Cact-Us

The Story Behind Cact-US

Two cacti met in the desert.

As they grew beside one another, their roots began to intertwine. Together, their forms created the shape of a heart, the foundation of a family.

As their family grew, their offspring reached upward toward the sky, beginning journeys of their own while remaining connected to the roots from which they came.

But no family grows without hardship.

In the original Cact-US, barbed wire moves through the composition, representing the adversity families face from time to time. The sharpness of the wire exists alongside the heart and the growing family because hardship, love, and growth can all become part of the same journey.

Yet the family continues upward.

Their roots remain intertwined.

Their children continue to grow.

And what began as two becomes something larger.

That's Cact-US.

The original sculpture was created within a wooden frame because I wanted the artwork to hang. When an exhibition provided only pedestal space, I fabricated a stand that allowed the framed sculpture to be displayed from a pedestal.

That practical solution eventually helped the idea evolve.

Smaller versions of the concept followed, designed to sit naturally on a desk or shelf. In those sculptures, natural stone replaced the barbed wire as the representation of adversity.

The material changed.

The story did not.

Two lives meet.

Their roots intertwine.

A family grows.

Adversity comes.

And they continue growing together.

~ Enrique Del Angel

Industrial Composition & Artistry

Cact-US is the original sculpture from which this family concept developed.

The two primary cactus forms grow together to create the silhouette of a heart, while smaller forms rise upward to represent their offspring.

Weathered barbed wire is incorporated into the composition as a symbol of the hardships and adversity families encounter throughout their lives together.

The sculpture is contained within a rustic wooden frame and displayed on a handcrafted metal stand, originally created so the hanging artwork could be exhibited on a pedestal.

The metal components are finished with clearcoat to preserve the character and patina of the reclaimed materials.

Artwork Details

Artist: Enrique Del Angel
Title: Cact-US
Year: 2026
Medium: Reclaimed automotive and industrial metal, barbed wire, and natural wood
Materials: Reclaimed automotive components, formed steel, weathered barbed wire, and rustic wood
Finish: Clearcoat
Display: Framed hanging sculpture with handcrafted pedestal display stand
One-of-a-Kind Original Sculpture