Forged Steel and Mosaic Wall Sculptures

November 21, 2025 by Johannah Willsey in Collaborations, Mosaic, Sculpture

Working as an artist, in any medium or genre, is always a journey and an evolutionary process. When we first started working collaboratively to create art objects, we focused on stand-alone sculptures. Once we had tried our hands at a few of those in varying sizes and styles, we were ready for the next challenge.

It was time to take our collaborative sculptures to the wall.

Our first work in this series happened to be a commission. The client requested a piece featuring a few of their favorite critters, the monarch butterfly and dragonflies, to fit a very specific alcove in their home

The fun and interesting challenge in designing a fairly realistic piece like this is navigating the line between absolute realism and expressive stylizing. Which details are essential? What can be exaggerated, reduced, or even eliminated to create the desired effect?

Forged steel and glass mosaic butterfly sculpture PH2024.JPEG

Dragonfly Wall forged steel and mosaic wall sculpture detail PH2024 (1).JPEG

Butterfly wall sculpture installed PH2024.JPEG

The next piece in this series was inspired by a fall walk through a gingko tree-lined neighborhood.

For Kyle this was a return to an earlier subject, an opportunity to bring new skills to the work while adding the dimension of color from Johannah’s mosaic.

For Johannah this piece was a chance to explore the beautiful shifts in color of the beloved gingko leaf, from the greens of spring and summer to the golds of autumn.

Gingko wall sculpture detail PH2024 (1).JPEG

Gingko wall sculpture detail PH2024 (3).JPEG

For the last two pieces in this particular run of work, we decided to return to familiar shapes while working a touch smaller and adding some geometric framing to the organic shapes.

Botanical Steel and Mosaic Sculptures

June 14, 2024 by Johannah Willsey in Sculpture, Collaborations, Mosaic

As we continued to brainstorm collaborative sculpture ideas, we decided our first batch of sculptures would include a variety of sizes and styles. Once we finished the tabletop abstract sculptures, we wanted to go bigger.

We settled on bamboo as a subject that provides opportunity for each of our mediums to shine. It also offered Kyle an opportunity to try something different with a theme he’s returned to a few times.

Kyle made a variety of forged textured leaves as well as the hollow shapes of leaves for Johannah to fill with mosaic. He finished the sculpture with a rust brown patina. Johannah chose bright yellowy-green for the mosaic leaves. We were really pleased with the way the monochrome green and the warm tones of the finished steel work together.

Forged steel bamboo sculpture with mosaic inlay

Forged steel and mosaic bamboo sculpture detail

The last piece in this first run of sculptural pieces is a pea plant. Kyle forged a beautiful pea plant complete with corkscrew tendrils as well as a hollow pea shape form. He finished it with the same rust brown patina. Johannah found flat green marbles in the perfect size and color to represent peas for this piece.

Forged steel and glass pea plant sculpture

Steel and mosaic pea plant sculpture detail

Abstract Steel and Mosaic Tabletop Sculptures

May 24, 2024 by Johannah Willsey in Collaborations, Sculpture, Mosaic

And the collaborations continue to evolve…

A big difference created by the move to our new studios is the ability to work more closely together. In the past, one of us worked at the studio while the other stayed at home with our two kids. Time to put our heads together over a project required planning and coordinating schedules.

Now that our studios are on the same property as our home, we can pop over to the studio for a brainstorm session or just a quick check-in for an opinion from the other person. It’s a much more efficient way to collaborate!

These three tabletop sculptures are the first products of this new way of working together.

First Kyle forged three different shapes based on loose sketches. From there, Johannah chose colors and designs based on the shapes of the sculptures. Lots of fine-tuning conversations took place before, between, and after each step.

The flaring shape of the first piece brought a candle flame to mind. The teardrop look of the second piece made us think of water. These sculptures are two-sided with the same mosaic colors and designs on both sides.

Steel and red glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (3).JPG

Steel and red glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (4).JPG

Steel and turquoise glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (3).JPG

Steel and turquoise glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (4).JPG

For the last piece in this first group of sculptures, Kyle created a shape inspired by sunrise over a beach that has a special place in our lives. Johannah created a sunrise mosaic on the first side. Unlike the first two sculptures that are the same on both sides, we decided the opposite side of this piece called for something different. Johannah made a moonrise mosaic for the second side. We call this finished sculpture “Shoreline.”

This piece and the blue one have sold, but the candle flame-inspired sculpture is available with free shipping!

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