Tyler Aiello’s Leaves of Grass consists of a group of sculptures, inspired by the blades of prairie grasses and yucca leaves native to Red Rocks Park. The three oversized "blades" are fabricated from discs of durable, hand-forged, stamped steel. The discs are welded together and molded into the blade shapes, then wire-brushed and powder-coated in a patina that will complement the surrounding landscape. The angular arc shapes will echo the rock strata in the area and the ascending ramp to the Amphitheatre. Aiello’s artwork is an elegant and harmonious addition to the Red Rocks landscape.
Sculptor Tyler Aiello was born in Denver, Colorado in 1967 and grew up in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. His family was in the design, architecture and development business and he was exposed to these disciplines from an early age. Aiello studied architecture at Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles and later attended the prestigious California College of Arts and Crafts, earning a degree in sculpture, with an emphasis in casting. Aiello was also known as one of the top design color consultants and decorative painters in the Bay Area while he worked his way through college. In 1995, Aiello moved back to Denver with his family, with a dream of contributing to the cultural development of his hometown. The Aiellos purchased a dilapidated block in the now popular River North (RiNo) Arts District, renovated the property themselves and in 2002 opened the contemporary gallery Studio Aiello. Within a short time, the gallery was lauded as one of the most innovative spaces in the city. In 2003, Tyler renovated and opened an adjacent large warehouse, the TarFactory, which is a sculpture and fabrication facility for regional working sculptors.
 |