Charles Gadeken is an industrial artist working in the Bay Area for over 20 years. His monumental interactive public artworks, which reimagine the world post-nature and include commissions by Black Rock Arts Foundation, Insomniac Events, Coachella, Absolut Vodka and the City of Palo Alto, have been exhibited internationally.
Skilled in the manipulation of metals, Charles makes copper, bronze, and steel pieces of varying dimensions and functionalities—from a tabletop fire flower that illuminates an intimate space to a 30ft tall LED weeping willow tree that graces a public plaza. Inspired by the objects, structures and processes in the world around us, Charles’ art depicts natural objects in fantastic ways and realizes the potential for serendipity in everyday life. Often incorporating and developing technology for various effects—LEDs, flame, hydraulics, and electricity—to increase the visual and physical impact of his work, he seeks to instill a sense of play into the environment. Ever curious, Charles takes the forms of things we tend to overlook and remakes them as magical objects that exist as portals to our collective consciousness.
Focused on engaging the imagination both in the objects he creates and the method of their creation, Charles is dedicated to increasing artistic community and public awareness of art. Many of his pieces are interactive, encouraging spectators to become participants in the artistic experience. He not only makes art, but also uses his artistic practice to encourage others to do so. Charles has inspired hundreds of people to participate in art-making and personally trained volunteers in the process of creating and installing art for private collections and public art for various commissions.
