NAN FLEMING

I discovered metal as an art form while at UMASS in 1992 when taking a welding class on a whim. Always a hoarder of the discarded and used, I was drawn to the shapes and patinas of the broken farm equipment and rusted gears rather than the shiny sheets of new metal available in the foundry. Manipulating a shape with heat continues to be pure magic for me... I combine these worn metal elements with other materials such as wood, paper, clay and small found objects to create both functional and purely sculptural pieces. Usually a single shape will suggest a gesture or the beginning of an idea. I tend to work on 2 or 3 pieces at the same time, solving problems and sometime waiting for months to realize the final detail needed to complete a sculpture.

Primary location: Williamsburg United States