Metal sculptor reflects on trout sculpture, future work, Netflix fame

Ivan Iler is a Michigan-based metal sculptor and kinetic artist whose work takes inspiration largely from nature, particularly animals. Images: Brooke Elizabeth

Ivan Iler believes his best work is still to come.

One would be forgiven for thinking otherwise because the St. Johns, Mich., metal sculptor and kinetic artist's body of work includes the world's largest brown trout sculpture and will soon include a "mother tree" sculpture and a "kinetic welder," to name a few.

"Somebody once asked me what is my favorite piece of artwork that I’ve ever made. My answer was whatever it is I’m doing right then," said Iler. "I’m constantly wanting to do the next thing."

People recognize Iler and his work much more than ever before, whether it be because the sculptor became a record breaker or because he appeared on Netflix's "Metal Shop Masters." The increased spotlight has brought with it new opportunities, like sculpting limited-edition pieces or working with bronze.

Whatever lies ahead, Iler said admirers and customers alike should expect him to top himself every time.

"I'm never going to be satisfied with what I've done or what I'm doing. I'm constantly trying to move to the next level, to up my game," he said.

Iler, 38, is inspired by the world around him, particularly nature. He rarely does abstract designs.

"Most of my work are things that are tangible, things you can see. From there, inspiration kind of flows one way or another. You never know where an idea may come from," he said.

One of his most recognizable pieces is a 25-ft.-tall brown trout sculpture in Baldwin, Mich., the largest of its kind in the world.

Iler used aluminum for the brown trout's skin and steel tube for the skeleton.

Iler's work as a metal sculptor has grown over the years as people have begun to recognize him more. Among his more notable pieces is a 25-ft.-tall brown trout sculpture in Baldwin, Mich.

On the skin: "Instead of going over the frame, the skin floated in between sections. So, you’d have spots that were just empty in between certain parts of the framework. You would just have patch panels that were formed out and rolled out onto an English wheel. [The sculpture] ended up having a lot of negative space."

To give the brown trout a spotted-skin look, Iler plasma-cut aluminum rings and riveted them to parts of the skin where holes were made.

He then sent his work to Powder Coat of Central Michigan in Ithaca for powder coating. He avoids adding color to most of his pieces, but in this case it was necessary to help distinguish the trout.

"I don't like to. It's the only large public sculpture I have that has that much powder coating on it. Normally I'll just powder coat certain aspects and let the metal speak for itself," he said.

Iler had heard the previous record holder stood at around 20 ft. He wanted to break that record.

"It's kind of nice knowing you built something that is the world's largest of its kind," Iler said.

The Michigan sculptor hopes two of his upcoming projects will wow viewers as much as the trout. A COR-TEN and stainless steel "mother tree" sculpture will be installed in Lansing, Mich., this spring.

The 20-ft.-tall sculpture will depict a woman coming out of the ground.

"It's like she's rooted into the ground, coming out of the ground like she's growing. She has her arms spread out and her fingers and arms are turning into branches and leaves," he said. "That's going to be a big piece."

Iler's incorporation of moving parts into sculptures will be on display once his life-size "kinetic welder" is completed. It will travel with the metalworking equipment supplier Quantum Machinery Group to tradeshows and is made from aluminum, stainless, and COR-TEN steel.

Iler's body of work includes sculptures using a variety of metals, such as this stainless steel barn owl.

"It's all just cams I've carved out. As the cams spin, it makes him move and he runs through a series of movements and then comes back and starts over and repeats," he said.

Iler's metal fabrication career has come a long way since he first learned to weld as a teenager two decades ago.

He's shifted to doing metal arts fabrication full time. While he still does some motorcycle repair work, he describes it as more of a side project.

"Being able to just focus on the artwork for a living ... when you get to a point in life where you can look around you and feel like you’re where you want to be, there's no feeling quite like that," Iler said.

His work received a boost in 2021 when he competed in "Metal Shop Masters." The reality show pitted Iler against six others in a last-person-standing competition to find its top metal artist.

Contestants have become like family to him.

"There's so many times people will say, ‘Oh, let's keep in touch.’ But after being on that show together, we didn't just say it, we actually did it," Iler said. "I've gone and stayed with [contestant Frank Ledbetter], I met his family and stayed with them. I've gone to Vegas to stay with [contestant Luis Varela-Rico] and met his mother."

He gets recognized a bit more, which "as an artist is very handy," he said.

A rise in celebrity has helped Iler approach new ideas, like mass production of his artwork. He plans on making limited-edition bronze sculptures to make his artwork more accessible to people.

He's had people inquire about his sculptures only to back away because of the cost.

"I’ve had a lot of people wanting my artwork. But then they find out the price on getting something custom made, getting a commissioned piece, it's out of their price range," he said.

Bronze is a metal Iler wants to work with more. It is a softer metal and one that poses its own unique challenges, he said. Thing is, he likes to challenge himself and hopes to incorporate bronze into his kinetic sculptures.

On his legacy: "I would be honored to have a piece of my artwork show up on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ 200 years after I've died."