also enrolled in the early collage program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for the summer after sophomore year and the summer after junior year. After high school he worked full time at a blacksmith shop. He has traveled the world extensively and these travels have broadened the scope of his perspective creating an influence of the worlds landscape in his sculptures. The organic shapes and movements of his sculptures play into the movement of the world, lending themselves to nature which is Luke’s strongest inspiration. Luke has developed a method of acid washing, rusting, and patina to replicate the ability of the elements to enhance and change metals. Luke is a seventh generation blacksmith and having that influence in his family has also shaped his ability to manipulate metals in a creative format. Spending time traveling and learning about the world through experiences, then making sculptures in Chicago in between the travels. Issues arose for a few years after his apendix was removed which hindered family life, and ability the to make art. He spent time writing poetry, and screenplays, also ideas for stabilizing the climate, and restoring biodiversity. There have been so many adventures, and trips, he has to write more of them down for people to learn, and enjoy.
Work / Education
2008 Internship on an organic apple orchard
2003-present Traveling, and work have been my primary Education after high school.
2019 Mycologos, online school for mycology, 14 week course called Everything's Connected
1999-2006, 2012-2019 Great Lakes Forge Blacksmithing, machining, fabrication
2002 “2D, 3D, and 4D Advanced projects” Early Collage Program, SAIC
2001 “Video” Early Collage Program, SAIC
2018-2019 teaching metal skills for a class through the Art Institute of Chicago.
