This large rolling ball sculpture was commissioned for a doctor’s office, where it was designed to capture patients’ attention and give them something engaging to watch and focus on during treatment.

The sculpture is packed with movement: curving and twisting tracks, three connected tight loop-de-loops, tall coils, and a marble-collecting mechanism designed to resemble a balance scale. Marbles accumulate on one side of the scale until their combined weight tips the mechanism, releasing them back onto the tracks to continue their journey.

One of my favorite elements is the hidden “balls on track” mechanism inside a section of large tubing. An orange marble disappears into one end, and a completely different colored marble appears from the other. The mechanism is concealed, so the effect looks a little like magic.

I also incorporated “Doctor Mark” into two tipping-arm mechanisms. As passing marbles activate the arms, his name rocks back and forth. 

Details like these are what make custom rolling ball sculptures especially fun to build—the mechanisms can become part of the story of the piece.

Handmade in my California studio from 100% stainless steel and TIG welded.