Andy Tibbetts

Andy Tibbetts, known professionally as Lost Machine, is a Portland-based metal sculptor, fabricator, and designer specializing in steampunk-inspired art vehicles, geometric structures, and large-scale installations. His most infamous creation is the Clock Ship Tere (C.S. Tere), a flaming steampunk pirate ship art vehicle built for Burning Man that became a festival icon. The project was funded through Kickstarter campaigns and showcases Tibbetts’ ability to blend industrial aesthetics with functional mobile art featuring fire effects and hydraulic systems.

Tibbetts’ diverse portfolio ranges from small geometric lamps to 1000-pound shade structures, demonstrating his mastery of metalwork and creative engineering. He created Democritus Tools, a Kickstarter project focused on “adding creative geometry to the world” through intricate polyhedra models including disdyakis dodecahedrons and subdivided icosahedrons with integrated lighting systems. As a world-class fabricator, Tibbetts collaborated with sculptor Matthew Schultz’s Pier Group and illustrator Android Jones on the Space Whale sculpture that debuted at Burning Man 2016 and now permanently resides at Reno City Hall. He founded Flat Rat Studios, a shared artist workspace where he continues to create art installations, commissions, and structures that push the boundaries of metal fabrication.