Brian Marshal, a sculptor of robots, will headline September’s art festival.
A middle school teacher with a passion for robots built from junkyard treasures will take center stage at this year’s Brandywine Festival of the Arts, set to return to Brandywine Park on September 6 and 7.
Brian Marshall, who calls himself a “mad scientist” by night, has been named the featured artist for the 2025 event, which will showcase the work of more than 240 artisans and crafters from across the region.
Marshall is best known for his whimsical robot sculptures — quirky figures assembled from vintage teapots, tools, clocks, and other metal odds and ends. He constructs each piece without welding, using bolts and rivets instead, which he says helps give the creations a lifelike feel.
“I fabricate robots, fish and more from vintage items like a modern-day Dr. Frankenstein of junk,” Marshall said.
The inspiration for his robot creations began in childhood, sparked by weekend garage sale adventures with his mother and hands-on tinkering with his father.
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A key moment came when he once flipped over a teapot and imagined the spout as a nose and the lid as a mouth — a revelation that would eventually lead to the launch of his quirky Adopt-A-Bot orphanage.
At the festival, Marshall will display his full “Robot Menagerie” in a featured location. His work will be available for viewing and purchase.
“My robot sculptures do not take a critical look at social, political, or cultural issues,” he said. “I simply love the adventure of finding and collecting new objects and the problem solving involved in assembling those parts to create unique personalities.”
Marshall said his enjoyment continues as smiles emerge on the faces of children and adults when they challenge each other to name the various parts that they recognize from their youth.
“I try not to render objects unrecognizable but rather assemble in a fashion that allows others to enjoy the original engineering and artistry of the parts that inspire me,” he said. ” If I do have a message or a wish, it would be for people to think outside the box and find new ways to
use old things.”
The Brandywine Festival of the Arts, always held the weekend after Labor Day, also includes painters, jewelers, potters, photographers, woodworkers, and other artists.
The event features a food court, children’s activities, and pet adoption opportunities.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7.
Admission is $5, and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Pets are welcome.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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