Contemporary Garden Sculptures

Thursday 10th June 2021 at 18:27

Introducing Thomas Gontar

Tom's blacksmiths forge is located in Glynde (famous for Glyndebourne Opera House), an idilic English village in the heart of Sussex. 

We caught up with Tom to ask a few questions about his work:

How Long have you been sculpting?

I have been a sculptural blacksmith for 8 years now.

How did you become interested in working in this profession?:

I became interested in blacksmithing through my background in art from my early days in college. I paid a visit to Plumpton college one day as I had heard they were doing a blacksmithing BTEC course. I was hooked from the moment I stepped into the forge, large sections of metal being formed and sculpted to the students own large scale drawings on wooden boards. It had everything I wanted, the physical work of a trade combined with the creative side of the art world.
 

What inspires your art work today:

My work today is a study of human emotions and mental health, partly from my own experience. Much of this series of my work was inspired and influenced by the covid pandemic, Lockdown afforded me a great deal of time to think and design based on how I was feeling throughout the experience.

What is it about your profession that you enjoy?

I love my job is because I have the freedom to create and design sculptures using metal and fire, whether they are my own designs or private commissions, each day is so different you never know what will come through the door next.