CORPORATE METALLURGIST:
CHRISTIAN REDMOND
“A lot of pattern making is solving problems…
and a lot of art is trying to interpret the world around us..”
Christian’s ROLE
at a Glance:
Role: Foundry Artist (Artist in Residence)
Company: Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry
Career Start: 2019
Education:
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design — Industrial & Product Design
Madison Area Technical College — Metal Fabrication
Path: Motorcycle Tech → Design Engineer (Self-Employed) → Industrial Design → Foundry Artist / Artist Residency Development
Building Something That Didn’t Exist Before
“I’m helping to build an artist residency at the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry.”
Chris didn’t step into a defined role. Like many artists, he’s creating one from scratch.
What started as a conversation around product design turned into an opportunity to build something entirely new: a program that brings artists into a working foundry to create, collaborate, and tell stories.
Instead of separating art from industry, this residency is designed to bring them together. To show people what’s possible when creativity meets real-world manufacturing processes.
Where Creativity Meets Process
“I think it’s a real eye opener… how things are made and who makes them.”
At first glance, art and manufacturing might seem like completely different worlds. But inside a foundry, the overlap is everywhere.
Pattern making requires creativity. Problem-solving requires imagination. And turning raw material into something meaningful, whether it’s a commercial component or a piece of art, follows the same core process.
Melt → Shape → Refine → Repeat.
A Process That’s Been Around for Thousands of Years
As modern as it looks, metalcasting is one of the oldest manufacturing processes in the world. For thousands of years, people have been melting metal, pouring it into molds, and shaping it into tools, art, and objects that have defined entire civilizations. That same process is still being used today, just with a few modifications, like digital modeling and robotic assistance.
For Chris, the connection between past and present is part of what makes the work so compelling. It’s continuing a craft that’s been evolving for generations, and leveraging its historical significance to bring attention to the industry.
Not Just for Artists; For Anyone Who Wants to Create
“You don’t need to be part of a cool kids club or have a lot of money… to be successful and happy.”
Chris didn’t start out as a traditional artist. Like most Americans, he needed a way to make money and support himself first. So he began in fabrication; welding, building, and designing motorcycle parts using investment casting. Learning how to make products, how to work efficiently, and how to create things people needed.
Art felt different though. Less predictable and harder to access. That’s exactly what Chris is trying to change through this program. The residency opens the foundry to people from all kinds of backgrounds, giving them access to real tools, real space, and a community of skilled makers. It’s a place to test ideas, push limits, and embrace the process, while building something meaningful alongside people who do this work every day.
And because it’s rooted in the experience and craftsmanship of the foundry itself, the work doesn’t just stay inside those walls. It carries forward into the world.
Changing How People See This Work
“I think it’s a real eye opener… how things are made and who makes them.”
Most people have no idea what a foundry is, let alone get a chance to see what happens inside. They never see the process, the problem-solving, or the level of skill it takes to make something from nothing.
This program is here to change that. Documenting the work, telling the stories of transformation of both the workpiece and the people, and showing a side of manufacturing that has long been hidden from society.
Make Something That Means Something
“Castings are everywhere… and the world needs them.”
Whether it’s a critical component or a one-of-a-kind piece of art, the process is the same. And for the people doing the work, it’s not just about what you make, it’s about what it represents: a skill that can support your life, and a unique way of seeing the world.
Christian’s story proves that if you’ve got the curiosity and the drive, there’s a place for you in the world of metalcasting.
