Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Allen
Hi chase, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In August of 2001, at the ripe old age of 24, Chase Allen decided to make some drastic changes in his life. After spending his first two years out of college in a high stress development real estate office, Chase had an epiphany. He decided that “life was too short” was not just any catch phrase, it was one he wanted to live out. After finding inspiration in a chance meeting with an abstract metal artist one day while on vacation, Chase found the direction of his life turning full speed into the world of steel sculpture.
Within a couple days of this chance meeting, Chase began slipping away from the office for a “long lunch” aka as welding lessons at the local mechanics shop. At the first moment he welded two pieces of steel together, destiny took over. Chase’s story is that he, for whatever reason, began visualizing his life as a “metal artist” the second the sparks flew. He claim’s that his vision was so clear that it was “almost watching a movie with myself in it”. After welding those first two pieces of steel together, designs and creations would begin flooding into the forefront of his mind and the abstract activity of his brain would simply never be the same again.
Completely overcome with his new passion, Chase immediately enrolled in a night class at a local technical school that offered instructional welding and steel cutting techniques. Each class was spent creating a multitude of different sculptures. When one of his first sculptures sold at a local silent auction, Chase received just the right amount of confidence needed to quit his job in order to test the world on wether or not he could support himself on creativity alone.
At the same time, Chase stumbled upon the dirt roads of Daufuskie and fell fast in love with the natural beauty and simple life of the people living outside of the resorts. Completely aware that he was in the middle of a bridge-less island, Chase decided Daufuskie was the perfect match for his newly found art career vision. Although practically penniless at the time, Chase made perfect use of his “good credit” deciding to max out a $7000 credit card to start his metal art business. This total turned out to be just enough money for purchasing the essential tools, rent his dream Daufuskie cottage and to purchase a tent (which was the make-shift studio from 2001-2005).
Taking his inspiration from this underdeveloped antiqued island as well as from Daufuskie’s pristine marine environment, Chase began to develop a metal-finishing process that all together took 2-3 years to perfect. With his front porch as his gallery, Chase operated on the “honor system” which basically means that people took art without paying for it at the point of sale. Visitors loved and supported this “honor system” while shopping at The Iron Fish Gallery because of the no-pressure atmosphere. Side note…this “honor system” concept actually came about out because Chase never could figure a way to lock an open aired front porch gallery.
Today the studio is no longer a tent and the gallery is no longer located on the wrap around porch of Chase’s historic cottage. Chase Allen and his Iron Fish Gallery has emerged from what was first known a Daufuskie local landmark into a national name in the world of handcrafted coastal decor. Since launching www.ironfishart.com, Chase has been featured in Southern Living, Coastal Living, Martha Stewart Living, Charleston Home, Charleston, The South, and Palmetto Bluff Magazine to name a few. Chase also won the 2014 Martha Stewart Sponsored American Made Audience Choice Award further establishing himself as a permanent contributor on a select stage of America’s most prolific professional artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
in the beginning, walking away from a “traditional life” was frowned upon and even chastised at times
Of course there were financial struggles in the beginning but that was 24 years ago now.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a metal artisan and I’m most known for my gallery on Daufuskie Island, The Iron Fish Gallery. Internationally I believe I’m most known for my mermaid sculptures, I’ve shipped them as far as Australia.
I’m most proud of the focus I’ve been able to maintain over the years. I believe it’s this focus that has allowed me thrive for 24 years.
My ability to focus on a vision and my natural creativity sets me apart from others in the artisan/art world.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people don’t know that I have a weird ability to make accurate estimates. My brain seems to calculate just about everything with or without my knowledge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ironfishart.com
- Instagram: @ironfisart
- Facebook: ironfishart
