Metal sculptures serve as powerful extensions of an artist's identity, capturing their distinctive style through every hammer strike and weld. The choice of metal—whether bronze's timeless warmth or steel's industrial edge—immediately signals an artist's aesthetic preferences. Techniques like forging, casting, or welding become visual fingerprints; some artists leave deliberate tool marks as calling cards, while others polish surfaces to perfection.

Scale plays a crucial role in signature expression. Monumental steel installations might define one creator, while intricate copper miniatures identify another. The treatment of negative space—whether densely packed forms or airy openwork—further distinguishes artistic voices. Many sculptors develop recurring motifs, like organic curves or geometric fragmentation, that make their work instantly recognizable.

Surface treatments become stylistic signatures too. A preference for patinas versus raw metal, or the integration of mixed materials, reflects personal philosophies about impermanence and texture. Even an artist's approach to structural challenges—visible joinery versus seamless illusions—communicates their worldview. Ultimately, these accumulated choices transform cold metal into warm artistic statements that carry their maker's name long before the physical signature is found.