Ben & Lael wholesale

About Ben & Lael

My name is Ben Caldwell, and I am an artist specializing in functional, timeless metalwork. My work is hammered, raised, and chased by hand, resulting in one-of-a-kind creations that will far outlast their creator. I think of my metalwork as the marriage of beauty and functionality, something you don’t see much of these days. Education & Training I am a classically trained painter and sculptor, and received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tufts University in 1991. I then trained further at The Studio School of New York, Harvard University, and The Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Before metalwork, I made everything from custom guitars to West African drums, but I wasn’t making much of a living until my father was approached by metal worker Terry Talley. Terry was a metal artist of the old school. Dying of lymphoma, he asked if I would be interested in training under him. He knew I was an artist, and wanted to pass this craft on. Honored, I quit my job in 1999 to train with Terry full-time. Thanks to my classical background and Terry’s teaching, I caught on quickly, and began to invent, design, and build many of my own tools. With the help of Terry, my parents, and my wife, Lael, I started Ben & Lael Inc., creating custom copper, silver, and enamel art. Since then, I received the Tennessee Artists’ Guild’s “Emerging Artist of the Year” award, and had work commissioned as a wedding gift for Amy Grant and Vince Gill.Read their story