Other

The elongated asymmetrical form recalls a futuristic skyline or industrial landscape, rising from a heavily textured pedestal base. Designed to hold multiple candles, the work occupies the space between sculpture and functional object. Traces of colored wax applied by the artist remain within several of the candle cups, adding subtle tonal variation and evidence of use.

Executed with heavily worked surfaces and layered patination, the candelabra presents a different profile from each viewpoint. The combination of blackened steel, gilding, and accumulated wax contributes significantly to its character.

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.

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.