We are thrilled to extend invitations to world-renowned artists from across the globe and to welcome their extraordinary talent to the shores of Siesta Beach for this annual event. Each year, these artists bring creativity, skill, and breathtaking artistry that transform the beach into a truly unforgettable experience. To learn more about the incredible talent featured at the festival, explore the 2025 participating artists below.
In my artistic practice, I primarily work in sculpture, which is directly connected to my academic background. I earned a Master’s degree in Sculpture from the Art Academy of Latvia in 2007.
Over the years, I’ve held several solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows, art projects, symposiums, festivals, and competitions—both in Latvia and internationally. My work has been exhibited across the globe, including in Japan, Vietnam, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, the USA, Kuwait, and Cabo Verde.
Attilio “Steve” Topazio’s a Tiverton, Rhode Island native started his journey into the world of sand sculpting at the turn of the century on a beach in Maine, where he carved a dragon from the sand using nothing but a clam shell. That moment of creativity sparked a lifelong passion. Eager to improve his technique, Steve turned to the internet and discovered the world of professional sand sculpture.
With a fine arts degree from the University of Rhode Island and a deep curiosity, Steve sought out two master sculptors in New England who mentored him in the craft. After honing his skills through relentless practice, he earned a spot in a Master Sand Sculpting competition—an experience that launched his professional career.
Brian has been a professional sand sculptor for over 22 years. He was honored to be one of the original creators of the Crystal Classic and remained involved for its first ten years, before respectfully stepping back and entrusting the event to the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce.
Among his more unique experiences, Brian is grateful to have had the opportunity to help organize a professional fashion show atop a 70-foot-long sand sculpture catwalk—an event he helped produce two years in a row in partnership with Margaritaville Clothing Company.
From CPA to Sand Sculptor Extraordinaire
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Bruce Peck took one year of architecture school to realize the arts might not pay the bills—but accounting would. He pivoted fast and launched a successful career as a CPA, crunching numbers across the U.S. and Canada for nearly three decades. His most creative outlet during that time? Clipping coupons from the Sunday paper.
But everything changed when he moved to Florida’s Gulf Coast. With his toes in the powdery white sand of some of North America’s best beaches, Bruce rediscovered his creative spark—this time in three dimensions. What started as a hobby turned into a passion, and eventually, a new calling. He taught himself to sculpt sand (and snow!) through sheer trial, error, and a lot of sandy fingers.
I’m an artist who wears many hats—sand sculptor, ice and snow carver, woodworker, painter, and professional photographer with over 30 years of experience.
My creative journey began as an illustrator and graphic designer at the Edmonton Journal in Alberta. Eventually, I set out for the West Coast, seeking broader horizons, and found myself working in the cruise ship industry for 15 years as a lab manager, photographer, and onboard artist. Today, I call Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC home.
Dean was born and raised in central Maryland and graduated from Ringling College of Art & Design in 2008. He now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife and their three cats.
Since 2010, Dean has been sculpting sand professionally with Team Sandtastic, working primarily on commercial projects for corporate events, resorts, and global brands. His creativity and skill earned him 1st Place and Sculptor’s Choice in the solo division at the 2024 Siesta Key Crystal Classic. He’s returning this year to defend his title—but mostly to reconnect and have fun with his fellow sand sculpting friends.
In 2004, I graduated from the Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design with a Master’s degree from the Department of Monumental and Decorative Sculpture. That same year, I discovered sand as a sculptural medium—and I’ve been carving ever since.
Now, after nearly two decades of participating in international sand sculpture festivals and competitions, I continue to learn, explore, and push the boundaries of this inspiring and ever-evolving art form.
“When I was young, I hated sand between my toes—now I couldn't live without it.”
Edith's journey into the world of sculpting began during her architecture studies at the Technical University, where she first encountered sand as a creative medium. What started as a casual hobby—joining the Sand Sculpture Festival in Scheveningen—quickly grew into a full-blown passion.
