Artist Glenn Gilmore creates art, architecture with forged metalwork

Original article published in the Ravalli Republic by Michelle McConnaha Jan 24, 2021

Artist Glenn Gilmore creates art and architecture with forged metalwork. He said it is hard work, but a big part of his life and he loves doing it.

Corvallis artist Glenn Gilmore has been creating forged metalwork for clients since 1974 and loves his work.

He is known from coast to coast and abroad for creating visually stunning fireplace doors, screens, banisters and handrails. Each piece has details and textures inspired by nature and is made with quality materials — including bronze, monel, copper and steel.

His work has been featured in books, magazines, juried shows and as recognition of his talents in design and forge work he was nominated for a 2012 United Artists Fellowship, one of 300 artists selected across the nation.

Gilmore said he credits his parents for his “educational, inquisitive childhood” and family travels across the country. He had always enjoyed making things, especially mechanical things when his interest narrowed to horseshoeing. In 1974 he attended horseshoeing school in Michigan where he learned to make horseshoes by using coal forges, an anvil and hammers. Then he studied ornamental forged metalwork and made the move from horseshoes to forge work.

He also was a glassblower for a few years making colonial vessel ware.

“In 1985, I went to Germany for four months and studied at the International Teaching Center for Metal Design,” Gilmore said. “I stayed there and studied then came back, moved to North Carolina where I was the resident blacksmith at a folk school and opened up my own studio.”

Twenty years ago, he moved to Montana.

“In my process of moving around in my childhood I always enjoyed the western US,” he said. “I had friends here and the summer of 2000 I moved here. It was a big major move. I had been doing work in the Rocky Mountain states before I moved and now, I just work out of the Bitterroot Valley.”

Gilmore said his primary work is forged metalwork.

A banister designed by artist Glenn Gilmore to complement other elements in the room, adding to the overall design of the home.

“The forged element is where I focus,” he said. “I heat metal up and hammer it to shape and texture the desired piece that I want.”

Gilmore mostly does commission work that he designs.

“I get to do what I want to do and work with architects, designers and homeowners themselves,” he said. “We look at the location of the project, if it is interior, we look at other design elements in the room so that what I make will add to the overall design of the room and house. It becomes a real important part of what you see when you go in the house.”

With his 42 years of design and forging experience his reputation for excellent site-specific architectural metalwork and has earned commissions for homes, galleries and stores as far away as France, Italy and Japan. His eye for detail, love of forging and commitment to the finished product are truly one-of-a-kind.

“It is hard work,” Glenn states, “and I put a great deal of attention into creating visually pleasing objects. It is a big part of my life and I love doing it.”

Corvallis artist Glenn Gilmore is known for creating visually stunning fireplace doors, screens, banisters and handrails.

Fireplace doors, furniture, banisters and railings are just a few of the projects he’s completed. He usually does the installations himself.

“People look at my website, see what appeals to them and we go from there,” Gilmore said. “Sometimes it is a forged element like an ornament for the wall or it just depends on the need. The first year I moved to Montana. I had projects in Colorado, New Jersey and Boston, Massachusetts, so I was on the road a lot.”

Gilmore said his business was affected by the COVID pandemic in that he travels less and occasionally he struggles with getting metal supplies.

“I’ve been able to stay busy,” he said. “I’ve had several projects that have been ongoing. This fall was good.”

Gilmore has taught at different craft schools around the country and planned to start metal forging classes here but COVID canceled those options.

“I enjoy teaching, the students are always excited to heat something up,” Gilmore said. “Just being able to move the metal is pretty exciting for people. I’m immersed in it and it is still exciting to heat something up.”

Detailed forged metalwork inspired by nature is the main focus for Corvallis artist Glenn Gilmore how sells and installs his work across the country.

He has power hammers that enable him to forge larger pieces, he also crafts delicate metalwork.

“I focus on attention to detail, I think that is very important for my work and I follow it for the whole process,” Gilmore said. “I’ve developed an eye for visually pleasing metalwork. I’m a very optimistic person and I feel that visually pleasing metalwork is important. When you forge a piece, you have to know where you’re going with it and have good intentions to have it work out.”

He said when homeowners praise his work and tell him the art adds to their house it is satisfying and gratifying.

An architectural/artist blacksmith, Gilmore is a member of Artists Along the Bitterroot. To see more of his work visit his website gilmoremetal.com.