Russ Connell (B. 1990)Russ Connell is an American metal sculptor known for his large-scale contemporary works that combine industrial strength with fluid, organic form. Based in Taos, New Mexico, Connell works primarily in steel, stainless steel, corten, and bronze, creating dynamic abstract sculptures for public spaces, private collections, and architectural environments. His work explores movement, balance, and emotion through sculptural forms that transform rigid metal into compositions that feel animated and alive.
Connell earned a degree in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design from the University of North Texas, where his early interest in clay and drawing evolved into a passion for welding and large-scale fabrication. During college he apprenticed under Texas metal sculptor Larry Whiteley, developing traditional blacksmithing and fabrication techniques that would later define his sculptural practice.
Over the past decade, Connell has become recognized for monumental public artworks throughout Texas and the Southwest. His commissions include Ascension, a 24-foot, 10,000-pound sculpture installed at Hall Park in Frisco, Texas, along with numerous permanent installations in Dallas, Coppell, Albuquerque, and other municipalities. His sculptures often emphasize bold color, sweeping geometry, and interactive presence, inviting viewers to experience art as part of the public landscape rather than confined within gallery walls.
Connell’s practice ranges from monumental outdoor sculpture to intricate fabricated metalwork and architectural commissions. Influenced by the landscapes of the Texas Hill Country and the physical process of forging steel, his work balances precision engineering with expressive abstraction. Through scale, texture, and movement, Connell creates sculpture that encourages curiosity, imagination, and human connection.
Connell earned a degree in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design from the University of North Texas, where his early interest in clay and drawing evolved into a passion for welding and large-scale fabrication. During college he apprenticed under Texas metal sculptor Larry Whiteley, developing traditional blacksmithing and fabrication techniques that would later define his sculptural practice.
Over the past decade, Connell has become recognized for monumental public artworks throughout Texas and the Southwest. His commissions include Ascension, a 24-foot, 10,000-pound sculpture installed at Hall Park in Frisco, Texas, along with numerous permanent installations in Dallas, Coppell, Albuquerque, and other municipalities. His sculptures often emphasize bold color, sweeping geometry, and interactive presence, inviting viewers to experience art as part of the public landscape rather than confined within gallery walls.
Connell’s practice ranges from monumental outdoor sculpture to intricate fabricated metalwork and architectural commissions. Influenced by the landscapes of the Texas Hill Country and the physical process of forging steel, his work balances precision engineering with expressive abstraction. Through scale, texture, and movement, Connell creates sculpture that encourages curiosity, imagination, and human connection.
