Stephen Lichtenstein

Stephen Lichtenstein has been working with metal for well over forty years. Stephen first encountered blacksmithing at Cornell University in the 1970s while an undergraduate. Stephen later earned a Ph.D. from The University of Illinois in 1987 in the field of Education. Stephen has been an apprentice with the well-known blacksmith, Peter Happny in Portsmouth, NH for well over 40 years. The blacksmith shop in Portsmouth is a trip into the 19th century and much of its appeal comes from the inventiveness that comes from the old equipment and old materials. Stephen enjoys working with a variety of tools and is currently experimenting with animal and plant images as an inspiration for his sculptures. Stephen is excited about the prospects of using older iron that has been weathered over time. He believes that the textures and contours create strong possibilities for the end results and often these features define the various images being considered. Stephen also experiments with a variety of patinas for his metal work and he often grimaces when he describes this as a love-hate relationship. “You just don’t know what you’re going to get, because it’s full of surprises.” Stephen considers himself a perennial student of blacksmithing and believes there’s no end to what can be learned with the right teachers and tools.

Stephen Lichtenstein creates metal art and wall sculptures from recycled materials. His bold, industrial-inspired pieces bring texture, movement, and character to any space.