‘Part of your soul’: Local artist’s sculpture takes root at Central Piedmont

A striking 15-foot stainless steel sculpture now greets students, employees, and visitors outside Central Piedmont’s Parr Arts Building, facing E. 4th Street — an eye-catching addition made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor and the vision of local artist Tom Risser.

Created by Risser, a Charlotte-area engineer and sculptor, the abstract, untitled work began decades ago as a small, two-dimensional sketch. Over time, it evolved into a large-scale, three-dimensional form fabricated from stainless steel, featuring sweeping curves and layered elements that catch and reflect light throughout the day — and especially at night as headlights and campus lighting bring the surface to life.

Risser, who has been welding sculptures for more than two decades, originally installed the piece in the front yard of his home. As he prepared to sell the property, he hoped to find a public home where the sculpture could be safely preserved and widely enjoyed. That opportunity came when Central Piedmont expressed interest, ultimately relocating the piece to its new setting on the college’s Central Campus.

Seeing the sculpture installed outside the Parr Arts Building has been especially meaningful for Risser. “Sometimes these sculptures are part of your soul,” he said, noting the joy he felt watching students pause to photograph or admire the work as they passed by after its installation.

Designed without a prescribed meaning or title, the sculpture invites individual interpretation —whether as a figurative form, a floral shape, or even a musical instrument. Now firmly rooted on campus, the piece fulfills Risser’s ultimate goal: sharing art in a public space where it can inspire curiosity, conversation, and connection every day.