Kelly Ludeking graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 1997 with a BFA in sculpture and furniture design. Here he was introduced to the feral fires of metal casting and the precision of fine furniture crafting. Ludeking has participated in, facilitated, and hosted over 500+ metal pours since. In 2008 he co-founded Ironhead Sculptural Services, LLC, a traveling iron foundry that shares the art and appreciation of cast iron sculpture and performances with local community members.

KRL Metals is his personal artist business where he explores intimate creative processes from mould-making to molten mayhem to masterpieces. He also hosts aluminum/bronze medallion pours for family reunions, and corporate events and co-creates with visionaries to usher their ideas into the world.  In recent years, as academic access to metal casting has declined, Ludeking has branched out as a consultant in the cast metal world working for high-end interior designers, industry and non-profits.  His love for sharing cast metal art and processes lead him to begin an annual event on his family farm in Iowa. Since 2004 artists have traveled from all over the world to the Ludeking estate for camping, community, and cast metal festivities.