Kristen Hoard’s journey with metal sculpture began in 1999 when a friend suggested that she take metal art classes. Having always loved metal art, she enrolled in her first class at The Crucible in Oakland, and has been hooked ever since. Kristen quickly discovered that using a forty foot extension cord to work on the patio of her Bay Area condo was not the most ideal metal arts studio setup; she soon migrated 120 miles northeast to Midtown Sacramento where she could afford a house with a two and a half car garage for her studio space.
Working in Sacramento for over seven years, Kristen has been building her talent and skill with metal sculpture. She regularly participates in art festivals throughout Northern California, including the Palo Alto Fine Art Festival and the Crocker Art Museum Holiday show. Kristen’s work is often featured at local galleries like The Phoenix Gallery, The Artisan Gallery, Uptown Studios, and Exploding Head. Recently inspired by her trips to Burning Man, Kristen has begun to explore sculptures that incorporate fire, flames or neon lighting. She has also completed several large corporate logo sculpture pieces in metal that can be seen in office lobbies around the Bay Area.