Michael McMahon: Metal and Wood Artist

Michael McMahon

Metal and Wood Artist creating from wood burned coasters and plaques to metal worked hat hangers, coat racks and decorative wall art.

Michael is proud to live and work in Wyoming. He was born and raised in Buffalo, Wyoming and has learned a lot during his time in school, working with and for a variety of people, and networking with other artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. Michael has experience in construction as a carpenter, computer work as a draftsman for houses and for product concepts at a metal fabrication shop, instructing a computer aided design course at Sheridan College, managing a farm at Sheridan College, as well as  operating a CNC plasma table at a metal fabrication shop. He has taken a variety of college courses and have six Associates Degrees in General Technology/ Machine Tool Technology/ Business AA and AS/ Agriculture Science/ Ag Business. Some of his favorite electives taken include ceramics, ornamental ironwork, creative welding, and machining lab. 

He enjoys working in a variety of fields, and with a variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic (3D printing), ceramic/glass, epoxy resin, paint, etc. Most of his artwork is utilitarian, combining form and function to create useful and unique products. He strives to reclaim, restore and repurpose materials when possible, finding ways to give old waste new use. His works of art are a mix between simple and refined, with design elements that are both aesthetic and rugged, modern and western. Many processes used in the production of Michael’s artwork are a combination of machined and manual labor. He often uses CNC cut out metal stencils and uses them to burn images onto wood, or machine cut metal and hand finish the pieces. As a final touch- he finishes metal pieces, with various natural coloring techniques such as grinding to polish then using a torch to heat color the metal, turning it shades of blue, purple, and gold. He will also sandblast, polish, heat and spray with a rusting compound to color the metal with natural patinas of gold, orange, and brown. He enjoys experimenting to create a wide variety of products using various materials and techniques.