Blacksmith Bowen Beaty Brings Ironwork into the Home
Old World techniques meet modern wrought iron designs in custom crafted furniture and sculptures
Imagine the sinewy curves of a kinetic garden sculpture that moves with the breeze or the intricacies of a bespoke wrought iron wine cellar gate. Blacksmith Bowen Beaty learned the art of forging and sculpting metal from the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, South Carolina. His skill in forming complex patterns in decorative and functional art for homes results in unique creations for The Wren’s clients. Beaty may forge-weld metal scraps into flower forms that decorate candleholders, design an intricately scrolling mirror frame, or create a functional and beautiful handrail for an interior stairway.
“Bowen’s work is lyrical. He has worked under European wrought iron masters while developing his own particular style. He can bend iron into the most delicate curly-cues I have ever seen and makes a piece of iron look like a graceful leafy tendril. I have personally commissioned him to create some pieces for me and am truly impressed by his professionalism and artistic talent,” says The Wren’s founder, Lori Bate.
“People are drawn to items with a human soul,” says blacksmith Bowen Beaty. “Every part of every piece of furniture or sculpture is designed and touched by me for a full custom experience. People seem to like the fact that no piece of my work is machine made and that I have meticulously worked on every detail of their piece.”
His experience includes crafting custom lighting, furniture, gates, architectural elements and sculptures for homeowners and companies on consignment. His most recent public sculpture is a nine-foot-tall forged arrow inspired by a sundial displayed at Wendell, North Carolina’s, town hall.
“My sculptures illustrate that metal can appear fluid and soft. It can look flowy and natural,” Beaty says. He has also been studying and working with glassblowing, stained glass and woodworking techniques so he can meld all of those artistic expressions into his final wrought iron creations.
“Bowen is an artisan who can create an endless number of imaginative forgings for homes, whether it’s a functional piece such as a garden gate or railing or a purely artistic sculpture for a special place in the home. The fact that he likes to experiment with wrought iron and is focused on adding sophisticated detailing to his artwork is a win for our clients who want pieces that are one-of-a-kind and can’t be found anywhere else,” Bate says.
