Michael Allen Malpass (1946–1991) was an American artist, best known for his large, intricate sphere sculptures forged and welded from discarded metals. Malpass was born to be an artist, and his relentless pursuit, together with his belief in the process of working and making art in virtually every moment, can only explain how a young artist could create such a large body of fine work in such a short time. It compels us to wonder if Michael Malpass sensed the limitation of his time. Malpass experimented with multiple visual media to find his way as an artist, leaving behind an expansive record of creative development. As he came of age, it was the manipulation of metal shapes, extracted from the earth, manufactured by unknown persons for any number of purposes, and left behind for salvage, that caught Michael's imagination. Passion for transforming metal shapes into beautiful objects led him to hone welding and traditional blacksmithing techniques required to exert his will over steel, bronze, copper, brass, or any combination of metals that he could find with intent to purge the industrial life out of them. Freed, revitalized, time to become art. Malpass was among the most creative and prolific artists of his generation. In 2018, the book Humdinger was published. Written by his son of the same name, Humdinger is considered to be the definitive record of the artwork and life of the artist. Life Michael Malpass was born on August 18, 1946, in Yonkers, New York. In 1965 he enrolled at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he would ultimately earn his BFA (1969), MFA (1973), and MS (1977). Malpass was drafted and served in the US Army in 1970, where he was a Spec 4 Sergeant stationed in Berlin, and earned a medal of commendation for creating a part welded to the howitzer that extended its firing range. After his military service, he returned to NY and became an Instructor (Welding & Forge, 1972–1975), Assistant Professor (Sculpture, 1975–1980), and Associate Professor (Sculpture, 1980–1987) at Pratt, before deciding in 1987 to concentrate on his sculpture full-time from his home in Brick Township, NJ. Through the remainder of the 1980s, he enjoyed an especially productive period with simultaneous commissions, gallery shows, exhibits, and museum interest. Michael Malpass died at the age of 44 on February 13, 1991 at Brooklyn College, where he was filling in for a friend by teaching a