ABOUT ALEX:

Sculptor | Blacksmith | Bushman | Sambar Forge Yarra Valley

Based on a rural property in the Yarra Valley, Alex Krstic operates a forge where the rugged practicality of the Australian bush meets the urban jungle. His work is a physical manifestation of a life spend outdoors - blending the grit of a professional hunter and conservationist with the refined eye of a contemporary artist and historian.

Sambar Forge (Named after the Sambar Deer)

Alex’s craftsmanship is inseparable from his identity as a bushman. His deep love for Australian flora and fauna and his commitment to conservation provide a conceptual heartbeat for his work, influencing the organic testures and resilience found in every piece he strikes. This lived experience informs his production of

• competition and working axes: As a competition axe thrower, Alex manufactures his own specialised axes, ensuring pefect balance and impact.

• hammers and farm implements: Hand-forged from forge-welded mono steel and high-grade recycled scrap steel, build to ensure the rigours of rural life.

Sculptural Vision: Myth & Metal

As a sculpture, Alex specialises in capturing the human form, utilising recycled steel and non-ferrous materials to bridges the gap between the industrial and the ethereal. His work is deeply inspired by ancient history and folklore, seeking to pull timeless archetypes out of modern detritus. By manipulating discarded metal into fluid, emotive figures, he explores the permanence of myth.

The Intersection of Tradition

Whether he is forging a tool for the field or a bust of a forgotten deity, Krstic’s practice is defined by a “zero-waste” philosophy. By breathing new life into scrap steel, he honours both the history of the materials and the ancient traditions of the forge, creating heirloom pieces that stand as a testament to the enduring strength of metal and the stories is can tell.

Medium: sculpture, recycled steel, non-ferrous materials