If you ain’t first, you’re last.” This mantra has driven Chris Guinto, whose sculptures attract millions, earning praise like “Supernatural” and “Divine providence.” Chris met his match in Melineige Beauregard. Now, they share the title of “King and Queen of the Hill,” living in Hawaii and sculpting around the world!
“Mediocre” Abe Waterman was born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Canada. He has been creating art since he could hold crayons. Abe initially focused on sketching and painting, beginning sculpting around 2007. He works primarily with temporary materials like snow and sand, occasionally using wood and stone for more permanent pieces.
Abe has traveled across Canada and the U.S. for competitions and exhibitions, earning numerous awards.
Biology and Arts has always been a big influence throughout his whole life. After finishing the craftsmanships of carpentry and interior design, he explored the history of old restoration methods and used these techniques in his own work. Studying at the school of Arts in Utrecht, Netherlands, he worked with professionals that introduced him to sand, snow, and ice sculpting.
For years now, he has combined sculpting with the profession of photography and studying ornithology by working with the best avian photographers in Europe.
Bruce has been involved in the art of sand sculpting for over 30 years. He has created sand sculptures at events and competitions from Japan to the Netherlands and Canada to Columbia. His sculpting style leans towards the abstract side, but enjoys all facets of sculpting in sand.
In addition to sculpting sand, Bruce is a fabricator of sculpture for other artists. He brings their concepts to life from small to very large in a wide variety of materials. One of these sculptures includes “the angel” that hangs 20’ up in the air, inside the main train station in Zurich, Switzerland.
Bruce has enjoyed watching sand sculpting over the years evolve into a major performing arts attraction, and performance is what he’s all about. Some of the other media that he’s involved in are steel, iron, aluminum, fiberglass, glass, rubber, gasoline and oil.
From Madeira Beach, Florida, Damon is a long time lover of the arts. His unique style and outside the box mindset have earned him many sand sculpting awards over the past 10 years. As a sculptor, a street painter and an artist, Damon considers himself very fortunate to be able to share his talents in competitions and festivals.
Now living in Seminole, Florida, Damon brings his animated/abstract style of sculpting to sand piles everywhere. A custom home builder, mixed media artist, part time ninja, Marine Corps veteran, and an all around good guy. “I’ve always loved the beach and the sand. To create something from nothing and share it with others is the greatest reward.”
Representing the north is a self-taught artist and a second generation sand sculptor. Greg (also known as G2), is a Marine vet who calls New Hampshire’s 13 mile coastline home. What started as a summer hobby on family vacations, turned into following in the footsteps of his father; a creative pilgrimage.
Through exploration and study into the world of sand sculpture and his Irish luck, he apprenticed under the world’s best sand sculptors. Playing in the biggest of sand boxes, and traveling to beaches across the country, this passion has turned into a career for Greg.
Over the past 15 years, Greg has made sand sculptures for every event imaginable, collaborated with the worlds’ best sculptors and competed professionally around the globe. Greg loves what he does and feels blessed to have found his niche in such a wondrous art form and creative community.
Follow his travels on the sand-trail:
Twenty years ago Hanneke had her first encounter with sand sculptures when she was doing ticket sales as a summer job for a big sand sculpture park in Brugge. She was studying interior design back then, and immediately fell for the material and atmosphere of the group of sculptors working together on a big pile of sand.
After finishing her studies in 2003, she had an opportunity to sculpt sand on a project in Germany, and took it. After that, she worked many different jobs to improve her skills. A couple of years later she was traveling the world doing what she loved most, making sculptures in sand, snow, ice and foam.
She met a someone who had the same passion and they circled the world together, having so much fun making sculptures and making connections with remarkable people. When they became parents they took their children to projects and continued their dream. While partly living on illustration, she keeps sculpting and is sure that she will never give up because the material is just magical.
Notable events and competitions:
• 3rd place at International Sand Sculpting Festival Revere Beach in 2022
• 2017: Sculptor’s choice in doubles at Parksville, Canada, and 3rd place at Vietnam Women’s competition
• 2015: People’s choice award for solo in Boston and 2nd in doubles at Treasure Island
Better known as Jobi.
