Artists & studios / Independent directory

Christian Ristow

Ristow makes metal and robotic sculptures, including the glove-controlled Hand of Man. He collaborated with Christina Sporrong on the opening, illuminated sculpture Capsule.

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At a glance

Practice
metal sculpture, robotic sculpture, interactive sculpture
Based in
Not documented
Profile
individual
Project participation
Not documented; confirm with the artist, studio or estate.

Research notes for project planning

What the project record tells us

Interactive robotic sculpture · New York event · 2018

The Hand of Man: audience control at mechanical scale

World Maker Faire New York's 2018 listing describes Ristow's Hand of Man as a 26-foot-long hydraulic hand controlled through a glove interface. Visitors were invited to operate the sculpture, whose demonstrations included lifting and crushing cars. This documents an event presentation, with operational demands that extend beyond displaying a static object.

Maker Faire — The Hand of Man, New York 2018 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-10

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Who would develop the supervised operating plan, audience boundaries and participant instructions for a mechanical demonstration?

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Collaborative kinetic sculpture · changing versions

Capsule: collaboration and a later illuminated version

Christina Sporrong's project account credits Capsule to her collaboration with Ristow. It distinguishes an initial fire-driven opening from a later version that visitors actuate to reveal illuminated glass cones. The versions should remain distinct in any project brief.

Spitfire Forge — Capsule ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-10

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Which version and participation method is the proposed project actually referencing?

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The documented work

Art out in the world.

3 artwork references · availability unconfirmed

Image from the project source for Capsule
Image: spitfireforge.com ↗
unknown

Capsule ↗

Christina Sporrong and Christian Ristow

interactive kinetic sculpture

Project details & references
Materials
glass
Year / version
2020; later evolution documented in 2023
Documented at
Arroyo Seco, New Mexico
Project context
Arroyo Seco, New Mexico, 2020 public-art installation; Artist’s account of the original and second Capsule configurations
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Image from the project source for The Hand of Man
Image: christianristow.com ↗
outdoor

The Hand of Man ↗

Christian Ristow

interactive robotic sculpture

Project details & references
Materials
steel, stainless steel
Year / version
2008
Documented at
Burning Man, Black Rock City
Project context
The Hand of Man, Burning Man 2008; World Maker Faire New York, September 2018
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Documented disciplines include metal sculpture, robotic sculpture, interactive sculpture.

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