Ritch Branstrom uses the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as an inspirational palette.  His Found Object Sculptures interpret the local wildlife with items from the vernacular landscape:  broken farm implements, abandoned car parts, collapsed barn wood, rusty beer cans, blown tires, etc...  He combines them with the homely detritus of friends, family, and neighbors into three-dimensional works of eloquence, humor and heart.

Those who feel an affinity with the tapestry of cultures, endurance, natural resources, beauty, and socioeconomic realities that comprise The Great Lake State, will find its expression in the work of this Michigan native.  In fact, his Found Object Art is a natural result of an upbringing that spanned the diversity of both the state’s peninsulas. Branstrom’s knowledge of, and appreciation for, the provenance of the many pieces adds yet another layer of meaning to his work.