“Mystical Galaxy Chimes,” 2017

James Bearden
“Mystical Galaxy Chimes”
American, 2017

A striking vertical sculpture from James Bearden’s Cathedral series, “Mystical Galaxy Chimes” explores rhythm, balance, and architectural form through a linear composition of patinated and gilded steel accented with vivid enamel elements. Rising from a substantial steel base, the work combines textured cast surfaces with slender blackened rods and geometric forms suspended in space, creating a composition that feels simultaneously monumental and delicate.

The interplay between the richly gilded surfaces and the saturated blue enamel details lends the sculpture a quiet luminosity, while the open framework and asymmetrical arrangement evoke both architectural scaffolding and musical notation. The work also possesses a subtle sonic quality, suggesting the visual rhythm of chimes or resonant architectural bells suspended in space. As with much of Bearden’s work, the sculpture reflects an interest in structure, materiality, and the tension between refinement and raw industrial process.

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.