BIO/CV
Artist statement
What attracts me to my work is the dichotomy that exists between materials and processes. The wildness of forging juxtaposed with elegant goldsmithing techniques. I am interested in the underlying tension that results from combining disparate materials such as steel and diamonds or gold and steel, in organic forms. My hope is that my work will go out into the world and communicate for me.
Biography
Pat Flynn is a goldsmith who lives and works in High Falls, New York. His iconic nail bracelets combine blackened iron with 22 karat and 18 karat yellow gold, 18 karat palladium white gold, diamonds and pearls. His larger cuff bracelets incorporate hinges and box clasps that not only suit functionality for the wearer, but display meticulous craftsmanship.
Each piece of jewelry is hand forged by Pat, often times incorporating fused 22 karat gold onto the iron. Pat is a master of subtle texture, working the surface with varying tools from the hammer and graver, to etching and filing. This attention to detail, technical control, and combination of disparate materials creates unparalleled elegance in his jewelry.
Pat’s work has been featured in Metalsmith magazine and, most recently included in the Penland Book of Jewelry. His work can also be found in the collections of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Art & Design in New York. His work has most recently been acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institute Washington, DC
Chicago Arts Institute Chicago, IL
Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustri Museum Trondheim, Norway
Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI
Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Art Racine, WI
Museum of Arts & Design New York, NY
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art New Paltz, NY
Yale University Art Gallery New Haven, CT
Online publications
The Craft School Experience Interview
Metalsmith Benchtalk Interview
SELECT EXHIBITIONS
2015 "Triacontagon: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Artists’ Fellowship Program," Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY
2015 "Ebony G. Patterson: Dead Treez," The Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
2011 “Open Mind,” The Sungkok Art Museum, Seoul, South Korea
2011 “Jewelry Artists of the Hudson Valley,” Forbes Gallery, NY, NY
2010 “The Weight of Black,” Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
2010 “Brooching the Subject: One of a Kind,” The Ogden Museum of Southern Art New Orleans, LA
2009 “Pat Flynn: Ironic Attachment II,” Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 “Delicate Beauty,” Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
2009 “Different Tempers: Jewelry & Blacksmithing”
- Center for Craft, Creativity & Design - Hendersonville, NC
- National Ornamental Metal Museum – Memphis, TN
- The University of North Texas Art Gallery
- The University of Texas at El Paso, Rubin Center for the Arts
2008 “The Bracelet Show,” J. Cotter Gallery, Vail, CO
2008 “Lineage & Legacy,” Hall Gallery, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savanah, GA
2007 “Sparkle Plenty 3,” Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA
2007 “What a Dish! Dinnerware and Serving Pieces from RAMs Collections,” Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
2007 “What Lies Beneath,” Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2007 “Wild Geese: The Irish in America,” National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, Ireland
2006 “Process & Promise: 75th Anniversary,” 92nd Street Y, New York, NY
2003 “Pat Flynn,” Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2002 “Inventing Contemporary Ornament,” National Invitational Bowling Green State University, Ohio
2003 “At Arms Length,” Saybains Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
2002 “Inventing Contemporary Ornament,” National invitational, Bowling Green State University, OH
2002 “Pat Flynn,” Gallery Materia, Scottsdale, AZ
2001 “Falling Gracefully,” Susan Cummins Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
2000 “The Poetry of Passion,” DeNovo Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
1998 “Flux,” Susan Cummins Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
AWARDS
1997 National Ornamental Metal Museum, Master Metalsmith
1988 National Endowment for the Arts, Craftsman’s Fellowship
1988 New York State Foundation for the Arts Fellowship
1985 National Endowment for the Arts, Craftsman’s Fellowship
1984 National Endowment for the Arts, Craftsman’s Fellowship
P U B L I C A T I O N S
2015 Masters of Craft Portraits by Paul J. Smith
2015 Metalsmith, Vol 35, No. 1 “In the Studio”
2010 500 Gemstone Jewels Lark Books
2009 Metalsmith, Vo1. 29 No. 2 “Look”
2008 The Compendium Finale of Contemporary Jewelers Darling Publications
2007 Masters of Stone Setting Lark Books
2007 Crafts Council of Ireland “Wild Geese: The Irish in America”
2007 New York Diamonds, September “Designer Spotlight”
2005 Penland Book of Jewelry “Gallery”
2005 Veranda, April “Broad Band: Classic Cuffs”
2005 JCK Luxury, Fall, “Diamonds: Expect the Unexpected”
2004 American Craft Magazine “Review: Pat Flynn”
1998 National ornamental Metal Museum Pat Flynn, Master Metalsmith
1996 Metalsmith, Spring “Recent Sightings”
1996 Metalsmith Magazine “Making Things Right”
1995 Metalsmith, Fall “Metalsmithing Today”
1994 Metalsmith, Summer “Recent Sightings”
1993 Metalsmith, Fall “Review”
T E A C H I N G
Metalwerx Waltham, MA
Lillstreet Art Center Chicago, IL
Colorado Metalsmithing Association Salida, CO
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Deer Isle, ME
Nova Scotia School of Art and Design Halifax, Nova Scotia
Oregon School of Arts and Crafts Portland, OR
Parsons School of Design New York, NY
Penland School of Crafts Penland, NC
Peters Valley Craft Education Center Layton, NJ
Pratt Fine Arts Center Seattle, WA
E D U C A T I O N
1979 SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY BFA Goldsmithing
1976 Edinboro State College, Edinboro, PA Jewelry & Metalsmithing