My name is Fred Zietz. I’ve always been interested in mechanical things. Mainly cars but bikes and other machines also. I went to art school for advertising and design and one of my favorite classes by far was 3d design. I had never given much thought to sculpture before and that is where I first became interested in this kind of work. Years later when I got my first welder I needed to practice on something so I started tacking some parts together and it grew from there.
How long have you been doing this?
12 years.
How long does it take you to construct something like that?
It really depends on the piece. Some go together quickly and others are much more challenging. I can get stuck on one part of a piece for days or even weeks. The big robot TORO probably took 60-70 hours over 2 or 3 months. The very small pieces can take as little as 2 or 3 hours.
How is it put together?
I use a MIG welder for almost everything. I also use a TIG and gas welder. Many of the pieces have to bolt together so they can be taken apart for transportation or for attaching parts that can’t be welded.
How do you know which parts you’ll use?
It usually starts with a single piece. I’ll notice a part that looks like a torso or a head and base everything else on that.
What limitation/parameters do you place on yourself (e.g. do you solely use car parts or can you use other machinery) before creating a piece?
Most of my material incorporates automotive materials but I will use whatever works or is available to create a piece.
Are there deeper themes to your work, even with commissioned pieces?
The main one is exploring a romanticized version of some post apocalyptic future. All these things created from the refuse of society existing and evolving long after humanity is gone.
FAQ
My name is Fred Zietz. I’ve always been interested in mechanical things. Mainly cars but bikes and other machines also. I went to art school for advertising and design and one of my favorite classes by far was 3d design. I had never given much thought to sculpture before and that is where I first became interested in this kind of work. Years later when I got my first welder I needed to practice on something so I started tacking some parts together and it grew from there.
How long have you been doing this?
12 years.
How long does it take you to construct something like that?
It really depends on the piece. Some go together quickly and others are much more challenging. I can get stuck on one part of a piece for days or even weeks. The big robot TORO probably took 60-70 hours over 2 or 3 months. The very small pieces can take as little as 2 or 3 hours.
How is it put together?
I use a MIG welder for almost everything. I also use a TIG and gas welder. Many of the pieces have to bolt together so they can be taken apart for transportation or for attaching parts that can’t be welded.
How do you know which parts you’ll use?
It usually starts with a single piece. I’ll notice a part that looks like a torso or a head and base everything else on that.
What limitation/parameters do you place on yourself (e.g. do you solely use car parts or can you use other machinery) before creating a piece?
Most of my material incorporates automotive materials but I will use whatever works or is available to create a piece.
Are there deeper themes to your work, even with commissioned pieces?
The main one is exploring a romanticized version of some post apocalyptic future. All these things created from the refuse of society existing and evolving long after humanity is gone.