I make sculptures from craft sticks.

One of the things I love about working with them is how something so small and ordinary can become part of something much larger. Each stick reminds me of a moment, a decision, or a relationship. On its own, it might not seem like much, but thousands of them together create something that wouldn't exist without every one of those pieces.

I believe our lives work much the same way. We become who we are through the accumulation of our choices, experiences, and relationships. Often it's the small, everyday moments that shape us the most.

My sculptures explore different ideas—growth, struggle, hope, relationships, and the ways we affect one another. I spend a lot of time experimenting with balance, repetition, and the relationship between forms, trying to create something that expresses those ideas without explaining everything.

I hope the work gives people an opportunity to consider their own experiences and the small things that are shaping their lives.

My Story

Finding My Medium

I've wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. I've tried sculpture, oil painting, acrylics, watercolor, voice lessons, piano, guitar, writing, and music. I always felt there was something creative inside me. I just couldn't quite figure out how to let it out.

Craft sticks turned out to be the answer, although it took me a while to realize it.

I first started working with them while helping my son build a bridge for a science fair project. I enjoyed the challenge, and I kept experimenting long after the project was finished.

The science fair bridge that started Amos Kane's work with craft sticks — The science fair bridge that started it all.

Part of what I love about working with craft sticks is the problem-solving and freedom to experiment. But I also genuinely enjoy the repetition. Doing the same simple thing hundreds of times gives my mind room to wander, think, and figure out what I want to create.

I tend to build things like a house or a puzzle, making the individual parts before bringing them together. Even after all the planning and work, I'm still amazed when everything fits.

Over the years, I made different structures and objects, learning what the material could do. But while working on Until It Was Done, something changed. I began to see craft sticks as more than a material for building things. They were a way for me to make art.

By the time I finished that piece, I knew this was the direction I wanted to pursue.

I don't know exactly where it will lead, but after all those years of searching for a creative outlet, I'm enjoying finding out.

Outside the Studio

Beyond the Sculpture

I'm a husband, father, and grandfather. My grandchildren live next door, which means I get to spend a lot of time with them. They're also some of my most honest critics.

I've always been curious about things and enjoy learning something new just for the fun of it. I've experimented with making vinegar, kombucha, and sourdough bread. I write song lyrics, and I even have a small collection of fossilized dinosaur dung. I'm not entirely sure what that says about me, but there you go.

Explore further

Curious how the sculptures come together? Explore my process →

Listen to my music → Exhibitions → Download Full CV (PDF) →