With a formal education in Sculpture, [Andrea La Valleur-Purvis](https://www.cohart.com/alavalleur/profile) holds a BFA in Sculpture from the College of Visual Arts (St. Paul, MN, USA), a post graduate in Innovation and Design Thinking from Emeritus (in collaboration with MIT, Tuck and Columbia Universities) and a number of certificates from IDEO and Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Her studio practice has been inspired by working artists and teachers who have invested their talent and time in building artists of the future, including former professors Karen Wirth and Kurt Dyrhaug, and currently under mentorship by John Nickell, Master Metalsmith and architectural metal fabricator, among others.

La Valleur-Purvis’ work is deeply informed by her multicultural upbringing in the UK and Germany by British and American parents. In adulthood, she lived in Spain for 5 years after traveling the world solo for one year in 2015.

Before returning to her passion of making metal sculptures, La Valleur-Purvis held creative roles for visionary tech brands for nearly two decades. In 2023, La Valleur-Purvis released her first series of public art installations for the City of Waco, Texas. 

She works from her studio in Waco, Texas.




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#### Tell us about yourself

My sculptural practice emerges from a place of play and experimentation, where geometric, kinetic, and architectural forms become vehicles for exploring cultural belonging and human interconnection.

Drawing from the methodologies of the Bauhaus movement, I combine geometric shapes, clean lines, and bold color to create works that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant. My practice is deeply informed by the pioneering work of mid-century artists, including Alexander Calder, Tony Smith, Isamu Noguchi, Louise Nevelson, and Niki de Saint Phalle—artists who understood how abstraction could carry profound meaning.
 
Growing up in a British-American household across the UK and Germany cultivated my fascination with how cultural boundaries shape identity. This multicultural foundation, combined with extensive travel, has given me a unique lens through which to examine themes of displacement, adaptation, and belonging. These experiences translate into abstract sculptures that speak to our shared human capacity for resilience.

My work transforms unyielding materials into testaments of resilience and belonging—reflecting our capacity to find beauty, play, and energy even in life’s most challenging moments.

Through design and sculpture, I create spaces where viewers can encounter their own stories of connection, movement, and the endless possibility for renewal.


#### Can you describe your artistic process, and what materials and techniques do you typically use?

I’m a collector of shapes, patterns, and objects. When I see something I love, I snap a photo for my reference collection, or if I can take said object with me, I will. Alongside drawings, these photos and objects serve as a reference for my sculptural works. I often will cut out shapes and build compositions in cardboard, and sometimes directly in steel. My primary medium is steel. It’s tough, sometimes frustrating to work with, and also a material that lends itself to creating neat lines and shapes when you have the right combination of tools and material thickness.

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#### What emotions do you experience when creating your art, and how do they influence the final piece?


When I’m in the studio, typically I’m just in the moment. Sometimes energized by what I’m building, seeing a new work come to life. Other times, I’m spending hours grinding, thinking deeply about something that inspires or troubles me. When I get stuck with a particular piece, I often start working on something else, giving my mind a few days to noodle on the problem. Usually, I come back to it within a few days.

#### What is your approach to experimenting with new techniques or styles?


The last couple of years, my work has included hard edges, lines, and elements that have been cut by machines. A few months ago, I created a 12 ft steel sculpture with hand-cut shapes, and even though they were geometric in nature, they had a handmade quality to them that I like. 

This year, I’m looking forward to creating some 2-dimensional works from my 3-dimensional works. One of my early jobs as a teen was working for a silk screen printing company. I’ve always admired the hand-made printing process, building layers and mixing inks.

Early in my career, I worked in casting metals and other materials. I imagine I will incorporate other materials as my work shifts to other shapes, and when I want a material to evoke a different feeling.


#### Has your cultural background influenced your artistic practice?

Most definitely. I was born in the UK to a British father and American mother. They met in Russia, of all places, and then we moved to Germany when I was quite young. We traveled a lot and visited many important places and spaces. Later in life I traveled for a year and lived in Spain for 5 years. My practice is deeply influenced by the different cultures I've lived in and traveled in.


#### Are there any symbols, colors, or motifs that recur in your work, and what significance do they hold for you?

I’m obsessed with this rich reddish-orange color. It’s vibrant, bold and fun. Many of my sculptures include a small or large amount of this color. 

Motifs found in architecture, Portuguese tile work, architectural metal work found all around Europe and Australia they all feed into my creative library. I love creating patterns from simple shapes that at scale, can change how something looks. To me, they build connections, similar to how I create connections with people I meet, while we are all different, we share similarities and shared experiences.


#### Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset?

Definitely morning coffee and spending time looking at my garden when it’s in bloom. The shapes and textures are stunning. I watch the eco-system attract birds, bugs, and butterflies. It's the most peaceful time of day for me. I also find myself to be most creative in the morning.

#### Can you describe a turning point in your artistic career that significantly impacted your work?

In late 2021, I moved from Barcelona to Texas. That was a pretty pivotal moment in my life and career. I had been dreaming about returning to my sculpture practice for two decades. And while I’ve always had a creative career, I was ready to make a big shift, to focus on creating my ideas for the world to experience.



#### How do you balance personal expression with audience expectations in your work?


In my personal work, I don’t think about it. I make works that speak to me and my vision. Naturally, I hope others connect with the work, too, but first, it lives as an expression of my ideas, thoughts, and experiences. 

When I work directly with a client on a commission, we discuss my creative process, materials and possibilities. Many clients have not worked on a commission with an artist before, so I communicate clearly and often, and when possible, invite them to a mid-project studio visit.


#### If you could give one piece of advice to a new artist, what would it be?
Your art isn’t for everyone, the more rejections you get from open calls, exhibits etc, the more you are putting yourself out there which is building evidence and momentum. Eventually, you will encounter the people that love your work, then it’s time to build relationships with those people. If you want to be a career artist, it's a long game, don’t give up too early. Find ways to make money to keep your studio practice going and then hire for your skill gaps.


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#### How has Cohart made a difference in running your art business, and why have you chosen to go Pro?
With a background in creative and tech, I am accustomed to leveraging tech to stay organized and streamlined. I like to optimize my admin work and have tried several business tools geared towards visual artists. Most lack a good looking and easy to navigate interface. Some lack key functions. I like Cohart because I can use a single tool to do 80% of my administrative work. 

I also like that the team is open to feedback and feature requests. The tools keep improving and growing with my business needs.


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Her work turns unyielding forms into symbols of resilience and belonging, revealing our power to find beauty, play, and energy in tough times.

Spotlight: Andrea La Valleur-Purvis on Resilience and Belonging

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