Designer/Metalsmith/Sculptor
Kevin J. O'Dwyer
Montana Line Drawing was born out of my long-standing fascination with the jackleg fencing I first encountered on Baldy Mountain Ranch in Montana. These hand-built, angled fences, iconic across the Blackfoot Valley, inspired a series of sculptural line drawings. Eventually, I tipped those lines vertically—transforming the idea of the fence into a tree-like structure rooted in the forest landscape.
Standing at approximately 22 feet tall, the sculpture is fabricated from mild steel, and designed to evolve with its environment. Its hollow, branch-like arms serve a functional purpose: providing shelter and nesting sites for squirrels, chipmunks, and birds, integrating art with ecology.
The industrial aesthetic of the piece references Montana’s mining and logging heritage, while the linear geometry pays homage to the ranching traditions that shaped the region. Over time, the steel will weather naturally, taking on a rich rust-colored patina that closely resembles the bark of the surrounding Ponderosa pines.
Montana Line Drawing explores the intersection of landscape, labor, and form—a sculptural response to the cultural and environmental textures of the American West.
Ranch + Landscape + Industrial
Montana Line Drawing
Material: Mild Steel
Height: 22ft
Location: Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild
Lincoln, Montana