Forged In Sound

Sculpture and Music Come Together in a New Exhibition at Owen Contemporary

We’re thrilled to invite you to Forged in Sound, a new exhibition opening August 1st, 2025 at Owen Contemporary in Santa Fe. This show brings together two of Christopher Thomson’s oldest creative languages—sculpture and music—in a fully immersive experience.

Christopher Thomson sitting on an anvil while holding a flute in his blacksmith workshop filled with machinery and tools

Photo by Keith Riggs

ARTIST RECEPTION

Friday, August 1st, 2025 from 4:00–6:00 PM

Live flute performance at 5:00 PM

Owen Contemporary

225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM

Exhibition runs August 1st, 2025 - August 14th, 2025

Metal sculpture with wavy designs in a grassy field under a cloudy sky

Let the Art Speak

The Experience

In Forged in Sound, Christopher’s hand-forged steel sculptures are paired with original flute compositions, each one created in tandem with the work or inspired by the natural environments that shaped it. As you walk through the gallery, QR codes beside the sculptures allow you to listen to the music right from your phone—creating a quiet, intimate dialogue between form and sound.

“Blacksmithing and music are ancient languages,” Christopher says. “They speak to something timeless in us. Both have shaped our culture and our spirit. With this exhibition, I’m inviting people to feel that connection—to see and hear how deeply linked they are.”

Inspiration

Where Breath Meets Steel

At the heart of Forged in Sound is Christopher’s practice of flute improvisation—a musical process that mirrors the flow and spontaneity of forging hot steel. Whether standing beside an anvil or beneath canyon walls, he plays in response to the energy around him. The music is unplanned, intuitive, and deeply connected to the environments that inspire his work. During the opening, Christopher will perform live amidst his sculptures, offering visitors a chance to hear the breath and rhythm that shaped the pieces on view.

Man playing a flute in front of colorful musical instrument decorations

Artistic metal sculptures on stands against a white wall in an exhibition setting.

New creations

Exclusive Viewing

The exhibition features some of Christopher’s newest sculptures, including several exclusive pieces being shown for the first time. A short film will also be playing in the gallery, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the forging process and the creative relationship between sound and steel.

Whether you’re a collector, a music lover, or someone who simply enjoys experiencing art in new ways, Forged in Sound is an invitation to slow down, listen closely, and feel the connection between breath, rhythm, and forged form.