Artisan Heritage Aluminum Cast Creations: Garden & Home Art Accents

In 2015, after years of working as a machine shop operator for a large government contractor in New Mexico, Jose Alfredo Valenciano retired. Though retired, he was still young enough to embark on his next life chapter. Driven by a passion to craft enduring metal figures and turn recycled materials into heirloom-quality furniture, Jose wanted to build pieces that could live outdoors for generations.

He decided to return to his homeland of Chihuahua and settle on his ranch outside Ciudad Juárez, right along the Texas border.

Having known Jose for years in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I partnered with him to develop a cottage industry on his land. Together, we built a small foundry dedicated to casting aluminum furniture, water fountains, and animal sculptures. Located outside city limits, our countryside workshop provided the perfect setting to build our craft from the ground up.

Aluminum became our metal of choice due to its lightweight strength and excellent durability. To supply our shop, we sourced plenty of scrap aluminum—like soda cans, beverage containers, and car trim—from recycling centers across West Texas and Southern New Mexico, importing it by the truckload. Over time, we purchased casting molds and hired a master artisan to sculpt original designs out of clay, establishing the foundation of our foundry.

The Process: From Scrap to Sculpture

Casting takes place ten days out of every month, with a close-knit team of just five men handling every step of production:

1. Crafting the Molds: An artisan carves custom molds using materials like sand, clay, and cast iron.
2. Casting & Welding: Scrap aluminum is melted at 1,300°F and poured into the molds, then cooled with water and air. Individual pieces—ranging from 9 to 20 cast parts per sculpture—are then hand-welded together by two skilled welders to build dynamic forms like buffalos, lions, aliens, or garden accents.
3. Grinding & Polishing: A foundry is hot, dirty, and crowded with raw parts. Once welded, every piece is ground, sanded, and polished by hand to remove all imperfections.
4. Finishing & Painting: Once assembled, the sculptures are transported to our paint room in Denver. There, two finishing artisans apply three coats of marine-grade paint followed by a clear coat. They meticulously hand-finish each piece to replicate the rich look of aged bronze, copper, verdigris patina, or oxidized iron.

We use extreme-weather marine paint that withstands harsh cold, high humidity, and intense heat. Designed to last 12 to 15 years without weather damage, we also offer custom touch-up paint directly to clients so their pieces stay pristine over time. Call our office at 303-308-1888 if you need information on paint or would like to inquire to purchase one of our pieces. Each piece is made to order.

Artisanal Quality & Direct Savings

Over the past 11 years, our small foundry has produced over 1,400 sculptures. Today, we make more than 80 custom pieces and garden accents each month, approaching our maximum capacity as a boutique workshop. We work year-round, deliberately taking our time to maintain the meticulous quality our clients expect. Our clients expect quality and craftsmanship and we ask for patience that each piece needs to be created.

We take pride in serving hundreds of repeat customers—including builders, contractors, landscapers, designers, organizations, and high-profile homeowners seeking custom designs for their estates.

When you buy from us, you get:

• Direct-from-Maker Savings: By skipping the middleman, you invest directly in authentic heirloom craftsmanship.
• Hands-on Service: We remain personally involved in every step, from initial pouring to final delivery at your home.
• Sustainable Art: Every sculpture repurposes discarded cans and auto parts, keeping waste out of landfills and converting it into timeless art for your garden, estate, or pond.

For us, aluminum casting is a labor of love. It represents fair trade, honors traditional artisan skills, and keeps true craftsmanship alive—one sculpture at a time.