SCULPTURE SMITH
METAL SCULPTOR • HILLSBOROUGH, NC
Custom Made Metal Sculptures and Commissions
If you've ever stopped in front of a home or business because of the sculpture out front, you know what one piece can do for a space. I'm Jason Smith, Sculpture Smith™, a metal sculptor in Hillsborough, North Carolina, with 38 years working with metal. I make custom made sculptures for homes, gardens, campuses, businesses and public spaces, and I take commissions from anywhere in the US.
I come from four generations of jewelers and started out as a goldsmith, so the small details matter to me as much as the big shapes. Metal has always drawn me in. It's strong enough to stand outside through every season, yet it can be shaped into curves that look almost weightless.
How a commission works
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Tell me about your space. Share what you picture there, and send a few photos of the spot. Photos help a lot.
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Talk it through. I talk through your vision and budget with you by phone or email. I work with each client to fit their budget.
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See it first. I make a rendering of the piece in your own landscape, using photos of your site, so you can judge the scale, the forms and the setting before anything is built.
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I build it. Once you're happy with the rendering, I build it. Most commissions take about 90 days. The timeline varies with the size and complexity of the piece.
What I build with
I build sculpture in steel, stainless steel, and weathering Corten steel. There isn't one best material. It depends on your site, your style and how you want the piece to age, and I'll help you choose.
Stainless steel resists rust and keeps its shine. Corten is designed to weather to a stable, warm rust-brown surface. Patina finishes on sealed mild steel give color, like the blue and turquoise on With Love.
Custom made metal sculpture across the US
My sculptures are in 29 states and 5 countries. My piece The Sound of Tranquility received the Town of Hillsborough's 2025 Purchase Award at the Uproar Festival of Public Art. I can install on site, and my pieces stand in places like Berlin, Maryland, St. Petersburg, Florida, Grand Junction, Colorado, St. George, Utah and Pittsboro, North Carolina. If you're in another state, that doesn't change how a commission works.
Electrified Bike
10 ft mild steel in translucent patinas, in the showroom of Electrified E-Bikes in St. Petersburg, Florida (2025).
With Love
8 ft 3 in mild steel heart in blue and turquoise patinas, at the entrance of HopeWest's hospice center in Grand Junction, Colorado (2020).
Spiritual Hug
7 ft curved black steel arc holding a steel sphere in translucent blue patina with striations, in a private garden in Nebo, North Carolina.
Peaceful Oasis
5 ft steel with a red crescent arc over a teal patina ring, on the Serenity Trail at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, North Carolina (2023).
For towns, arts commissions and businesses, see my public art and commercial sculpture page.
Where my sculptures are installed
My sculptures are in 29 states and Washington, DC, and in Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. That makes 5 countries with the USA, all from one studio in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
A few of the places (cities only):
Arizona: Scottsdale
California: Malibu, Newport Beach and Nevada City
Colorado: Grand Junction
Connecticut: Bloomfield
Florida: Boca Raton, Clearwater, Miami, St. Petersburg and Tampa
Georgia: Peachtree City
Illinois: Chicago
Maryland: Berlin and Potomac
Massachusetts: Boston, Carlisle and Lexington
New York: New York and Staten Island
North Carolina: Asheville, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, Nebo and Pittsboro
Pennsylvania: Gladwyne
Tennessee: Nashville
Utah: St. George
Washington: Seattle and Vancouver
Wisconsin: Madison
Wherever you are in the US, I'll ship your sculpture by freight, and I can install it on site if you'd like.
Where my custom made metal sculptures have landed
Shipping and installation
I build a custom wooden crate for each piece and ship it by freight anywhere in the US. I can install on site personally, anywhere in the country, and I've installed as far as St. George, Utah. Travel is quoted by location.
Each piece needs a solid, level base. My sculptures can sit on pavers from any home improvement store. For commercial installs, I usually use a concrete base with anchor bolts instead. I'll give you the measurements up front so the base is ready when the sculpture arrives.
What affects the cost
Smaller pieces start around $1,800, and large commissions and public art can run over $20,000. Every piece I make is custom made for its site.
Most of my work is commissioned. I also have finished pieces for sale at my home studio and at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts.
Questions about commissions
How much does a custom made metal sculpture cost?
Smaller pieces start around $1,800, and large commissions and public art can run over $20,000. The price depends on size, materials and complexity. Tell me about your space through the contact form, and I'll send you a quote.
How long does a custom made sculpture commission take?
Most commissions take about 90 days. The timeline varies with the size and complexity of the piece.
Can I see what the sculpture will look like before it's built?
Yes. Before I build anything, I make a rendering of the piece in your own landscape, using photos of your site.
Can you make a custom made sculpture in stainless steel?
Yes. Stand Tall is a 10 ft stainless steel sculpture in Berlin, Maryland. I also work in steel and weathering Corten steel.
Do you take commissions outside North Carolina?
Yes. I take commissions nationwide. My sculptures are in 29 states and 5 countries, and I ship by freight and can install on site anywhere in the US.
Will a steel sculpture hold up outdoors?
Stainless steel resists rust. My mild steel pieces are sealed, so they hold up great outdoors. Corten is meant to form a protective rust-colored layer, which is part of its look. Care is simple: wipe the sculpture with a microfiber cloth and rinse it with water, with mild soap if necessary.
Do you install custom metal sculptures outside North Carolina?
Yes. I build a custom wooden crate and ship by freight anywhere in the US. I can install on site if you'd like, and I've installed as far as St. George, Utah. My sculptures are in 29 states and 5 countries. Travel is quoted by location.
Do you make custom metal sculptures for homes and gardens?
Yes. I make sculptures for homes, gardens, campuses, businesses and public spaces. Spiritual Hug, a 7 ft curved black steel arc holding a steel sphere in translucent blue patina with striations, lives in a private garden in Nebo, North Carolina. Tell me about your space and I'll help you pick the size, material and spot.
More answers are on my questions page.
Start your commission
If you have a spot in mind for a custom made sculpture, send me a note through the contact form or call me at 919-423-5978.