Biography

Austin Weishel's Biography

He has been shaping clay since he was a 14 years old, and his work has been featured in many public displays and private collections across the United States. Austin’s sculptures are characterized by their realism and attention to detail – he strives to capture the essence of his subjects, immortalizing them forever in bronze. His mission is to share his love of art with as many people as possible, and to create pieces that will be appreciated for generations to come.

It started as a challenge for Austin to sculpt something out a ball of clay, given to him by a bronze foundry owner when he was just a kid. Using just a fork and knife, that ball of clay turned into a fireman, kneeling in mourning on the day of 9/11. That experience was a catalyst for a lifelong passion for bronze sculpture art that has since given way to a professional career sculpting men and women of the emergency services, along with other notable and distinguished individuals throughout history.

Since he was a child, Austin knew he wanted to be a firefighter, taking that passion, he turned it into an eleven year plus career as a firefighter while also taking what he had learned of EMS and sculpting monuments for fire, police, and military.

Professionally, his passion lies in creating monuments and memorials of lifelike quality, hyper realism, and attuned detail to his subject matter. His custom bronze sculptures aim to leave a lasting legacy that will be respected for generations, and stand the test of time.

Biography

Austin discovered sculpting after visiting his grandparents in Prescott, AZ, where they took him on a tour of a local bronze foundry. There, he was introduced to the process of casting clay sculptures into bronze. The owner of a bronze factory in Prescott challenged him to make something out of a ball of clay. He told him if it was any good, he would cast it in bronze. Intrigued and inspired, Austin took the clay home to Colorado and he began his first sculpture. After several months, he returned to Arizona with a finished clay sculpture of a fireman. Impressed with the sculpture, the bronze factory owner cast it in bronze and offered him a summer internship. After interning, Austin chose sculpting as a career.

He decided to sculpt first responders due to his interest in the police and fire service. In high school, he worked as a student firefighter for the Loveland Fire Department for two and a half years; he subsequently joined Loveland’s student police program. At 18 years of age, he successfully completed one of Colorado’s Fire Academies to become a firefighter. Soon after, he was certified in First Aid, CPR and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Wildland fire fighting, HAZMAT and numerous other certifications.

His transformation from small pieces to life-size works set the stage for his first commission with the Windsor-Severance Fire Department. He sculpted a life-size fireman, named “Follow Your Heart” at 19 years old.

Austin continued to combine his two passions for sculpture and firefighting. One of his projects, National Fire Dog Memorial named “Ashes to Answers,” is a life-size fireman with an arson K-9. The sculpture is located at Fire Station #2 in downtown Washington D.C. “Ashes to Answers” was commissioned by Jerry Means, an arson investigative agent with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI). With this monument, Austin won the most popular monument in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Washington Post in 2014.

Today, he continues to sculpt his love for military, firefighters, and polices while also broadening his career to custom sentimental pieces, animals, sports and more. No matter what he is sculpting he pour his passion, dedication, and precise detail into every piece he completes by working closely with each client to ensure satisfaction and fulfilment.

commission your sculpture

970-231-8077
info@austinweishel.com

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Biography

Austin Weishel's Biography

Biography

commission your sculpture

970-231-8077 / info@austinweishel.com

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CUSTOM BRONZE STATUES AND SCULPTURES

POLICE SCULPTURES | FIREFIGHTER SCULPTURES | MILITARY SCULPTURES | CUSTOM COMMISSIONS

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