Every rolling ball sculpture I build starts with a basic structure and a way to get the balls to the top. From there, the sculpture develops one track at a time. I don't usually begin with a detailed drawing or a complete plan. After more than 20 years of building rolling ball sculptures, I tend to visualize the paths in my head and let the sculpture develop as I build it.

Explore the lifts, track switches, spirals, loops, zig-zags and other kinetic elements I design and build for my rolling ball sculptures.

A rolling ball sculpture is a kinetic sculpture that uses gravity, momentum and mechanical elements to move balls through a network of tracks. A motorized lift carries the balls from the bottom of the sculpture back to the top. Gravity then takes over, sending them through switches, loops, spirals, tipping arms and other mechanisms before they eventually return to the lift and begin again. I've been designing and building rolling ball sculptures since 2003. Although they can

Explore the physics behind rolling ball sculptures and how gravity, momentum, friction, kinetic and potential energy, and centripetal force shape the movement of every ball.

A collection of rolling ball sculpture resources, artists, builders, suppliers and useful links for anyone interested in kinetic sculpture, marble machines and rolling ball art.

Custom stainless steel pinball ramps and habitrails, fabricated from your drawings or reproduced from original ramps for custom builds and pinball machine restorations.

I design and build custom miniature golf ball lifts, ball returns and track systems using the same kinetic engineering and fabrication techniques found in my rolling ball sculptures.

How I make adjustable pivot points for rolling ball sculptures using a custom drilling jig, allowing switches and moving track elements to be precisely positioned and adjusted.

How I tap straight, accurately aligned holes for rolling ball sculpture parts using a custom guide I built to keep the tap square and consistent during fabrication.

How track switches divide and redirect balls onto different paths in a rolling ball sculpture, creating changing routes, movement and visual variety.

How I use custom welding jigs to hold stainless steel rods at precise, repeatable angles while fabricating track and mechanical elements for rolling ball sculptures.

The adjustable lift table I use to raise and lower rolling ball sculptures to a comfortable working height during welding, assembly and fabrication.

Artist Matthew Gaulden shares his hand-drawn pencil mazes, a process that began in childhood and evolved into detailed illustrated mazes built one path at a time.