SECCA’s Southern Idiom exhibition series continues with “Brutal Beauty,” featuring new works by metalworker Gabe Bridges of Metalmorphosis. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held from 1–4pm on Saturday, August 13. Admission is free, with a suggested $10 donation.

Gabe Bridges is a metalworker who lives and works in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Since childhood, mechanical and auxiliary objects have fascinated him, having spent considerable time in both his grandfather’s workshops growing up. His personal artistic style stems from a combination of math, mechanics, geometry, and fluid motion.

During his younger years, Gabe initially learned how to work with metal on small jewelry and sculptures at the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Later, Gabe moved to Winston-Salem, where he would graduate from the welding program at Forsyth Tech. At the same time, he started working in Jon Kuhn’s metal shop, assisting with sculptures where he would hone his skills for almost 10 years. Metalworking would become a lifelong career and passion for Gabe. Having spent the last two decades as a welder, machinist and designer, Gabe Bridges started Metalmorphosis, Inc with Mark Lamb in 2013. Metalmorphosis has since combined efforts and become an art collective, with Gabe Bridges and Mark Lamb working together as artists.