Don’s exquisite simplicity of lines and shapes to form out of metal, birds that almost fly away is second to none. And birds are not the only subject matter. Fish and wildlife such as bison and wolves also are depicted by Don’s skillful metalwork. Each of his sculptures is one-of-a-kind with its individual pieces cut and shaped by hand, then assembled using a variety of welding and soldering techniques.
Don says, “I sculpt because I enjoy the challenge of manipulating space. I’ve chosen birds as my subject matter because they fascinate me to no end.”
After completing his BFA in sculpture (1993-1995) and a summer print-making workshop in Florence, Italy (1995), Don began sculpting part-time while embarking on the establishment of Vanguard Sculpture Services, a full service sculpture foundry (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) where he specialized in the casting of bronze monuments. In 1997, Don began to focus on the development of his art work and in 2001 left the foundry business to pursue sculpting and exhibitions full-time. While making this transition, Don was sought out to teach an introductory welding class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which he taught from 2000 to 2002.
In August of 2019, Don began a two-man show with Andrew Denman at Astoria Fine Art and in September of 2017 received the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s “Master Artist” medal at the annual Birds in Art exhibition.
All of the work here has been sold and is for display only. To see more of Don’s work, you may go to his web site at donrambadt.com. You may commission a piece that can be customized exactly for you.
