Stefan Duerst

My sculptural work follows an inner urge inside of me (I basically can't help myself to not be creative with metal). I am fabricating and forging the pieces by myself, without a helper, which often pushes me to my physical limits. Creating a deep physical connection with my work allows me to get into a meditative state during the creative process; especially when working with forge, hammer and anvil.  

The sculptures are playing with space/ non-space developments, minimal, archaic forms, organic shapes, and are emphasizing the material itself. The surface treatment ranges from raw steel to bright sparkly industrial paint,
                                                            depending on the overall emotion of the piece.

                                              Stefan Duerst, 2012

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Biography
Stefan Duesrt

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Career/ Education

2011
•  Opened "Duerst - Metal Nature Spirit" metal sculpture studio and sculpture park on 60 acres Canadian Shield in
   Godfrey, Ontario, Canada
•  Received Gold Award for piece "White Zombie" in the forged gate category from NOMMA (National Ornamental  
   Metal & Miscellaneous Association)

2009
•  Public Art Commission for City of Kingston

2008
•  Course: "The mystery of the curved stairway with Master Blacksmith Dick Sargent", Peter Valley Craft Centre,
                 New York, USA
•  Course: "Comprehensive Forging Fundamentals with Master Blacksmith Uri Hofi", Iceforge, New York

2003
•  Opened "Duerst -Custom Metalwork" metal studio and gallery in Kingston, Ontario

2000
•  Received Master Certificate as Architectural Blacksmith/ fabricator in Munich, Germany (with distinction)
•  Opened "Duerst Kunstschmiedemeister" studio and gallery

1998-2002
•  Assistant and fabricator to Artist and Metal Sculptor Julia Mangold in Munich, Germany

1997-1998
•  Assistant to Master Blacksmith and Metal Sculptor Herbert Elflein in Achrain, Germany

1997
•  Opened "Duerst Metallbildhauer" studio and gallery in Munich, Germany
•  Course: "Damascus forging" in Augsburg, Germany
•  Course: "Heritage Blacksmithing Master Course" in Fulda, Germany

1992-1995
•  Apprenticeship as Architectural Blacksmith/ Fabricator in Munich, Germany (with distinction)

Exhibitions
2013
•  Verb gallery, Kingston, Ontario

2012
•  Modern Fuel Gallery, Kingston, Ontario
•  Union Gallery, Kingston, Ontario
•  Kiwi Garden sculpture project, Perth, Ontario

2011
•  Studio exhibition

2010
•  Studio exhibition

2009
•  Public Art Commission, City of Kingston
•  Sandra Whitton Gallery, Kingston, Ontario
•  Chameleon Nation Gallery, Kingston, Ontario

2008
•  Kiwi Garden, Perth, Ontario
•  IIDEX, Toronto
•  Interior Design Show, Toronto
•  Designers Walk, Toronto

2007
•  Object Toronto, Gladstone Hotel
•  IIDEX, Toronto
•  Interior Design Show, Toronto

2006
•  Object Toronto, Gladstone Hotel
•  IIDEX, Toronto
•  Kiwi gardens, Perth, Ontario
•  Interior Design Show, Toronto

2005
•  John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto
•  Mill Street Gallery, Almonte, Ontario
•  NGB Studios, Kingston, Ontario
•  Kiwi Gardens, Perth, Ontario

2004
•  Verb Gallery, Kingston, Ontario
•  Interior Design Show, Toronto
•  Kiwi Gardens, Perth, Ontario
•  Art in the Garden, Bracebridge, Ontario
•  Interconnected Art, Kingston, Ontario

2003
•  Mine Metal Art Gallery, Williamsburg, NYC, USA
•  Senseffect studio, Cologne, Germany
•  Gallery Daniel Martinez, Munich, Germany
•  Interconnected Art, Kingston, Ontario

2002
•  Walter-Trier-Galleries, Munich, Germany
•  BDS Personalkonzept, Munich, Germany

2001
•  National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
•  Gallerie Sager, Switzerland
•  Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
•  Gallerie Pappberger, Munich, Germany
•  BDS Personalkonzept, Munich, Germany

2000
•  Gallerie Pappberger, Munich, Germany
•  Studio exhibition, Munich, Germany

1999
•  Studio exhibition, Munich, Germany

1998
•  Virus Gallerie, Munich, Germany

1997
•  Studio Exhibition, Munich, Germany

1996
•  Raum 15 Gallerie, Munich, Germany
•  Studio exhibition, Munich, Germany

1994
•  Eigenart, Munich, Germany

Collections
•  National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
•  City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada
•  Queens University, Kingston, Ontario

Publications 
•  1999 "Anvils Ring" (Publication of Artist Blacksmith Association of North America), showcase of new work
•  2000 "Anvils Ring", showcase of new work
•  2001 "Munich Found", Iron man
•  2001 "Hephaistos", Das Morgen der handwerklichen Ehrbarkeit
•  2002 "Hephaistos", Im Raederwerk der Metall Kuenstler
•  2002 "Fireplace accessories", Dona Meilach
•  2003 "The Kingston Whig Standard", Forging his own path
•  2008 " Kingston Life Magazine", Duerst - Master craftsman in iron
•  2009 "untitled", The metal metamorphosis on Brock Street
•  2011 "Anvils Ring", story about duerst metal artist

Grants 
•  2004 Exhibition Assistance Grant