Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Gallo
Artist Bio
Ian Gallo’s artistic journey is a tale of unexpected detours and transformative moments. In 2018, the art community was ignited by his debut at Okeechobee Music Festival with his 8ft interactive dragonfly kaleidoscope, captivating 32,000 attendees with his artwork. Since then, Ian has swiftly garnered attention for his large-scale art inspired by nature and human form, showcasing his creations at prominent art festivals and galleries.
In pursuit of a steady income, Ian was on track to becoming a successful pipeline welder after his graduation from Lively Tech’s Advanced Welding Program in 2019. Accompanied by a multitude of nationally recognized AWS certifications, he found himself moving to Atlanta with his fiance to join UA Local Union 72. After feeling a lack of creative expression, Ian took a risk and established his own company with a bold vision to address the diverse welding needs of the local community. His services extended to a wide array of commercial and residential fabrication and restoration projects, ranging from handrails, ladder racks, and car haulers to undertaking intricate construction jobs involving multi-story buildings with beams and columns.
His perspective was transformed in 2021 after fabricating and wiring a gorgeous illuminated backdrop for his own wedding. After the celebration, their florist suggested future collaborations involving that structure. This pivotal experience not only reshaped the direction of his business, sparking numerous artistic collaborations with a diverse range of partners including designers, event planners, venue owners, and wedding florists, but also solidified his commitment to the continued success and growth of his venture.
After years of learning new art techniques and mediums working in the wedding industry, Ian was ready to re-emerge into the large-scale installation art scene. Working within his self-made shipping container studio outside of Atlanta, Ian single-handedly sculpted his most stunning art installation to date. Inspired by the Yoruba goddess of storms, “Oyá” is a 14ft tall warrior goddess made entirely of hand-crafted aluminum. After years of planning with the site developer, “Oyá” is installed and scheduled to be debuted in Tallahassee, FL in the fall of 2024.
Ian was 1 of 16 artists chosen from a large pool of applicants to participate in Atlanta’s 2024 Beltline Business Ventures program. Guided by Tiffany LaTrice and Aisha White of TILA Studios, this prestigious program offers a comprehensive curriculum to empower locally recognized artists by bolstering their business acumen. Noteworthy collaborations with distinguished artists and curators like Autumn Breon, Tony Loadholt, Ellex Swavoni, Oshun Layne, and Tisha Smith contribute to enriching this transformative growth opportunity.
Ian’s art resonates with a unique blend of strength and vulnerability, where elements of his world intersect and converse within his sculptures. With his talent, determination, and a growing network of artist connections, Ian’s artistic journey is only just beginning.
Artist Statement
“In my creative journey, I explore the intertwining of nature and humanity. Through metal sculptures, I seek to unravel how people connect with their changing environment and navigate cultural and economic disparities.
Inspired by the rugged allure of industrial design, my creations embody a marriage of robust materials and intricate detailing. Each sculpture is a testament to the delicate dance between form and function, where graceful curves and dynamic lines converge with knowledge of structural stability.
Each weld is more than just a joining of materials. It also serves as a testament to the strength and vulnerability inherent in societal existence. Just as welding requires skill, knowledge, and the right tools to create a strong bond, society relies on economic stability, social cohesion, political governance, and cultural values working in harmony. Weaknesses in these areas can cause societal breakdowns, akin to a weak weld causing structural failures. However, as a skilled welder brings pieces together, societies can overcome challenges by being adaptable and resilient, striving for inclusivity, flexibility, and sustainability. My sculptures stand as catalysts for introspection, encouraging viewers to reassess the values they hold and the narratives they perpetuate.
Through my work, I aspire to challenge perceptions and spark conversations. Ultimately, I advocate for a more decorated, inclusive, and equitable society where love and community building resources are accessible to all, regardless of economic means.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey as an artist has not been a smooth road, but it has been incredibly transformative. Before I learned how to weld, I started out as a graffiti artist. I enjoyed expressing my creativity through street art, however, I ultimately had to stop after one too many run-ins with law enforcement. This experience left me searching for a new outlet for my artistic ambitions. While I was beginning my art career, I worked as a restaurant server for six years to pay my bills. I often felt lost and without a clear future or aspirations. My sudden inspiration stemmed from my father’s stories about my great-grandfather, who overcame poverty through his welding skills after immigrating from Italy to Brazil, and then to America. I didn’t know anything about welding, but this motivated me to enroll in night classes to learn.
Initially, I started with a class of 16 students After 18 months, due to the difficulty of the class, only one other student and I graduated. I then joined an advanced welding program, where I earned multiple AWS certifications and moved to Atlanta to join Local Union 72. I had high hopes when I got accepted, but soon faced setbacks when the union didn’t have job opportunities available. To make ends meet in a new city, I made the difficult decision to accept a lower-paying position at a local metal fabrication shop, stepping away from my ambitions of becoming a high-paid journeyman pipeline welder.
