Free Bird Sculpture

Ryan T. Schmidt is an American Artist born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas sculpting in stainless steel since 2002. After studying Fine Art at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, he began a career combining water fountains and outdoor sculpture into the landscaped environment. Schmidt works primarily in Type-316L non-corrosive stainless steel with its enduring properties. His ambitious intention is to create atmospheric sculpture that captures the changing reflections of the sun, water, clouds, and the seasonal landscapes invoking the viewer's imagination for inspiration of great healing and thoughtfulness. Some of his notable works can be found in Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, CHI St. Vincent Neuroscience Institute, Madison Club in La Quinta California, the Silverleaf Club in Scottsdale, Downtown Little Rock, Habitat for Humanity Grand Rapids, BankUnited Downtown Miami, Charles Winburn Park Northglenn Colorado, TICCA World Trade Center Taipei and Amway Botanical Center in Wuxi, China. Schmidt’s work has been featured by the International Institute of Welding in Bratislava, Singapore, Japan and in Europe on Biodiversity showcasing his sculptures with abstract representation on ocean and birds. He has been a contributing member yearly at International Sculpture Day since 2018 whose mission is advancing the awareness of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society. In 2018, Schmidt received the Proskauer Prize Award at the 85th Annual Awards in Brookgreen Gardens South Carolina. He won “First Place” at the11th Annual Indian Wells Arts Festival, California in 2013 and at the Hot Springs 4th Annual Sculpture Showcase, Arkansas in 2009. Schmidt was a Visiting Artist at Palmer Trinity School in Miami, and has supported UNICEF, American Heart Association, Saint Louis Ambassadors, Wolfe Street Foundation, Dan Eldon Creative Center in Malibu, Tabriz Arkansas Arts Center, and Splatters Centers For Youth and Families. He is locally in Arizona and participates yearly at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale from January through March, and Hidden in the Hills in Cave Creek in November. He’s also been participating at Artprize Grand Rapids in Michigan since 2015, from September until early October; where he also curates an art gallery at Bridgewater Place downtown Grand Rapids.