Andre Tourette is a sculptor who has lived all over the United States, but has found roots in the midwestern city of St. Louis. His background is working on naval ships and yachts as a metal welder, and also has experience in producing commercial products for businesses and architectural firms. Andre has been welding since he was 15 years old, and his passion has only grown stronger. 

Most of his creations are made using scraps from commercial commissions; Pure Elegance was made using a long continuous scrap of stainless steel, which Andre then etched, polished, and rolled to form. This specific work of art was part of a series of stainless steel sculptures made in reference to the sculptor Auguste Rodin, specifically Rodin’s The Kiss. Pure Elegance seems to defy gravity while defining two forms in a romantic embrace. The steel follows a natural ebb and flow, and the etching on the surface catches light in different ways as you move around the sculpture.