Jobi studied graphic design and went through a few art courses. He started sculpting as a young boy working with different mediums such as wood, clay, snow… and just never stopped doing it. He had the opportunity to work professionally with sand and ice in 2007. Jobi loves the idea of making a good living from playing in sand in summer and snow in winter, just like when he was a kid!
Today, Jobi travels the world making sand sculptures for commercial events and has competed in many competitions. Jobi has earned the utmost respect from fellow competitors as a very creative and competitive artist, as his ideas are always unique and well-performed!
Matthew Deibert is a Sand Sculptor, Artist, and Performer born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey – the birthplace of professional sand sculpting. Family trips to the shore sparked an early fascination with the medium. His passion for sand sculpting combined with a lifelong interest in the arts led Matthew to earn a BA with an emphasis in Graphic Design from Mercyhurst University and a BFA in sculpture from Stockton University. Matthew is a retired Atlantic City Fire Department Captain and a proud husband and father of six.
Three of his sons – Ian, Matt Jr., and Liam – have joined him in his sand sculpting adventures, forming a true family tradition. Together, they’ve competed in numerous international events. Matthew is the creator and owner of Sand Creation LLC, (visit Sandcreation.com, FaceBook Sandcreation or Instagram SandcreationNJ).
Over the years, Matthew has received numerous accolades, including:
• People’s Choice Award at the World Championships (2001)
• World Doubles Champion (2002)
• Winners of Sand Wars (2012, with son Ian) on the Travel Channel
• People’s Choice at the Virginia International Championships (2018, with son Ian)
Most recently, he appeared on the Canadian TV series “Race Against the Tide”, competing with his youngest son Liam. Matthew has traveled the globe to sculpt – from Normandy, France, to Florida and beyond. When he’s not sculpting, you can find Matthew enjoying time with his family and friends on the New Jersey shore or playing golf – though he jokes he tries to stay out of the sand on the course.
Ndricim Bejko, or Jimmy, is an Albanian American artist born in the early 70s. Currently living in East Boston, he came to America in 2005 after completing his studies at the Fine Art Academy in Tirana, Albania, specializing in monumental sculpture. With 20 years of professional experience in the USA, he’s a multi-disciplinary artist, excelling as a sculptor, painter, restoration expert, and designer. Working across various mediums, Ndricim is now delving into the realm of sand sculpting.
Last year was his first competition in sand sculpting, and says it is an honor to return to the International Sand Sculpting Festival this year. He is the founder of Boston Art Studio LLC as well as Bejkoart.
Slavian is a freelance sculptor with over 30 years of experience. After graduation, he worked in the Sculpture Department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan. Since 1996, he has participated in multiple sand, snow, and ice sculpture festivals and competitions all over the world, winning numerous awards including the 2023 International Sand Sculpting Festival. Moreover, he works with bronze, stone, resin, and ice.
His works have been shown in individual and collective exhibitions in many European countries.
Hosted by the Revere Beach Partnership, a non-profit organization, this free event is open to the public and draws crowds from all around the world. Over three days, hundreds of thousands of people venture down the event boardwalk and take in the sculptures, beach, entertainment, fireworks, and food!
The Revere Beach Partnership will be celebrating the 19th Annual International Sand Sculpting Festival, hosted at America’s first public beach, Revere Beach, from Friday, July 28th through Sunday, July 30th. This year we will be celebrating 90 years of Kong, our theme for 2023, and will feature beautiful sand sculptures designed by world-class sculptors, food trucks, and food vendors with cuisines from around the world, live entertainment, and a Saturday Night Fireworks Extravaganza!
Hosted by the Revere Beach Partnership, a non-profit organization, this free event is open to the public and draws crowds from all around the world. Over three days, hundreds of thousands of people venture down the event boardwalk and take in the sculptures, beach, entertainment, fireworks, and food!
The Revere Beach Partnership will be celebrating the 19th Annual International Sand Sculpting Festival, hosted at America’s first public beach, Revere Beach, from Friday, July 28th through Sunday, July 30th. This year we will be celebrating 90 years of Kong, our theme for 2023, and will feature beautiful sand sculptures designed by world-class sculptors, food trucks, and food vendors with cuisines from around the world, live entertainment, and a Saturday Night Fireworks Extravaganza!
