Andre Tourette

Left: Pure Elegance from his series The Kiss: Homage to Rodin, stainless steel

 

Andre Tourette is a sculptor who has lived all over the United States, but has found roots in the midwestern city of St. Louis. His background is working on naval ships and yachts as a metal welder, and also has experience in producing commercial products for businesses and architectural firms. Andre has been welding since he was 15 years old, and his passion has only grown stronger. Most of his creations are made using scraps from commercial commissions; Pure Elegance was made using a long continuous scrap of stainless steel, which Andre then etched, polished, and rolled to form. This specific work of art was part of a series of stainless steel sculptures made in reference to the sculptor Auguste Rodin, specifically Rodin’s The Kiss. Pure Elegance seems to defy gravity while defining two forms in a romantic embrace. The steel follows a natural ebb and flow, and the etching on the surface catches light in different ways as you move around the sculpture. 

Rodin’s The Kiss, 1882. Rodin is most famously know for his sculpture The Thinker.

Andre’s works can be seen in businesses and private collections across the country, but he also sells some of his work through his Etsy shop. Be sure to follow Andre The Sculptor on Facebook!

Fun Fact: Stainless steel is one of the most recycled materials on the planet! About 88% of the world’s steel is recycled, and 2 out of every 3 tons of stainless steel produced today was made from recycled steel!