Ian has been carving castles and managing creative chaos since he was old enough to lift a shovel. Raised amidst sketchbooks, sand, and countless half-finished projects, he learned the craft under the guidance of his father, renowned sculptor Matthew Deibert.

In 2012, Ian and his dad took home the championship title on the Travel Channel’s Sand Wars, and he’s been co-creating award-winning sculptures ever since—across beaches, boardwalks, and international stages. He’s passionate about layered symbolism, clever puns, and sculptures that make people pause mid-ice-cream lick to admire.

When he’s not sculpting, Ian works as a CAD programmer and project manager in the countertop industry. He also pursues a rotating mix of creative outlets—illustration, woodworking, filmmaking—you name it. Holding a degree in graphic design from Liberty University, Ian believes in using every creative tool at his disposal, including duct tape and dad jokes.

A proud husband and father of four (soon to be five), Ian is either the most grounded artist on the sand—or just hasn’t had enough coffee yet. Though his favorite medium is fleeting, the impact he strives for is anything but temporary.