They say 'One man's trash is another man's treasure,' and this rings true for Metal scrap artist, Steve Kost.  For the last 10 years, he has been collecting scrap metal, old tools, and discarded metal objects, dismantling old typewriters and welding the pieces into beautiful metal sculptures.  What I love most about his art is his aesthetic;  the idea of using what's around you, rather than a specific product purchased from the store, and the insight to see that into fruition is astounding. 

Kost only moved to Palos Park in 2015 and claims the move fueled his creative side.  "As I grow as an artist, I endeavor to install more public art, working towards large-scale installations at sculpture gardens, arboretums, hospitals, and universities. I installed my first public sculpture "The Heavy Heart" in Yorkville, Illinois in 2022."

"The Veterans Experience Through Art," is the upcoming exhibition where his work will be displayed at the McCord Gallery in Palos Park.  "I have shared this call for art with some of the most talented veterans I have worked with in the Chicago area and a few from other parts of the country. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at the McCord Gallery on March 8th about my journey as an artist, and the artwork that has made an incredible impact in my life," says Kost.  His work will be on display at McCord from March 1-29th.  

One of Steve's favorite events is the Scrapfest in Lansing, Michigan.  On Veterans Day, his sculpture of an eagle titled, "Freedom Flight," was featured on a Google search page and was seen by billions of viewers.  "I traveled to the Google headquarters in Manhattan for their Veterans Day celebration,  and my sculpture now resides at the Google Public Sector building in Reston, Virginia where it is prominently displayed in the entrance to the building." Kost continues, "My greatest accomplishment has not been in these incredible spaces, but in the veteran community at large where my story has resonated with other veterans and inspired them to find solace in art and express themselves through art and music. It has given me a great sense of purpose to know that by sharing my story I can help others find the healing power of art."

Steve Kost is sharing with Stroll his sculpture of a forty-inch tall sculpture of a seahorse titled, "Prince Neptune," fashioned from bicycle parts, antique drill bits, cotter pins, and components from the first typewriter he dismantled. In Steve's words, "The seahorse represents strength and determination, as in nature the steadfast seahorse tethers itself to a solid object as it faces into the current."