Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Maddox.
Hi Benjamin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Orginally a journeyman welder by trade, I turned to sculptural metalworks in my spare time between running my own welding business and contributing as a lifelong caretaker during the height of the pandemic – where my first pieces were simply means of reflective meditation to keep my hands busy and not caught in the too-well-known public solitude of the time; Turning what I began to quietly loathe into “backup” career, and honing in on an even more precarious foundation, I took the jump as I was invited to share a few small pieces in a local gallery as a thoughtful friend had pushed me to see it through as a passion project in 2021. A few weeks later, I was told they needed more stock and the nose went to the grindstone – engaging heavily with the Kentucky art scene moving forward.
In the course of the year, I had mentioned to another colleague how intruiging it would be to introduce the glasswork into my metal sculpture as a hypothetical — and as fate so had it — a couple weeks later there was a sudden demolition of a church he was working on, and asked permission for the glass to be delivered to my doorstep. Intutitively self-taught in ‘Tiffany-Style’ stained glass, and “Traditionally Leaded” glass, I conjoinined both of my creative eandevors, leading to meeting my mentor, Dan Barnes, of whom has been in the national “Art Fair Circuit” for 28 years, working in the realm of Fused Glass (a kiln-based process) – passing down the knowledge of the trade in the “traditional” way to me, so I hopefully can for another. This apprenticeship had begun to expedite my workload and fast track my artistic composition as a travelling artist, continuing to jury into the state-juried Kentucky Crafted Program, and then working dilligently to be nominated on the board for the historic Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen.
My current work consists of archaic-contemporary compositions of fused glass mounted on aluminum or steel wall-hangings and freestanding metal sculpture. Often reflecting abstract ideas of mother nature and our modern ways of interpersonal connections – both with her and our own humanities. Whether its reflecting the flow of emotion through slumped glass waves, or telling stories through “forgotten” Petroglyphs, everything I make is completely unique and never reproduced identically. I showcase my work at art festivals from Miami, FL to Milwaukee, WI year-round, and in between shows, I have had the opportunity to work on large-scale installations in hospitals and chuches.
To now, looking back on writing this nearly four full years later since I began the journey, I am pleased to say as a working artist, I am thriving with this as my full-time thanks to the communities that I have been fortunate to be part of, tend to, and have the opportunity to evolve what existed before as more modern times have approached with haste. If it wasn’t for the kindness of strangers, the everlasting mentorships, or the thoughtful (and not-so thoughtful..) words of those who view my work around me, I truly wouldn’t have seen the arts as a viable career as a young artist – I am proud to be an advocate for the state, representing the heart of the Bluegrass wherever I may go. The arcing purpose stems from this same idea – as Kentucky is 45th in the nation towards funding in the arts, there are less traditional trades, and as a humanitatian concequence, art – being handed down or developed. Kentucky is a rich melting pot of culture that is historically cut short, and I would like to be at least a single drop of water in the pond to help carry on all the wisdom I have gained sofar to keep it alive even past my own time, as many artists surrounding me are of older age with few to take their place in the national & state festival scenes as a full-time career. There is never a “wrong time” to explore your passion or an idea, as the biggest regret you could posess is not seeing through the possiblity of the joy you will create!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most challenges I have faced have been largely self-reflective, as to be a full-time living artist, you sincerely have to put your own time management and dreams to the test; I never was given the opportunity to connect with anyone in the official Kentucky art scene until 2021, as I had no idea even where to begin as the doors weren’t open at the time in any capacity. Earlier in my childhood, art was my past-time, but never was sought as a career due to its “competitive” nature through school which didn’t reinforce the idea that I could reasonably pursue it full-time as a living. National public education barely teaches you how to be an adult, let alone run a business – so when I officially began in 2021 it was from scratch: making cold calls to galleries, show runners, and getting connected with the smaller scale local craft shows. I believe its keeping the coals of the fire hot in your soul, ensuring that every day is as positive of a step forward to reach the next – to remember why this is your personal passion, and try your best not to burn out completely when its overwhelming. I have missed several important life events of my friends and family due to being out of town at shows, cancelled more plans than I can imagine because work bleeds into every aspect of this life, and being keen financially are the biggest aspects that drag on you when running any business solo. On such a quick and busy road there have been many physical obstacles, but at the beginning of the day I have to be the one that decides to continue the journey and see the idea to its potential, nomatter the outcome.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My current work consists of archaic-contemporary compositions of fused glass mounted on aluminum or steel wall-hangings and freestanding metal sculpture. Often reflecting abstract ideas of mother nature and our modern ways of interpersonal connections – both with her and our own humanities. Whether its reflecting the flow of emotion through slumped glass waves, or telling stories through “forgotten” Petroglyphs, everything I make is completely unique and never reproduced identically. Some unique factors of my work include creating my own stainless-steel kilnforms which I fuse my glass on to give it its unique movement, using glass -layering techniques to add additional depth, using specialty tools to create “impossible” complex shapes to represent carvings and glyphs, in addition to all my work specifically being engineered to withstand the indoors and outdoors.
I historically tend to take pride in whatever body of work I have created most recently, but at the end of the day my “Petroglyph” series of work is my truest artistic voice. In more ancient times, the standing stones were traditionally used as waymarkers, communicative means, spirituality, and humor for civilizations across the world to connect to others — by bringing this body of work to light I would like to see them to represent our moment in time, evoking personal meaning to reflect on what it means to be part of the greater whole. “Ascension” was the name of the first piece in this body of work, a 7-foot tall, rusted steel, freestanding sculpture which tells the story of the piece’s orgins through mysterious glyphs on green glass recessed within the cold metal structure.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are many people to give the deserved credit to, but the first is an old neighbor by the name of Brandon Codispoti, who practically had given me a lifetimes worth of experience in explaining how to properly use power tools and the ethics of moral & focused work as I grew up with his son, Jackson. I never once had a hesitation to ask a question around this found family, and certainly had done everything they could in wisdom to make sure I was set on a good course to follow my dreams even before I sought art or the trades as a career.
The second-most person to give credit to would be my mentor, Dan Neil Barnes. We met on the basis of a mutual friendship through another artist in the Kentucky Crafted Program in 2021, and since have completed my apprenticeship of 4 years with him just this year. Based in Georgetown, KY, he has been in the national “Art Fair Circuit” for 28 years, working in the realm of Fused Glass (a kiln-based process) – passing down the knowledge of the trade in the “traditional” way to me, so I hopefully can for another. He has recently been honored with the Kentucky Governor’s Award in 2023, which is the highest honor a visual artist can recieve from the state for nationally-recognized activity and advocation. This apprenticeship had begun to expedite my workload and fast track my artistic composition as a travelling artist, and has bestowed countless knowledge from his career onto me. The beginnings of us working together was just testing the water, as I truly didn’t know what to expect, or what I even would want, out of a traditional apprenticeship in learning fused glass – come to find out, it was less about the medium and more about the business training & behind the scenes where I have learned the absolute most. I am continually honored to say I have learned from him, and be an extension of his life as his protege.
Other special thanks belong to the organizations I am part of who make this dream a reality for any of us, and my found family who keep uplifting words in my ear as I traverse the uncertain life in the arts as a living.
Pricing:
- N/A, Inquire about artwork at my email – maddoxdesignsart.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maddoxdesignsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddoxdesigns_/
