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Amie J. Jacobsen is a visual artist based in the Kansas City area specializing in sculpture, design and public art.
Jacobsen’s background spans painting, illustration, and graphic design before she transitioned into three-dimensional work in 2015. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Western State Colorado University and an MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she taught illustration from 2006 to 2015. Her introduction to sculpture and public art began through hands-on experience working in a metal fabricator shop in the Kansas City Crossroads. Her time there shaped her practice, teaching her material intelligence, structural logic, and the realities of scale, fabrication, and permanence. After receiving her first large-scale sculpture commission in 2017, she established her own studio and workshop. Today, Jacobsen leads a design and fabrication studio working with a small team to produce public artworks, sculptural installations, and limited-edition works for institutions, municipalities, and private collectors throughout the United States. |
Artist Statement
My work explores the intersection of sculpture, design, and the built environment. I primarily create permanent public artworks in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, often incorporating glass, wood, acrylic, and LED lighting—materials chosen for the structural integrity and desired effect of each project. While my work is frequently inspired by flora, fauna, and natural systems, each project begins with its site. I study the ecology, history, and character of a place to develop artwork that has a genuine connection to its location.
I am interested in creating sculpture that people experience rather than simply observe. Whenever appropriate, I incorporate opportunities for interaction—inviting visitors to walk through a piece, gather beneath it, sit within it, or engage with it from multiple perspectives. I want the artwork to become part of the daily life of a community and to reward repeated encounters over time.
My practice evolved through an unconventional path. After years working in painting, illustration, and teaching, I discovered metal fabrication and public art. Learning to fabricate transformed the way I think about form. Working in steel required me to simplify, stylize, and focus on structure, resulting in work that is often elegant, organic, and quietly whimsical. Although metal remains my primary medium, I continue to explore new materials and enjoy combining contrasting elements. I particularly like the combination of steel and glass for its ability to showcase translucent color in contrast to the structural density of steel. I also often incorporate internal LED lighting so the pieces transform after dark. Light becomes another artistic element—like painting with light—adding color, vibrancy, and a contemporary visual energy that brings excitement to public spaces at night.
I do not approach every project with a predetermined aesthetic. Instead, I start with the site, the community, the materials, and the experience I hope to create. Some works emerge directly from local plants, wildlife, or landscapes, while others explore abstract forms that complement the architecture and purpose of a space. Whether creating an intimate sculpture or a large civic landmark, my goal is to produce work that feels welcoming, distinctive, and enduring—landmarks that become part of a community's collective memory, contribute to the identity of a place, and invite people to connect with it in meaningful ways.
I am interested in creating sculpture that people experience rather than simply observe. Whenever appropriate, I incorporate opportunities for interaction—inviting visitors to walk through a piece, gather beneath it, sit within it, or engage with it from multiple perspectives. I want the artwork to become part of the daily life of a community and to reward repeated encounters over time.
My practice evolved through an unconventional path. After years working in painting, illustration, and teaching, I discovered metal fabrication and public art. Learning to fabricate transformed the way I think about form. Working in steel required me to simplify, stylize, and focus on structure, resulting in work that is often elegant, organic, and quietly whimsical. Although metal remains my primary medium, I continue to explore new materials and enjoy combining contrasting elements. I particularly like the combination of steel and glass for its ability to showcase translucent color in contrast to the structural density of steel. I also often incorporate internal LED lighting so the pieces transform after dark. Light becomes another artistic element—like painting with light—adding color, vibrancy, and a contemporary visual energy that brings excitement to public spaces at night.
I do not approach every project with a predetermined aesthetic. Instead, I start with the site, the community, the materials, and the experience I hope to create. Some works emerge directly from local plants, wildlife, or landscapes, while others explore abstract forms that complement the architecture and purpose of a space. Whether creating an intimate sculpture or a large civic landmark, my goal is to produce work that feels welcoming, distinctive, and enduring—landmarks that become part of a community's collective memory, contribute to the identity of a place, and invite people to connect with it in meaningful ways.