Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Prater.
Brandon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always looked for ways to do things that were unconventional. I liked finding my own ways to do things. I’ve always been into art so these things just kind of went hand in hand. The freedom to express myself and do whatever I please with art is very empowering and satisfying to me. I quickly found fashion an easy and wonderful way to express myself. Given these qualities, I’ve never been one to take on a structured lifestyle- at least a structured lifestyle created by someone else, like college for example. It just never was for me. After exploring various mediums, I’ve found great beauty in the process of working with metals. I feel as if it is an under-appreciated medium of art that can still be explored and with recent technology advancement in the space, more people can work with metal at home. I felt like I found my place when I was able to express myself this way with metal. Making an object for someone that can last for a very long time is a very lovely and intimate feeling. On top of that, it combines what I love the most: fashion and art.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think there are always bumps in journeys like this in every career. Though I can’t say mine wasn’t the bumpiest- it definitely took time to study and learn the process of creating art and expressing myself through it. I’ve been in the creative space for quite a while and it took me years and years to finally get to a project that I feel is “it”. Something I feel has longevity. But I can’t complain. It’s just part of the process and journey. I’ve especially enjoyed all the friendships and relationships I’ve formed along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create art out of various recycled/reclaimed metals through a niche metal-based clay. I mainly create wearable objects such as chains and rings but am also venturing into sculpture, furniture, blades, etc. Basically, anything you can form metal into. I’m most proud of my recent wearable pieces and that changes when I move onto the next design. That next design might be pushing a boundary in a certain way or finding a way to build upon a texture or creative idea that I had just used while creating a piece of jewelry. I think most jewelry nowadays is very clean-cut and materialistic. I like to be messy. I love imperfection. I think there’s an unpronounced beauty in things that are aged, destroyed, and chaotic. There is also not much jewelry that is in itself nowadays art. And I don’t mean to come off pretentious, but there is meaning and history tucked away in the metals I create. It’s a reflection of my beliefs and way of life. It’s deep yet subtle. But it’s there. And I think wearable art through metals is a medium not widely popular at the moment, or at least within the public.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I wouldn’t have known about this niche way of crafting jewelry if it weren’t for my aunt Julie who happened to have a successful friend in that space. Though I wouldn’t have been inspired to create such pieces that I resonate with if I had never seen the beautiful collaborative work of Michèle Lamy and Loree Rodkin’s Hunrod line. That collaboration really sparked my entire journey working with metal. But, more recently, I’ve found new ideas and inspirations working with a designer friend and getting to know her work more. Her work is very diaphanous and takes inspiration from organic and natural objects with a brutalistic edge as well, so it makes for an interesting mesh.
Contact Info:
- Email: bp@brandonprater.com
- Website: https://brandonprater.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonprateronline/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandonprateronline/
