by
Walt Mendenhall
Walt Mendenhall graduated from Oregon State University in 1968, after which he served a tour of duty in the Air Force as an instructor pilot. He then returned to the family farm in Willamina, Oregon, where he has been creating metal sculpture for the past 25 years.
He is a self-taught sculptor, drawing on the forest, farm and natural surroundings for his subject matter. Walt loves to hike the forests and mountains of the Northwest. The snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range are favorite subjects for his series of mountain sculptures.
Walt has recently moved into a new facility, which is now one of Oregon’s largest private studios. The additional working space has enabled him to explore working with bronze, copper and stainless in a variety of new ways. The result is an increase in creativity and a striving to present the natural patterns that surround us in a more interpretive expression of form, color and texture. The striking contrast of the worked stainless with that of the rich tones of bronze produces an ideal combination for the fountains, garden sculptures, and indoor works of art Walt has been creating recently. The range, depth and size of his subject matter is sure to please a wide variety of discriminating tastes in metal sculpture.
Walt is known for the detail and life he puts into his sculptures. He has shown throughout the Western United States, and his works are in collections overseas, as well as in the U.S. and Canada.
Design in Metal by Walt Mendenhall can be found at his studio in Willamina, at The Wood Gallery in Newport, Oregon and at the Fire’s Eye Gallery in Sheridan, Oregon.