Emerson is a painter and sand sculptor from west Michigan. He now lives in Galveston, Texas where he runs the Galveston branch of Sandy Feet Sandcastle Services. Emerson has been giving sandcastle lessons and creating sand sculptures for events and competitions for over 13 years and has taken home prizes in several Master's events, including Siesta Key’s Crystal Classic, Texas Sand Fest, and South Padre Island’s Sand Castle Days. When he’s not on a pile of sand, you can find him climbing rocks, playing guitar, or trying to make friends with the local cats.
My name is Ferenc Monostori. I was born on February 5, 1978, in Budapest, Hungary.
From an early age, I was drawn to the world of fine arts. I spent countless hours carving, drilling, and drawing—creating with whatever materials I could find. This early passion naturally evolved into a more focused pursuit.
In 1996, after graduating from high school, I officially committed to sculpture and began studying at the Bokányi Dezső Secondary School of Applied Arts, majoring in stone sculpture. It was during a practical course in Pilisszentiván that I truly felt it—sculpture wasn’t just a discipline, it was my path.
Hailing from Québec, Canada, Isabelle Gasse discovered her artistic path at just 16, thanks to an encouraging art teacher who urged her to enter a local amateur snow sculpting competition. Since then, she has quickly risen through the ranks of the professional snow and ice sculpting world, shaping her frosty visions at international events—including the famed Ice Hotels of Québec and Sweden—and earning multiple awards along the way.
In 2021, Isabelle made the bold move from snowsuit to sandals, trading her ice-carving tools for a beach sculptor's kit. She now brings her refined, imaginative style to sand sculpting events across North America and Europe.
Joaquin is a lifelong visual artist based in North Texas, whose creative journey bridges traditional media and the immersive world of sand sculpture. With a background in computer animation from the Art Institute of Dallas, Joaquin’s path took an unexpected and transformative turn during a beach vacation in July 2014. There, he met the legendary Amazin’ Walter, who gave him an impromptu lesson in sand sculpting—an experience that ignited a deep and lasting passion.
Moved by the power of this ephemeral art form, Joaquin made the bold choice to leave his day job and pursue sand sculpture full-time. Since then, his journey has taken him across thousands of miles—from sun-soaked beaches to vibrant festivals and large-scale events—where his intricate, temporary works of art have captured imaginations, stirred emotion, and drawn media attention.
John hails from Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he proudly served for 27 years as a Fire Captain with the Atlantic City Fire Department, and spent 7 summers as a beach lifeguard. With 34 years in public service under his belt, he eventually “fell into the sand trap”—and never looked back.
For over 30 years, John has been sculpting sand professionally around the globe. His remarkable portfolio includes high-profile projects such as:
• A commemorative sculpture for The White House Commission of Remembrance on the beaches of Normandy, France, honoring the D-Day landings
Born in 1997, Joon began his journey in sand sculpting at the age of 17, helping carry buckets at beach contests in 2015. What started as a humble beginning quickly turned into a passion. By 2019, Joon was sculpting every single day, honing his craft into a full-time career that has taken him around the world.
His talent has led him to work with Fortune 500 companies like Amazon and Google, as well as celebrities including Taylor Swift. He's even had the honor of sculpting for the Royal Family in Dubai. Joon has also collaborated with YouTube science communicator Veritasium, creating engaging video content that blends art and education.
Karen’s journey into sand sculpting began in 1994 while working in a pottery studio, where she quickly became hooked on the gritty, physical, and challenging art form. Thirty-one years later, her passion continues stronger than ever.
In 1998, Karen entered her first international sand sculpting competition, and by 2001 she was working full-time as a freelance sculptor, traveling the globe to bring her creations to life. She specializes in fantasy and whimsical themes but delights in sculpting a wide variety of subjects.
Karlis Ile is a professional sculptor from Latvia, practicing his craft since 1995. He works with a diverse range of materials, including bronze, steel, granite, wood, and more recently, ice, snow, and sand. Karlis is drawn to these natural mediums because he “likes how the primeval force of these materials, combined with the magic of the moment, makes energy vibrate.”
He holds a Master’s degree in Art and Humanities from the Art Academy of Latvia, where he completed a Master’s workshop in figural sculpture.
