Killer Gets To Know Barbie The Welder

his past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting one of the most incredible women in the world (after my mom, of course). Her name is Barbie The Welder, and her story is like no other.

Art wasn’t something Barbie ever really thought about, let alone welding. So how did she become one of the most incredible metal sculptors in the industry? Well, we can thank Tom Hanks for that. In 2006, Barbie was with

tsome friends, and they had started watching Cast Away. If you haven’t seen it, there’s a scene at the beginning where a welder is on the beach working on sculpting a giant pair of angel wings. When they lift up their welder’s helmet, you find out the welder is a woman! Something in that scene spoke to Barbie and told her she needed to do that exact thing with her life. Though it took her almost seven years from the

time she had this realization to her first garage sculpt, it changed her life for the better and she’s never looked back.

Her life leading up to this moment was far from easy, and unfortunately, we don’t have enough space in the magazine to share the full story, but that pain and the struggles she endured due to some of her own choices are what truly inspire her and push her to keep creating. She is also deeply inspired by the love and strength she receives from both her family and friends. If you’d like to read Barbie’s full story in her own words, you can head over to cyclesource.com for the full write up.

There were many obstacles to overcome on the path to becoming an artist, one of them being herself, but on September 1, 2014 she began her work as a full time artist and recently celebrated eight years as Barbie The Welder!!

For her “preferred medium”, she loves using scrap metal! Growing up, her parents were the kind of people who repurposed everything. Her dad would find something in a dumpster and create amazing decor out of what someone else would have considered trash. The best part for Barbie is taking something and giving it a second chance to be beautiful! Not to mention steel has always been relatively inexpensive and readily available.

When it comes to motorcycles though, that has always been a no-brainer. When she was a kid, her dad would put her on the gas tank of his bike and ride her around the back yard. From then on, she was hooked. Some of her favorite memories are of the two of them riding around the neighborhood together. When she was 17, she was able to commandeer an old motorcycle that had been sitting in the shed behind her thenboyfriend’s house. She was able to get it up and running and with a license plate added, she ran that thing to hell and back on backroads before she even had her license!

As for what she feels about where her art is going, she is constantly in awe of how far she has come. At the beginning, all she knew was that she was meant to be a sculptor, there was no way of knowing what an incredibly

strong and inspirational woman she would soon become.

With her incredible artwork, Barbie has been able to travel all over the country and participate in some amazing events! For example, she’s had the honor of welding two sculptures for Harley-Davidson. One being a sculpture for HOGs 35th anniversary that was welded live in Sturgis 2018. The other was for Harley-Davidsons 115th anniversary. Barbie presented both sculptures to HD on stage during Jackyl concerts in front of thousands of people! She is also a published author with six books for sale on both Etsy and Amazon, not to mention she’s been interviewed by Maria Shriver on The Today Show, been on the Kelly Clarkson Show, several news interviews locally, written an article for USA Today as well as several magazines and blogs, and featured in a national ad campaign for the Cotton Industry!

As for the future, Barbie has big things planned! She’s currently in the process of publishing a series

of four children’s books that honor and showcase skilled tradesmen and skilled trades careers. She’s also moving her business from its current 276 square foot garage in upstate NY to a fullyfledged “big girl shop” in Daytona Beach!! For new projects, she’s currently working on honing her blacksmithing skills, finishing a 6ft tall half woman/half phoenix “selfportrait” sculpture, and is looking to build a motorcycle from the frame up!! If you want to know more about Barbie or commission her for an amazing sculpture of your own, you can find her @ BarbieTheWelder on Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also go to her website BarbieTheWelder.com. Books On Amazon: https://amzn. to/36rTPB5 Merch & Books: Etsy.com/shop/ BarbieTheWelder

Learn To Weld Metal Art! : Books https://amzn.to/2UE91Q5 Videos Youtube.com/c/BarbieTheWelder

NO THERE ISN’T ANY REAL PRIZE, JUST SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN THE CAN.

1. Extra Large Fuel Cap. 2. Larger Graphic On Fuel Tank. 3. Missing Rocker Shaft Bolts. 4. Different Color Mag Cover. 5. Extra Turbo Pipe. 6. Different Engine Case Bolts. 7. Extra Vacuum Switch. 8. Socket Head Bolt At End Of foot Pedal. 9. Socket Head Bolt On Front Pulley. 10. Missing Chain Behind Foot Pedal Mount.