Barbie The Welder is an American metal sculptor, published author of six books, and an advocate for the skilled trades from Pompano Beach, Florida.
Growing up in a deeply creative home, Barbie’s Mom is a published cartoonist and her Dad a jack of all trades, Barbie was encouraged by both parents to work with her hands and mind to create. Inspired by the movie Cast Away, starring Tom hanks, Barbie attended an adult welding program at Elmira, New York Boces in November 2007 and was hired at Cameron Manufacturing And Design in Horseheads, New York in March 2008 where she learned the art of welding and fabrication from the brilliant craftsman she worked with. Barbie took her fabrication skills home and taught herself how to design and create art in her garage after work at night and on the weekends.
Barbie quit her job she loved to realize her dream and become a full-time artist September 1, 2014.
Because of the influence Bob Ross had on her growing up, Barbie began teaching how to weld art through her YouTube channel in 2015 after not being able to find resources to learn.
Soon after she was invited by a publisher to write a book teaching how to weld art, and How To Weld Horseshoe Art; 30 Projects You Can Easily Weld At Home was born. Barbie went on to write and self publish five more books, How To Weld Scrap Metal Art; 30 Easy Welding Projects You Could Make At Home, How To Weld Silverware Animals Metal Art Welding Projects For Fun and Profit, The Inspiration Blueprint; How To Design and Create Your Inspired Life, Fuck You Fuel; How To Turn Shit Into Sugar, and The Artist Guide To Branding, Marketing and Selling Art Online.
Working with Bogi Latiner for a month in 2017 on Bogi’s Girl Gang Garage all woman’s frame up build of a 57 Chevy pick up later unveiled at Sema became a mentorship for Barbie that continues to help her grow herself and her business. Barbies other inspirations include Indian Larry and Billy Lane both who caught her attention through the TV series biker build off in early 2000. The craftsmanship and creativity of both men spoke to her soul.
Barbie started out riding on the gas tank of her dad‘s Honda motorcycle because she was too little to hold on sitting behind him, so when she was asked by Jesse James Dupree, lead singer of Jackyl, to design and create two sculptures for Harley Davidson she jumped at the chance driving the 24 hours to Sturgis by herself from NY and sculpting HOGs 35th anniversary sculpture live at Sturgis motorcycle rally at the Pappy Hoyle Campground and then she returned home to sculpt Harley Davidson’s 115th anniversary sculpture in her garage which was later presented to Harley Davidson on stage during the Jackyl concert at the 115 anniversary celebration in Milwaukee.
Barbie has welded live at Americade Motorcycle Rally, SEMA show in Vegas for Miller Welders, Harley Davidsons 115th Anniversary, and at shows and events up and down the east coast.
Barbie has designed and created sculptures for Miller Welders, the American Welding Society, Chicago Pneumatic, Carolina Shoe Company, two cities and clients in many countries.