I worked as a shop welder while occasionally taking on construction jobs, community projects, and obtaining a business license to build a mobile welding shop. My weeks were filled with 70-hour work schedules. Despite the physical and financial struggles, I stayed focused on my creativity and my goal to build a life as an artist.
Two years later, after I married my wife, I recognized an opportunity to pivot my business towards building metal wedding structures, allowing me more creative freedom. However, this shift came with its own set of challenges as I spent the next two years cultivating a rental inventory, clientele, and building my reputation in the industry.
Looking back on my journey, from my first welding classes in 2016 to finally feeling a sense of stability in my income and creative outlets in 2024, I’m grateful for every obstacle I encountered along the way. Each struggle has led me to important realizations about my craft and myself, and now I’m excited to expand into more artistic endeavors, including more public art installations and gallery exhibitions. I truly believe that these experiences have shaped who I am today as an artist.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a metal sculpture artist specializing in custom fabricated steel and aluminum designs. My years working on large construction projects have equipped me with the knowledge of structural stability needed to build large installations with confidence. In addition to metalwork, I have skills in multiple mediums, including woodworking, concrete work, linocut printmaking, epoxy pours, painting, digital design, and graffiti art. I’m known most for my relentless artistic passion, my large-scale sculptures, and the time I spend working with underprivileged communities.
I’m most proud of my self-made business, which I built from the ground up. The location for my shop used to be a small field with no electricity or road access. To create access, I rented a large skid steer and built a road using clay from the hillside. I then had 54 tons of asphalt millings delivered to construct the top layer of the road. To address flooding issues, I rented an excavator and created a pond. Next, I needed a foundation for my shop, so I ordered 10 tons of gravel. After that, I arranged for a used 40ft shipping container to be delivered and had 300ft of underground electrical lines installed. This journey of upgrades took over the course of a year and involved significant financial challenges, but it was essential for starting my business.
I’m also proud of my largest public art installation, located In Tallahassee, which is where I learned how to weld. My sculpture, “Oyá,” is a 14ft aluminum sculpture inspired by the powerful goddess and Orisha in Yoruba mythology that represents storms, transformation, leadership, and protection. She serves as a tribute to relentless female strength and resilience. The sculpture incorporates elements such as the bo staff, tornado-inspired gele, and a poised passé relevé pose to symbolize her warrior spirit and femininity. After a recent rare and destructive tornado in Tallahassee, the sculpture and neighboring buildings were remarkably unharmed. “Oyá” not only demonstrates physical durability but also embodies a spiritual strength that mirrors the resilience of the surrounding community. She stands as a beacon of liberation and unity for all who encounter her presence.
In the last few years that I’ve been involved in the event industry, I have only encountered a few other wedding welder businesses, two in California and one in Europe. With my years of construction combined with being the owner and operator of this unique business, I have learned skills and disciplines that sets me apart from other artists. My approach to metal art is shaped by the high expectations from the event industry, which complements my perfectionist tendencies and ensures that I consistently produce top-notch work. These collaborations have enhanced my fabrication techniques and opened up possibilities for creating unique structures, including hanging installations.
Whether it’s working with the local community or creating unique designs with floral designers, collaboration is a key part of my process. Atlanta’s artists, business owners, community leaders have inspired me to push my creative boundaries and explore new techniques that I may not have considered before. My diverse experience across mediums, coupled with a deep-rooted passion for pushing creative boundaries, allows me to bring a level of versatility and craftsmanship that stands apart, merging the worlds of art, construction, and community in every piece I create.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Looking ahead to the next 5-10 years, I see the art industry focusing on collaboration between artists and communities, along with a stronger focus on sustainability in artistic practices. Public art is likely to become more interactive, encouraging community participation and engagement. My passion for hands-on installations, like my first 8ft recycled steel kaleidoscope, reflects this shift. I believe the future of art will move away from traditional gallery settings, where people can’t touch or climb the work, toward more immersive and tactile experiences that invite audiences to engage directly with the pieces. As technology advances, we’ll also see a rise in digital and immersive experiences that enhance these physical installations. Overall, art will increasingly reflect the diverse voices and stories within our communities, allowing people to not only view but experience art on a deeper level.
As I look to the future, my primary focus is on growing my art career, with my rental company serving as a means to support that growth. To achieve this, I plan to expand my shop for additional storage and hire employees to manage the day-to-day operations of the rental business. Currently, I handle every role—lead welder and fabricator, design engineer, project manager, painter, driver, installation and breakdown team, content manager, office admin, client relations, and bookkeeper. In order to fully realize my artistic potential, I need to transition away from these operational roles by building a capable team. This will allow me to focus more on my art while ensuring my rental company continues to provide exceptional service to the event industry. By doing so, I can nurture both aspects of my career and contribute more meaningfully to the communities I serve.
Pricing:
- My website, GalloWelding.com, provides rental and purchase prices for my metal structures.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://GalloWelding.com/artist
- Instagram: Instagram.com/iangalloart
- Other: https://Instagram.com/gallowelding
Image Credits
Authentic Collective (brick wall photo)
