British-American artist Keith van der Walde is a California-based painter specializing in patterned mark-making. Leveraging his background in the engineering sciences, Keith invokes analytical frameworks and iterative empirical methodologies in the creation of his works. Celebrating and building upon the work of Keith Haring, and drawing inspiration from such luminaries as Jean Dubuffet, Joan Miro, and Yayoi Kusama, Keith combines the familiar with the new as he sets forth his own aesthetic language.
“I paint constellations of patterned elements that exist in collective equilibrium yet are composed of forms imbued with individual and varied energetic character. I strive to impart a grace and vitality to each form. By choreographing their movement and interplay, I am creating dialogue: one form predominating, another receding; one pushing, another pulling; one striking a dissonant note, another elucidating the greater harmony.”
Keith engages his audience with themes of joy and hopefulness.
Artist, designer, inventor, engineer, research scientist.
Keith's formal training is in the engineering sciences, and life-long passion is in the visual arts. He works on problems across this spectrum and finds one discipline enriches the other.
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2005
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2002
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Portland, 1999
ART EDUCATION
Classes/Workshops at Art Center College of Design, University of California San Diego, San Diego State University, Woodbury School of Architecture, Mesa College, City College, and online courses. Extensive independent study in drawing, painting, art history, photography, rendering, product design, graphic design, typography, calligraphy.
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
Keith's engineering and research pursuits have mostly been focused on contributing to innovations in space exploration. For example, he supported Mars rover mobility system development by running multi-body dynamic simulations of touchdown scenarios to ensure safe landing. His research in advanced thermoelectric materials has promoted discovery in deep space power generation. Keith's design of the primary structure for a rocket launching system has enabled engineers to put instrumentation like communications satellites into orbit. Keith's doctoral research led to advancements in our understanding of the fatigue performance of aluminum alloys, with implications for aircraft safety and fleet management. (Details below)
CREATIVE OVERVIEW
Keith's creative pursuits have included re-imagining multiple everyday objects, including, for example, designing lines of sculptural tables, lighting systems, and clocks.
Also, a prominent focus for Keith has been inventing and patenting a means of displaying large-scale segmented art. This versatile art presentation platform has given rise to numerous additional products. (Details below)
Professional Engagement
Artist, Designer, Engineer
VAN DER WALDE DESIGN, LLC (2011 - present)
Blended art and engineering practice with a focus on creating original painted works, developing and patenting cable-suspended art systems, and providing engineering support for NASA/JPL interplanetary missions. Keith's cable-suspended art system (featured in works such as LT21, LT37, and LT4R2) has become the basis for multiple large-scale commercial art installations and has inspired the development of an array of related products (examples below). Keith's painted works are the purest expression of his creative energy and the substance of the present website. Keith's involvement in aerospace design and analysis projects leverages his background in research, physics-based analysis, and data visualization in support of deep space exploration. His industrial design work includes creating luminaires, clocks, and sculptural furnishings, alongside consulting in transportation, entertainment, and apparel industries.
Select References:
(1) Puskar, C., Abid, M., van der Walde, K., and Williams, E., "Mars Launch System and the Rotational Stability of a Prolate, Spin-Stabilized Spacecraft," IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana (2024). link
(2) van der Walde, Keith. Sculptural Panel, United States Patent No. D943,118 S (2020). link
(3) van der Walde, Keith. Suspended Segmented Display Array with Low Visibility Hardware, United States Patent No. 10,646,059B1 (2018). link
(4) van der Walde, Keith. Suspended Segmented Display Array United States Patent No. 9,723,732 (2017). link
(5) van der Walde, Keith. Suspended Segmented Display Array United States Patent No. 9,311,836 (2016), link
Aerospace Engineer
ATA Engineering, Inc. (2006 - 2011)
Provided research and engineering support for robotic space exploration, structural/mechanism design and analysis, and advanced aerospace materials development. Performed dynamic simulations of Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity Rover) landing event in support of vehicle test and development programs, including performing high-fidelity probabilistic studies of rover response to off-nominal landing events. Designed principal structure of commercial spacecraft launch system, including performing loads characterization, structural engineering, and design optimization (topological and algorithmic) as well as leading the team of engineers designing the subsystems. Performed research on thermoelectric materials and created advanced computational tools to predict performance in unicouple configurations, including quantification of the stress response along stacked bimaterial interfaces and associated singularity characterization. Solved mechanical design and analysis problems related to space suits, highway vehicles, and theme park robotic motion simulators and animatronic figures.
Select References:
(1) White, C.V., van der Walde, K., and Tippmann, J., “A Computational Study of the MSL Rover Landing Capabilities,” AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, 2010.
(2) Ravi, V., Firdosy, S., Caillat, T., Brandon, E., van der Walde, K., Maricic, L., and Sayir, A., “Thermal Expansion Studies of Selected High-Temperature Thermoelectric Materials,” Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 38, 1433-1442, 2009. link
(3) White, C.V., van der Walde, K., and Tippmann, J., “An Experimental Investigation of the Dynamics of the Mars Science Laboratory Rover Landing Event,” AIAA/ASME/ ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Schaumburg, IL, 2008. link
Doctoral Researcher
Purdue University (2002-2005)
Developed computational framework for modeling fatigue damage evolution in aerospace alloys for Alcoa, Division of Product Design and Analysis. Research drew from the disciplines of applied mechanics, material science, computer programming, scanning electron microscopy, image analysis, and statistical design of experiments. Addressed problems in material system design with applications to aircraft fleet management.
Select References:
(1) van der Walde, K. and Hillberry, B.M., “Characterization of Pitting Damage and Prediction of Remaining Fatigue Life,” International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 30, 106-118, 2008. link
(2) van der Walde, K. and Hillberry, B.M., “Initiation and Shape Development of Corrosion-Nucleated Fatigue Cracking,” International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 29, 1269-1281, 2007. link
(3) van der Walde, K., Brockenbrough, J.R., Craig, B.A., and Hillberry, B.M., “Multiple Fatigue Crack Growth in Pre- Corroded 2024-T3 Aluminum,” International Journal of Fa¬tigue, Vol. 27, 1509-1518, 2005. link
(4) van der Walde, K., "Corrosion-nucleated fatigue crack growth," Purdue University Doctoral Thesis. Advisor: Dr. Ben Hillberry, Subject Area: Mechanical Engineering, 2005. link
