Roll the Deise

Meet the local metalworker who's wrapping the Valley in rusted steel perfection

If you’ve ever been to hipster hangouts such as Lola Coffee or LUX/Pane Bianco in Central Phoenix, you might have noticed the rugged, rusted-steel metalwork sprinkled throughout the spaces. Or if you’ve ever stayed at the posh JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, you may have stumbled across a piece of freestanding lobby art best described as a massive metal orb wrapped with flame-like tentacles. Either way, have you ever wondered who the torch-wielding artist behind these monumental masterpieces is?

Meet Pete Deise, the Valley’s go-to artist for sky-high steel sculptures and beautifully blowtorched metalwork and signage. An LA native who spent several years working as a lifeguard, Deise says his much of his artwork is inspired by the power and ever-shifting organic shapes of the ocean. Combined with Deise’s muscular, hand-hammered and fire-blackened aesthetic, and you end up with an instantly recognizable piece of art.

In fact, Deise himself even looks the part, with his bold shock of unruly red hair, and a face that seems permanently smudged with charcoal streaks. In fact, if you saw him stomping down the street, you might mistake him for a fireman fresh from dousing a five-alarm inferno. So next time you’re sitting there sipping your non-fat extra-hot decaf triple latte, take a moment to soak in a true piece of handcrafted perfection.

Click here to see a full slideshow of Pete Deise’s most recognizable works, as well as some snapshots of the artist at work.

Image via Sculpture Ranch