Alex Monte-Sano started making wood sculpture after a career in teaching and finance. His goal is to infuse a data-driven way of knowing about the world into naturally beautiful objects. He hopes that his pieces will be conversation starters for the eventual owners. In doing this work, he draws on the ways of thinking that were the basis of his economics teaching while using fabrication techniques developed as the lead mentor of his school’s robotics team. As an economics teacher, he used a quantitative and exploratory approach to teach about pressing social issues. In 2014, he founded his school’s robotics team, which both drew on and expanded his experience making and designing. 

Alex lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife Chauncey. They have two grown children. He has an undergraduate degree in economics from Yale University and a Master’s degree in engineering from UC Berkeley. In his free time, he is a cyclist, rock climber, reader, and mediocre crossword puzzler.

Alex started his career in San Francisco, California at an institutional money manager where he researched software companies. While working in San Francisco, he built furniture as a hobby and tutored a middle school student as a volunteer. After a few years in the financial services industry, graduate school, and taking care of his two young children full time, he transitioned to teaching high school students in Washington, D.C. Chauncey’s job drew them to Ann Arbor, where they have lived since 2012.