Shaun Gagg’s Athena is a striking testament to craftsmanship, strength, and symbolic transformation. Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, this imposing female figure is meticulously composed of 4,200 individual metal nuts, each fused into place with over 10,000 individual welds. Her hair, fashioned from lengths of heavy chain, cascades with an industrial grace that mirrors both movement and might.
Named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, and craftsmanship, Athena embodies the balance between intellect and power. Gagg reclaims cold, utilitarian materials—often seen as purely functional—and reshapes them into something deeply human and dignified. The intricate assembly of thousands of small parts becomes a powerful metaphor for resilience, unity, and precision.
The chain hair flows like a warrior’s mane, giving the figure a commanding presence, while the careful construction of her form challenges traditional notions of femininity by anchoring it in strength and endurance. Each weld becomes a deliberate act of creation, contributing to a whole that feels both timeless and defiantly modern.
In Athena, Gagg doesn’t just build a sculpture—he forges a statement. A figure born from industry, remade with reverence, and standing as a symbol of enduring strength in the face of a mechanized world.
Medium: 4,200 Metal Nuts and Chain (Over 10,000 Individual Welds)
Height: 5 Feet 6 Inches
Shaun Gagg’s Athena is a striking testament to craftsmanship, strength, and symbolic transformation. Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, this imposing female figure is meticulously composed of 4,200 individual metal nuts, each fused into place with over 10,000 individual welds. Her hair, fashioned from lengths of heavy chain, cascades with an industrial grace that mirrors both movement and might.
Named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, and craftsmanship, Athena embodies the balance between intellect and power. Gagg reclaims cold, utilitarian materials—often seen as purely functional—and reshapes them into something deeply human and dignified. The intricate assembly of thousands of small parts becomes a powerful metaphor for resilience, unity, and precision.
The chain hair flows like a warrior’s mane, giving the figure a commanding presence, while the careful construction of her form challenges traditional notions of femininity by anchoring it in strength and endurance. Each weld becomes a deliberate act of creation, contributing to a whole that feels both timeless and defiantly modern.
In Athena, Gagg doesn’t just build a sculpture—he forges a statement. A figure born from industry, remade with reverence, and standing as a symbol of enduring strength in the face of a mechanized world.
Medium: 4,200 Metal Nuts and Chain (Over 10,000 Individual Welds)
Height: 5 Feet 6 Inches