Kristaps Andersons (b. 1990, Latvia) is a Latvian sculptor whose work merges material precision with poetic reflection on nature, landscape, and human presence. Working with stone, concrete, metal, and ephemeral materials such as sand or ice, Andersons explores the thresholds between visible and hidden worlds, permanence and transience.
He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Sculpture from the Art Academy of Latvia (LMA), where he five years tought composition and sculpture. His practice bridges classical craftsmanship and conceptual experimentation — a dialogue between weight and lightness, body and void, memory and motion.
For the past 10 years, I’ve been sculpting in wood, sand, ice, and snow. For me, creativity is as essential as breathing, food, shelter, friendship—and coffee. Sculpting is my soul’s workout. It brings meaning to my daily life and keeps my spirit strong.
But I’m not just about shaping forms, shadows, light, animals, or abstract designs—I'm on a mission to sculpt smiles and spark wide-eyed wonder in everyone who experiences my work. Through my art, I aim to inspire others to realize they can shape their own kind of magic, too. All it takes is some basic tools, a pile of sand, a bit of craziness, and a whole lot of determination.
Born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey—the birthplace of professional sand sculpting—Matthew Deibert grew up just steps from the shoreline, where the sand quickly became both his playground and his canvas. Inspired by family trips to the beach, Matthew began shaping sand into castles, tunnels, and imaginative structures long before realizing it would one day become his life’s work.
As he explored the history of sand sculpting in his hometown, Matthew’s passion for the medium grew. He combined that enthusiasm with a broader love for the arts, earning a BA in Graphic Design from Mercyhurst University and a BFA in Sculpture from Stockton University.
Son of the Beach
Paul Hoggard, a renowned sand artist from England, has been sculpting with sand since 1991. In the sand sculpting community, he is affectionately known as a true “Son of the Beach.” His passion for the craft began on Baga Beach in India, where he created his first sand sculpture—an experience that sparked a lifelong artistic journey.
For Paul, sand sculpting is more than a profession; it’s a way of life. His art has taken him across the globe, allowing him to connect with people from all walks of life. Over the years, he has created monumental sand artworks for festivals, events, and public exhibitions worldwide.
Originally from the Netherlands, Remy Hoggard has been a professional sand artist since 1999. Over the years, she has become internationally recognized for her exceptional ability to sculpt lifelike human faces from sand—faces so realistic, they seem to come alive.
In 2003, Remy met her creative and life partner, Paul Hoggard—also known as her "Sandman." Together, they founded Sandartist Ltd., through which they organize sand art events and participate in international sand sculpture festivals, competitions, and professional commissions around the world.
Born in Ohio and raised across Florida, California, and Kentucky, I joined the Navy right out of high school and spent ten years sailing the Pacific. In 1985, I finally dry-docked myself in Colorado to attend art school, trading ships for sketchbooks and sea spray for sculpture.
Since then, I’ve crossed the U.S. six times, living everywhere from the beaches of Hawaii to the wilds of Oregon, the mile-high plains of Denver, and eventually settling in Orlando in 1987.
Wade Lapp is a multimedia sculptor and carver who’s been turning raw materials into jaw-dropping works of art for the past 15 years. His creative journey started with a knife, a pumpkin, and maybe a little too much free time. What began as a fun experiment in 3D pumpkin carving — sculpting realistic faces just for laughs — quickly snowballed into a full-blown artistic obsession.
Before long, Wade traded pumpkins for sand, heading to the beaches of the West Coast to perfect his craft. There, he spent several seasons competing in team events and building massive exhibition sculptures that made castles look boring. His skills caught serious attention at Texas SandFest, where he snagged first place two years in a row as a semi-pro, then leveled up to the Masters Duos division and took home People’s Choice.
Born in Katwijk, The Netherlands, Wilfred began his sculpting journey on the local beaches, inspired by a book by renowned sand sculptor Pieter Wiersma. Moved by Wiersma’s work, he picked up his tools and started creating his own sculptures in the sand. The positive reactions from passersby encouraged him to take his passion further.
Wilfred’s breakthrough came when he participated in the Sand Sculpture Festival in Scheveningen, where he met experienced sculptor Gerry Kirk. Impressed by Wilfred’s talent, Gerry invited him to collaborate—opening the door to a network of festivals and international competitions.