ARTIST STATEMENT

I lead a dual life of commissioned sculptor and studio artist, with a focus on bas-relief bronze sculpture. The scale of my work ranges from hand held coins to standing monuments. The coins and medals are struck at a variety of private mints in bronze, silver, or gold. The bronzes are cast at an art foundry and then I apply the patina to each one by my own hand.

I love bas-relief for its harmonious marriage between the tactile nature of sculpture with the illusional qualities of drawing. It can depict effects such as shadow, transparency, and atmosphere which are not usually attributed to sculpture.

Symbolism and the human figure are featured prominently in my studio work. My style is contemporary and representational. It is inspired by classic Italian art, ancient Egyptian carvings and heavily influenced by modern Polish sculpture, specifically in the juxtaposition of positive and negative spaces.

Most people are surprised to learn I did not attend any art school or college. Still I don't like to call myself "self-taught". I built my autodidactic education with a tower of books, museums of the world, and the kindness of other artists.

I stay active in the art community through my involvement in art organizations such as AMSA (American Medallic Sculpture Association) and NSS (National Sculpture Society). Over the years I've trained over a dozen artists as medallic sculptors and occassionally conduct workshops.

2023 marks my 36th year as a professional artist.

BIOGRAPHY

HEIDI WASTWEET is a leading American Medallist and sculptor who specializes in bas-relief, from cast and struck medals to public monuments. In conjunction with a wide variety of private mints she has produced over 1000 coins, medals, and tokens since 1987. She was chief engraver for Sunshine Mint for 11 years and lead designer/sculptor for Global Mint for 5 years. In 2001 she opened her own studio and relocated from Idaho to Seattle Washington in 2003, then to San Francisco Bay area in 2013. She currently serves as President for AMSA, the American Medallic Sculpture Association; member of FIDEM, the international organization of Medalists; and elected member of NSS, National Sculpture Society. Her work has been shown in magazines, newspaper and digital media, and she exhibits her non-commission work regularly, including Medialia Gallery in New York and Bellevue Art Museum in Washington. She served on the Citizen's Coinage Advisory Committee for the US Mint from 2010 to 2018 and teaches an annual medal workshop at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina.