Today we’d like to introduce you to Sadie VanderMolen.
Hi Sadie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a small lakeside town in Michigan. From a young age I’ve felt a deep connection to the natural world — especially the moon and the animals native to my home. I’ve always loved the arts. I studied classical ballet for sixteen years, including five with a pre-professional company.
That experience shaped how I think about movement, structure, and form — especially in my sculptures. When I started college I transitioned into visual art which opened up a whole new way of creating.
Family has always been important to me, especially my grandmother Sassy, who continues to inspire much of my work.
I’m now a 22-year-old undergraduate studying Studio Art with a minor in Art History at the College of Charleston. I’ve studied in Italy and Scotland, and I currently intern at Redux Contemporary Art Center — a space that supports contemporary art and experimentation.
These experiences have helped me grow as an artist and led me toward my current focus of sculpture, specifically metalwork and welding.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t always been easy, but that’s part of the process. Transitioning from ballet to visual art meant starting fresh with new skills and tools, especially when it came to welding. Learning to work with new materials took time, but ultimately it’s given me more confidence in both my art and myself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work explores themes of nature, memory, and transformation through a lens that’s often surreal or whimsical. I specialize in sculpture, working primarily with mixed materials like steel, wood, and found objects. Lately my focus is welding bent steel to create organic forms that reflect balance, strength, refinement, and femininity.
A piece I’m especially proud of is (269) 377-7285, an interactive sculpture that rewires an old telephone to play edited conversations between my grandmother and me. It invites viewers to lean in and listen, creating an intimate moment of reflection. I’m also proud of developing my welding skills, a demanding technique that’s expanded what I thought was possible in my work.
What sets my work apart is my use of steel and welding, a medium that isn’t especially common among artists my age or background. It’s become a powerful tool for expressing strength and delicacy in my sculptures.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always open to collaboration and love connecting with fellow creatives. If you’re interested in working together, commissioning a piece, or following my journey, Instagram is the best place to stay up to date with my work. You can also reach out via email and view more on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sadievandermolen.myportfolio.com/work
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadievandermolen.art
- Other: Email: sadievandermolen@gmail.com
