Artworks by Charlie Kamping

My work begins with materials and construction. I have always been fascinated by the idea that the way an object is made does not need to be hidden. A joint, a curve, a weld or a supporting structure can be as important to me as the final shape itself.

I work primarily with metals such as aluminium, steel, copper and brass, often combining them with glass. These materials have very different characters: metal provides strength and structure, while glass introduces colour, transparency and light.

Rather than decorating an object afterwards, I try to let its construction become part of its visual identity. I sometimes describe this approach as “the naked truth” — allowing materials to remain honest and visible.

Light also plays an important role in my work. Particularly when working with coloured and fused glass, an object changes throughout the day. Sunlight, reflections and shadows continually create a new composition.

My work moves between sculpture, furniture and functional design. I am interested in that boundary: when does an object stop being merely functional and become something we look at simply because its form intrigues us?

For me, a successful object does not need to explain itself completely. It should leave enough space for the viewer to discover something of their own.