Carver Cup Profile
Sean Leahy
Austin TX
How did you get started in Ice Sculpting?
My older brother is a chef who saw ice where he worked and he suggested I look into it as I was finishing up my Studio Art degree. I reached out to the company in town and said I was an art student interested in a new medium. It was a paid apprenticeship during my last semester and then I started working there full time when I graduated.
How many years have you been sculpting ice?
18 years
What is your most memorable sculpture? And any short story why it was your most memorable.
Designing and sculpting with the Minnesota Ice team for Super Bowl LII was definitely a memorable experience. Creating the larger than life Super Bowl trophy in downtown for such an epic event was a lot of fun. There was a really nice LII sculpture set up on a wooden pedestal that the client decided needed to be bigger. So after a humongous forklift gingerly moved the original sculpture about two city blocks, we started on our task of recreating it to a 15' tall scale. I had never really been on scaffolding or a forklift to work before. This thing was a beast that turned out incredible with the work of an entire team. The turn around of such an installation in a short period of time was such a great time to be a part of.
Have you received any notable awards or recognition in your carving career?
I won first place at a NICA competition in Mt Holly NJ
NICA Certified Professional
NICA Certified Educator
ILEA Austin Luxury Vendor of the Year 2013
ILEA Austin Rising Star 2013
NEAWP Vendor of the Year 2012
Most memorable location you've carved at?
I carved a birthday ice sculpture for my grandpa outside the window at his house so he could watch. A lot of my family was there to celebrate too.
Is there a particular type of subject or theme that you like to carve?
I like to sculpt figures, and to highlight or play with the temporary nature of ice and life.