Ken Neiderer is a self-taught artist who did not find his calling until he found his medium in 2003, at 31 years of age.

Having worked at the same desk job for 11 years, his motivation for spreadsheets finally gave out, and he found himself embarking on a whole new career path: he took an entry-level position with a local metalworking shop.

It was quite a paradigm shift, but Ken's instincts proved correct, as it helped him to realize not only that he was happiest when working with his hands, but that metal was the medium in which he was meant to work.

His new position introduced him to the basic methods of working with steel, and he spent the first few years just soaking up all that he could. But his artistic brain, happy to be free, eventually got the best of him. In a quest to learn more than his daily work duties could teach him, he began to study the many methods of metalworking in his spare time.

In the evenings, and on the weekends, Ken began to practice all that he had been studying, with particular emphasis on the shaping and welding of sheet metal. It has thus far proved to be quite a challenging skill to acquire, and practice has truly been the best teacher.

When asked to define what it is that he is trying to communicate through his work:

"I don't attempt to define my work with any blanket statements. My inspirations are as varied as each viewer's reactions to my work. Let both artist and observer define what the work means to them. I believe in allowing people to be free to define each piece in their own way."

"I just hope they enjoy it."

"More than anything else I would like the viewer to appreciate HOW the piece was made. In this modern age of mass production and computer-controlled tools, I mourn the loss of the craftsmen and their time-honed skills. With their passing, went the consumer's understanding and appreciation of, and the demand for, their work. By giving the viewer a glimpse into the creative process, I hope to share just some of the wonder that I feel when I contemplate the skills possessed by my metalworking predecessors."