John Lopez: The Cowboy who Can Transform Scrap Metal into Incredible Sculptures

John Lopez was born and raised in South Dakota. As a bronze sculptor, he already had a successful career and he also comes across the art of welded statues. Interestingly enough, his story began with a tragedy.

When he lost his beloved aunt, Lopez, he went to his windowed uncle’s ranch to build a family cemetery for his aunt’s interment. He ran out of material while building the cemetery gate so he visited the scrap yard nearby to find more. Using the metals he found, he was able to build not only a  gate but also an angel for the cemetery.

This was the beginning of an inspiration to build more weld work and now, these pieces are featured all across the nation. Here is a compilation of his works along with the stories of how they were made in his new Coffee Table Book.

John Lopez Sculptures

“Friesan”

“Texas Longhorn”

John welded together a guitar, a fiddle, the Alamo and five Texas Rangers with chains and gears he got from farm equipment and scrap metal. This is inspired by the lone star state.

“Black Hawk”

The  “Black Hawk” sculpture can be found at the entrance in a farmer’s market in Kensington, New Hampshire.

“Iron Star”

“Tyrannosaurus Rex”

“Dakotah”

“Wild West Buffalo”

Lopez made this life-sized buffalo with chains, circular saw blades and other farm tools and scrap metal.

“Moose”

“Colt of Many Colors”

“Calumet”

Woah! These scrap metal artworks definitely took my breath away. I wonder how much work was put into each piece he created. Check out John Lopez Sculptures and see more of his amazing work on his website: johnlopezstudio.com