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Amie J. Jacobsen is a designer, sculptor and public artist living and working in the Kansas City area. A lifelong creator, she has produced work in painting, illustration, and graphic design before transitioning to 3D design and metal-working in 2015. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Western State Colorado, as well as an MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where she also taught illustration from 2006-2015.
In 2015, Amie took the opportunity to learn metalworking as the in-house designer and resident artist at Machine Head, a metal fabrication shop in the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City, MO. After 2 years she was awarded her first large scale sculpture commission and moved into her own studio and workshop. Today, Amie's studio is located in Independence, MO, part of the Kansas City Metro area, where she employs 3 assistants. Together, they produce sculptures, artisan furniture and public art pieces throughout the US. Though I have been an artist all my life, my introduction to metalworking opened the door to the world of public art and completely reshaped my career. While I am always grateful for the opportunity to work with private collectors, designing pieces for public spaces truly excites me. It has been such an honor to contribute to the landscape of so many communities thus far. They have each touched me far more than my small contributions could have done for them, but I hope the pieces that I create will be enduring expressions of their communities for years to come. |
Artist Statement
I am a sculptor and public artist based in the Kansas City area, creating large-scale works with a focus on public spaces that invite interaction, movement, and reflection. I lead a fabrication studio that produces site-specific public artworks across the U.S., with a growing focus on projects that integrate lighting, space, and structural form to create meaningful, immersive environments. Often inspired by native flora, fauna, and the movement of natural landscapes, I design work to become a lasting part of the environment—offering accessible, visually compelling experiences that foster community identity and pride.
My practice explores the transformation of industrial materials into organic forms that invite public engagement. I shape steel and stainless steel much like clay—bending rigid structures into fluid, flowing designs. These works serve as both visual landmarks and interactive spaces, allowing people to walk through, sit within, or engage with them physically. I often incorporate internal LED lighting and layered materials to explore contrasts between strength and fluidity, transparency and solidity, structure and motion. While steel provides durability for outdoor installations, I also work with glass, concrete, wood, and acrylic to achieve the textures, light effects, and visual impact each piece requires.
As a sculptor, I’m captivated by form, texture, and material. As an artist, my focus is always on the experience of the viewer. My goal is to create iconic, enduring artworks that enhance their environments, tell stories, and offer moments of connection—whether with a community, a collector, or a passerby encountering the piece as part of everyday life.
My practice explores the transformation of industrial materials into organic forms that invite public engagement. I shape steel and stainless steel much like clay—bending rigid structures into fluid, flowing designs. These works serve as both visual landmarks and interactive spaces, allowing people to walk through, sit within, or engage with them physically. I often incorporate internal LED lighting and layered materials to explore contrasts between strength and fluidity, transparency and solidity, structure and motion. While steel provides durability for outdoor installations, I also work with glass, concrete, wood, and acrylic to achieve the textures, light effects, and visual impact each piece requires.
As a sculptor, I’m captivated by form, texture, and material. As an artist, my focus is always on the experience of the viewer. My goal is to create iconic, enduring artworks that enhance their environments, tell stories, and offer moments of connection—whether with a community, a collector, or a passerby encountering the piece as part of everyday life.