Kelly's Kustometal metal art sculpture

metal sculpture art
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metal art

Kelly LaForte was born in Florida in 1987. Raised in an artistic environment by her parents, who owned their own ceramic shop, she was encouraged to explore her imagination. With age came a maturing respect and love for many different forms of art. As she grew, Kelly's creative outlets ranged from simple paper and crayons to exploring clay art. At the age of twelve, her parents sold the ceramic shop where she grew up and relocated to Hayesville, NC.

Around the age of fourteen, Kelly's fondness for contemporary art, particularly metal sculpture, began to grow. "I think I became attracted to metal because of its rigidity and sleekness," says La Forte.

At the age of sixteen, Kelly decided to take her curiosity to the next level. She enrolled in the welding program at Tri-County Community College, in Murphy, NC. There, she learned how to cut, weld, and roughly shape steel and aluminum. As important, she met many people who would help her become a metal artist. As soon as she acquired basic skills and knowledge of metalworking, Kelly began to experiment with it as an art form.

By the age of eighteen, Kelly La Forte launched "Kelly's Kustometal," a welding and fabrication service, which provided the means to support her metal sculpting hobby. Presently, Kelly's sculpture metal art is her full time focus rather than just a hobby. "Art keeps me free," she states. "It allows me to communicate in ways words cannot express."

Though she works with a variety of sizes, Kelly enjoys working on larger scale pieces. Each differs in shape from thin, wispy points that seem to float in mid air to pieces composed of smooth, sweeping curves that are bold in claiming their territory. The colors of her work also provide contrast from one another. Though a sophisticated presence is felt in each of Kelly's pieces, they range from vibrant shades of red and blue to bare metal or classic grey.

Kelly La Forte is very passionate about what she does and holds her work to the highest standards. "I love creating beauty that is not only tangible but is also charismatic in so many other aspects."