Tom Ballard is a sculptor and architect based in Sebastopol, California. He earned his MFA in Sculpture and a BA in Art and Art History from the University of California, Davis.
Early in his career Ballard explored sculpture using materials such as welded steel, plexiglass, and fiberglass. His work was recognized with awards at UC Davis and the Crocker Art Gallery’s Kingsley Art Exhibition, and a sculpture from this period was acquired for the UC Davis art collection.
Ballard later spent more than four decades as a licensed architect and builder in private practice, designing and constructing custom homes throughout Northern California. After retiring from architecture, he returned fully to sculpture.
Working primarily with steel—often Corten steel—Ballard creates both freestanding and wall-mounted sculptures that explore structure, balance, surface texture, and subtle shifts in form. His work reflects a lifelong interest in the relationship between material, design, and spatial presence.
Steel has long been my preferred material for sculpture. In my early years I approached it through industrial techniques—fabrication, welding, and surface finishes such as paint, chrome plating, and galvanizing. While the material carried industrial associations, the forms themselves were not literal references to machinery or industry.
Over time my work expanded into architecture, where designing and building custom homes became another form of large-scale sculpture. After more than four decades in architectural practice, returning to steel sculpture has allowed me to revisit ideas that first interested me years ago.
I am drawn to the principle that “less is more,” allowing shape, texture, and surface finish to interact within the composition. Rust, grinding marks, and subtle variations in reflectivity often become part of the work. Even a slight bend in a rod or a curve in a sheet of steel can create an unexpected sense of movement or tension.
Today I produce both indoor and outdoor freestanding sculptures as well as wall pieces in steel and aluminum, continuing to explore the expressive potential of the material.
