Eric Holt, Sculptural Metal Artist, Thrives on Innovation, Thrilling Art Lovers, & Creating Work Larger than Life!
- Lynne Kornecki
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Soo Butterfly. Copper plated Steel/ Painted Aluminum/ Acrylic/ Glass. 12 feet high X 4 feet X 4 feet. $72,500.00. Scroll down to view more of Eric's work...
Born with an inquiring mind, knack for using tools and a strong bent toward invention, Eric Holt has all the right DNA to excel at being a mixed media metal artist. Growing up, exposure to his dad's trade as a sheet metal worker also gave Eric access to learning how to use those tools.
Later with his own construction work under his belt, he started dabbling in copper plumbing piping to create plant holders and sconces. Before long, he was selling those items and more at a high-end furniture store in San Francisco, CA, when he received very encouraging news from the store's owner.
"Guess what, Eric?" the store owner exclaimed. "Sammie Haggar just bought your work -- keep it coming!"
Talk about an instant shot in the arm. Obviously, he was on the right track with his artistry which quickly developed well beyond the copper plumbing piping stage.
"I love working with my hands and teaching myself new things," Eric says. "I especially like the look of abstract sculptural work and because I have zero drawing skills, I make up my designs in real time. I especially like making stuff that is bigger than me!"
Building BIG for Eric, is definitely an awesome experience as any viewer can attest who has admired his art. Although he has some public art in various communities, he prefers to place his art in private collections for the intimacy that setting provides.
Corten steel, Eric explains, is the gold standard for his metal sculptures which adds years to the life of the art piece especially if it's spending the bulk of its lifetime outdoors.
His largest piece was created for a Kaiser Permanente medical building in Washington state that stretches 28-feet high and rises almost three stories within the lobby area.
He describes his metal fabrication as welding together a big puzzle with dozens of separate pieces. Add sanding, polishing and even chemical patina for coloring and before long the piece springs to life.
"I especially love when the raw materials are still visible right down to seeing the abrasions in the piece," Eric says. "I'm really very much like a woodworker, only in metal."
Not all his pieces are bigger than he is. He has also perfected creating amazing metal fabricated vessels along with their display pedestals. Although he does a fair number of art shows including the annual Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ, he has found that networking with interior designers, architects and landscape designers is more efficient for sales and referrals.
His prices range anywhere from $2,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the piece and or commission.
His advice to aspiring artists..."It's a tough row to hoe and you've got to be compelled by faith in what you're doing. It's a wonderful life and can offer travel opportunities all over the world. But, be prepared for the down times or maybe even going a year without pay. When choosing this lifestyle, you definitely can't be risk adverse! Art lovers are special and thrive on the sense of wonder, joy, and discovery -- something your art can give them."
Learn more here:
Call
503 710-0711
Praying Hands. Stainless Steel/ Corten Steel. 10 feet high X 5.5 feet X 2 feet. $24,500.00.
Sweetest Devotion. Corten Steel. 8 feet high X 4 feet X 2.5 feet. $34,500.00.
Spirits in the Material World. Stainless Steel/ Corten Steel. 12 feet high X 4 feet X 3.5 feet. $85,500.00.
Supergrass. Aluminum/ Bamboo Sheet. 28 feet high X 8 feet X 1 foot. $ 120,000.00
. Antennas to Heaven. Corten Steel/ Stone. 8.5 feet high X 3.5 feet X 3.5 feet.
One of Eric's one-of-a-kind tabletop vessels.
