Published on: 6/28/2014IST

Anuj Tiwari Last updated on: 6/28/2014, Permalink

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South Dakotan sculptor John Lopez creates life-sized scrap metal sculptures with a uniquely Western American twist. In his hands, old discarded farm equipment is recycled into sculptures of iconic creatures from the American West like a bison, a horse plowing a field, or a Texas Longhorn.

Lopez already had a career as a bronze sculptor, but after creating a family grave for his deceased aunt using scrap metal, he began creating recycled metal sculptures out of found or donated pieces of metal as well.

�My favorite part about these pieces is the texture,� explains Lopez. �I just start grabbin� stuff from the pile and welding it, in and if you weld enough of the same thing on over and over it creates this really cool texture that I�ve never seen in these kinds of pieces before. And I think that�s what draws people in.