Andrew Carson American, b. 1962
Andrew Carson creates kinetic sculptures that blend engineering and artistry, transforming wind and motion into elegant, hand-crafted works that animate and enrich their surroundings
Interactive art centers on participation, inviting viewers to become part of an artwork’s movement and meaning. This principle is fundamental to the practice of Andrew Carson, whose kinetic sculptures respond to wind, environment, and human presence, ensuring that each encounter is unique.
Carson merges engineering and aesthetics, treating mechanics as a form of visual poetry. Working with electronics, illustration, photography, and precisely engineered mechanical systems, he creates sculptures in which form and function are inseparable. His works must move gracefully while remaining structurally sound and weather-resistant, a demanding balance that allows only a small portion of his ideas to reach completion.
His fascination with wind and motion began in childhood in Boulder, Colorado, where powerful Chinook winds inspired early experiments in electronics and handmade whirligigs. As a teenager, he studied wind turbines and developed fabrication skills that later shaped his artistic approach. In 1994, eight years after graduating from the University of Washington, he began combining these mechanical explorations with the refined form of the modern weathervane, influenced in part by James Eaton and the creative potential of industrial processes.
Today, Carson’s kinetic sculptures are found in public and private collections across all fifty U.S. states and internationally. Each work begins as a sketch, develops through detailed drawings and mechanical calculations, and is meticulously fabricated by the artist himself. Through this process, Carson transforms wind into motion and engineering into harmony, animating space with balance, precision, and quiet elegance.