Patinated steel with 24-karat gold leaf and fused bronze, copper, and glass enamel. Executed in Bearden’s distinctive sculptural vocabulary, the present work combines heavily textured industrial surfaces with passages of color and metallic contrast. The compartmentalized top, animated by radiating and cellular forms, recalls both architectural fragments and organic structures.

Known for his highly tactile metalwork and process-driven approach, Bearden creates compositions that blur the line between sculpture, design, and functional object. Layered patination and fused materials produce surfaces of considerable depth and variation. The elevated pedestal form reinforces the sculptural character of the work while maintaining the intimate scale associated with personal objects and boxes.

James Bearden (American, b. 1964) is an abstract sculptor whose work explores the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and functional design. Working primarily in metal, Bearden has produced a number of ongoing series, including Cathedral, Assemblage, Voids, and Lunar Blooms. His work is held in corporate, municipal, and prominent private collections.