About Metalbird

Who we are, where we came from, and what this flying art project is really about.

What is Metalbird?

Metalbird is both a global art project and a sculpture brand. We make life-sized bird silhouettes from Corten® weathering steel (70%+ recycled), designed to age beautifully outdoors. It began in 2009 as guerrilla street art in a Kiwi backyard and has

Who started Metalbird? Who's Phil?

Metalbird was started by Phil Walters, an industrial designer from Auckland, New Zealand, in 2009. Bored with corporate life and inspired by his late wife’s artistic energy, Phil began creating life-sized steel bird silhouettes and installing them ar

Is Metalbird an art project or a brand?

Both. And that’s the point. Metalbird is the world’s largest outdoor art installation made of corten steel. What is the Metalbird Art Project?. The Metalbird Art Project started with a street installation in New Zealand and took flight around the wor

Where are Metalbirds made?

Right here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every Metalbird is proudly made local. That means if you buy in New Zealand, your bird is crafted in New Zealand (in a small family-owned factory in Auckland, actually!). We work with small, family-owned factories

Are Metalbirds environmentally friendly?

Yes. And not in a greenwashed, “stick-a-leaf-logo-on-it” kind of way. We design for longevity, cut waste where we can, and partner with organisations doing the heavy lifting for birds and the planet. Made to last: Every Metalbird is cut from premium

Do You Support Bird Conservation?

Yes — with real partners and real impact. In Aotearoa, we’re proud partners of Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s leading independent conservation organisation. It’s not just a logo — it’s a full-blown relationship built on shared purpose and real results.