Featured Arkansas Artist: Russell Lemond

The Arkansas Studies Institute houses four art galleries, including a retail gallery, featuring the work of Arkansas artists and art related to the state. This post is part of a bi-weekly series featuring ASI gallery artists.

Russell Lemond
Artist Statement

"Raw industrial" is the term I like to use to describe the sculpture and furniture I've been experimenting with since 2001.

After stumbling across a "goldmine" of scrap aluminum years ago, the thought of making things from it was filed away for a couple of years and finally acted upon when my wife and I decided we needed some ultra-contemporary tables for our home.

With encouragement from friends and associates I began to design and build more furniture—all the while giving me the chance to hone my skills as a fabricator, welder and artist using various abrasive methods to bring out unique characteristics of the metal.

While I consider my furniture pieces as "artistic," I've really enjoyed moving into the more sculptural area. Being completely self-taught, it's been eye opening to discover how light plays over the metal after using various techniques and tools. When placed in the right light, many of the pieces exhibit a holographic effect and the surface of the work can give the appearance of being several inches thick.

While I've heard it commented that my work is "outside the box" I enjoy a more open view of it (and life in general) — there is no box!