Makers In Action: Meet Shop Member Nicolas Gros
October 18, 2011
We were all taken aback when we met Nico…this recent transplant to US soil definitely downplays his incredible expertise with metal sculpture, kinetics, and mechanics. We feel very fortunate to have him here as a part of our community. When this certified welder isn’t working on his personal projects in the metal shop, you can catch him instructing TIG welding classes, helping with custom fabrication jobs here. Read on to learn more about this expert fabricator!
Name: Nicolas Gros
Occupation: Metal Fabricator
How long have you’ve been a designer?
15 years
How did you get started?
I started as a technical director in an international arts center in Marseille, France, and helped contemporary artists, such as Dennis Oppenheim make and install large installations.
What led to your passion for fabrication and design? Have you always been a maker?
I always liked to do handy work and to repairs, and it was by visiting the studios where people were making things and in helping all sorts of artists who had different techniques that I was inspired to do my own work.
What led you to ADX and why are you involved there as a member?
I just moved here, so I was looking for a place where I could meet people and work, and have tools. It has been great for making contacts and to get an idea of what is going on in the Portland design scene.
Nico (bottom right) operating an elephant leg he constructed for La Visite du Sultan. France, 2005.
What significance does collaboration have in your creative process?
Collaboration to me means that I am able to share my knowledge, exchange with others, and learn from others, all for the realization of a common project.
What are your methods in creating your work? Do you have a specific design process?
Most often I think up the object in my head, scribble a couple of sketches, and then I make it. If the machine’s movement is complex, I create a prototype out of scrap materials and do movement tests.
Do you have any specific projects in the works?
Yes, I’m making a series of small poetic machines using a mix of materials. I am also making custom metal furniture.
To see Nico in action, check out his incredible work on his website, or drop by ADX to see him in action!