About Keith Millar...

I began in 1987 with classes in art history, sculpture and ceramics at UC Santa Barbara – which opened my heart and mind to expression and human communication using tactile, substantial, real-world materials. I continued course and studio work with Bill Geisinger at De Anza and then Bruce George at Foothill. I was drawn to strong forms and industrial objects, like gears, first in clay, then I evolved to combine metal and ceramics with bolts and welded structures. After spending more and more time with welding and metalworking, around 2000, I dove into the wonderful world of rusty metal surfaces and up-cycled machinery, industrial forms, and vintage metal from a variety of sources. 

I have always been drawn to a blend of several disciplines including: design for specific mechanical purpose, the sleek speed of retro futurism, and strong solid forms. I appreciate the artistry that was built into the castings for gears in the massive machinery of the industrial revolution. I also consider myself a student of the Futurist designs and have been influenced by solid steel structures, car culture,  the designs of the atomic age.
 

As for materials, I am enchanted by the striking property of metal which can be so massive, strong, and weighty – and yet can flow and be reshaped. Even the finishes on metal seem contrary, in that such hard, polished metal surfaces can soften and develop beautiful shades of color as they rust. Finally, I am driven to  find metal with interesting provenance/stories, and upcycling it into sculptures - for me it gives the art deeper significance. 

If you interested in more... Here is an interview in theFabricator Magazine in March 2023