“Multi Level Dwelling,” 2014

James Bearden
“Multi Level Dwelling”
American, 2014

A sculptural work in blackened and textured steel from James Bearden’s Cathedral series. Composed of stacked and suspended architectural forms, the work evokes an imagined vertical cityscape or industrial ruin, balancing geometric structure with heavily worked, almost volcanic surfaces. Open cubic elements and projecting linear forms create shifting negative spaces throughout, while the deeply textured blackened finish lends the sculpture a powerful material presence.

Like much of Bearden’s work, the sculpture exists somewhere between architecture and abstraction, combining welded industrial construction with an expressive and highly tactile surface treatment. The asymmetrical composition and elevated forms give the work a strong sense of movement and precarious balance despite its compact scale.

Bio:
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.