RUSS ELLSWORTH

Russ Ellsworth is a metal sculptor whose work is deeply rooted in the landscapes and wildlife of the American North.

Raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Russ grew up surrounded by woods, water, and the kind of wildlife that leaves a lasting impression on a person. Hunting, time outdoors, and a blue-collar upbringing shaped his perspective early on. His parents worked demanding jobs, and from a young age, Russ understood the value of hard work, discipline, and showing up every day whether you felt like it or not.

By sixteen, he was already working nearly full-time, eventually pursuing a career in welding. What began as a trade quickly became something more—an understanding of steel not just as a material, but as something that could be shaped with precision, patience, and intent.

That realization didn’t happen overnight.

During the uncertainty of COVID, Russ built his first sculpture—a whitetail deer—out of scrap steel in his garage. It wasn’t perfect, but it proved something. For the first time, welding became more than a job skill. It became a way to create.

For a while, that idea sat quietly in the background.

Then came a moment that would change everything.

After posting that first sculpture online, Russ didn’t think much of it. Over a year later, he discovered a message he had missed—an inquiry from a buyer who saw something in his work before he fully did himself. That moment became the turning point. It was the first real indication that what he was building had value beyond the garage.

Not long after, Russ made the decision to leave his mill job and pursue sculpture full-time.

Today, he is known for his distinctive wildlife sculptures, built entirely from steel rod. Each piece begins as a single, straight length of metal and is shaped by hand into flowing, continuous linework. His sculptures capture the anatomy and presence of each animal while remaining open, minimal, and intentional in structure.

There is no layering, no excess—just one continuous plane of steel, carefully composed to suggest life through line.

His work reflects both precision and restraint, balancing industrial material with organic form. The animals he creates—deer, sheep, fish, and other wildlife—are not just subjects, but representations of a life spent observing and respecting the natural world.

For Russ, the connection is simple.

His work has since found its way into private collections, galleries, and spaces that value craftsmanship, authenticity, and a strong connection to the outdoors.

At its core, his work is about honoring that connection—taking something as rigid as steel and shaping it into something that feels alive.