Owen Van Santen is a metal sculptor working primarily with reclaimed steel, creating handformed works through welding and fabrication. His practice centers on transformation — reshaping discarded materials into sculptural forms that explore resilience, renewal, and the beauty of reinvention.

Van Santen began sculpting during a four year period of significant medical challenges, when metalwork became both a creative outlet and a means of grounding. This unexpected entry into the arts revealed a deep passion early in his life, shaping the direction of his emerging career. The themes of rebuilding and restoration that marked his personal journey now define his artistic approach.

Working with locally sourced, reclaimed steel, Van Santen emphasizes material history and the potential for rebirth within the discarded. Each piece is shaped entirely by hand, allowing the physicality of the process to guide the final form. His work reflects a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and the expressive possibilities of industrial materials.

At 26, Van Santen continues to develop a growing body of work that bridges raw materiality with emotional narrative, inviting viewers to consider the strength and beauty that can emerge from what has been broken or cast aside.