I am an artist and bladesmith with a passion for natural materials and the re-use and re-imagination of man-made waste.
I’ve developed a life-long holistic belief in seasonal produce, sustainable materiality & circular living by working with waste from the seashore, skips, industrial salvage, even high-end dining experiences with ingredients destined for landfill.
My practice allows one foot in the two worlds of craft & visual arts - at the intersection of these forms is where I forge together the history and stories of the materials involved into elemental sculptures for use in daily life.
My work explores the interaction of metallurgy, complex welding techniques, contemporary forging and high-level joinery to create individual working pieces of art.
The resulting knives are a fulfilment of craft and art principles – function and form. The vision; a dedication to both functionality and decorative purposes. Precision of detail drives the functionality of the piece, whilst the selection of materials dictates form; both the aesthetic and the tactile nature of the piece. The layering of the hand-laminated steel perfectly complements the natural layers of the wood grain of the handle.
As an object, the knife is the culmination of traditional skills and knowledge of material – the language of craft. The unique patterns formed in the forging process whilst laminating the steel speak of rivers cutting through the contours of the land, geographical processes that take eons to shape the land that we find naturally pleasing.
Activities
Bio, Product Design, Fine Art, Research, Others
Awards
Biography
Portfolio :
I work exclusively to commission for private clients, businesses and galleries.
Upcoming – Selected for joint exhibition, April 2025, Súil Gallery, Ennis, Ireland
- Selected for Fertile Ground, Munich Jewellery Week, March 2025, Donner Gallery, Germany
- Selected for Notions: Home, Place and Speculations, Feb 2025, Limerick, Ireland
- Selected as National Climate Ambassador, An Taisce, Ireland
2024 – Selection for European Prize for Applied Arts exhibition presented by the World Crafts Council and BeCraft, Belgium
- Selected for Homo Faber Exhibition ‘The Journey of Life’, Venice, Italy
- Selected for CONTOURS exhibition and auction, curated by Hermans Auctioneers, Dublin
- Selected for Rings In Water International Exhibition, presented by ULUV, Slovakia
- Selected for ‘Tools as Art’ international exhibition, American Artist Blacksmiths Assoc, USA
- Inclusion to Arts and Industry metalwork permanent collection, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin
2023 – Inclusion in ‘Pathways’ exhibition for August Craft Month, Belfast, N. Ireland
- Inclusion in Kokland International Festival of Handicrafters, Uzbekistan
- Inclusion of work into Homo Faber International Crafts Guide
Pre-2023 All work is to private commission and has sold to chefs, private buyers and restaurants from around the world; commissions have included The National Gallery of Ireland, Ballymaloe Cookery School, DesignPop, Jameson Whiskey, Tullamore Dew, The Taste of West Cork, The Web Summit, Irish Museum of Modern Art, with collaborative pieces for The Devon Guild of Crafts and OXO Tower, London
Furniture Commissions:
2018 – Interior deign and build of restaurant including kitchen and feature dining table, Irish oak, concrete, steel, ceramics, reclaimed timbers. Little Fox, Ennistymon.
2017 – Dining table, bench set and book shelves in Irish oak and coreten steel, private collector, Dublin and New York.
2015 – Interior design of home and kitchen build, reclaimed timber, concrete, glass, steel. Ard Bia House, Galway
2014 – Dining table for food hall in National Gallery of Ireland – Irish oak and mild steel, commissioned by Chef & restauranteur Domini Kemp and the National Gallery, Dublin
2012 - 2014 – Sculptural furniture and site specific sculptures for entrances and stages for The Web Summit, reclaimed timers, mixed media. Dublin
2014 – Design and build experimental kitchen and dining tables, Irishh oak, concrete, steel. The Fumbally Stables, Dublin
2014 – Concept and build features for Dilisk Food Project pop up dining experience, reclaimed timbers, mixed media. Connemara
2013 - 2017 – Site specific sculptures for Ballymaloe Litfest, mixed media and reclaimed timbers. Cork
Education :
2023 – Smelting and bloom iron refinement course, various tutors, The Furnace Festival, Ireland
2022 – Damascus Integral knife workshop, tutor Nick Anger, Center for Metal Arts, USA
2022 – Composite Mosaic damascus workshop, tutor Salem Struab, Center for Metal Arts
2020 - Laminated steel workshop Level 1 and 2, tutor Joel Black, Herefordshire UK
2019 - Forging chefs knives and damascus steel introduction, tutor Joel Black, Herefordshire
2018 – Intermediate Blacksmith course, Limerick CFE, Ireland
2018 - MIG Welding course, Shannon Training Centre, Ireland
2007 - 2010 - Environmental building and Eco materials project for development of new schools in Africa, led by Partner Ghana and Sabre Trust, Western Region, Ghana.
2004 – 2005 - Masters In Primary Education, Worcester University via Somerset SCITT Programme, UK
2000 – 2003 - Sculptural Furniture Making Apprenticship, Carl Hahn Designs, Devon, UK
1996 – 1999 - Bsc Environmental Chemistry, University of Plymouth, UK.
Media:
2024 – THINK BUSINESS – Bank Of Ireland profile piece, John Kennedy
https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/under-one-roof-sam-gleeson-blade-smith-ennistymon/
2024 – We Are Makers, podcast series – international arts and crafts, Scotland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev5UsVrfqXM
2024 – Visual Artist Ireland, The Van magazine – artist profile, Thomas Pool
https://visualartistsireland.com/steel-sam-gleeson
2024 – Blade Runners, Irish Times magazine, feature article, Deirdre McQuillan
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/fashion/2024/07/07/blade-runners-knife-craftsmen-grind-the-sharpest-tools-to-hone-their-cult-status/
2024 – We Are Makers, Issue 10 – international arts and crafts magazine, Scotland
2023/4 – ‘Repair, Reuse, Rewear’ a work in progress short film for Finisterre, UK
2022 - Imeall, TG4 – Irish arts programme, feature piece
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_idiXAzBG5w&t=3s
2022 – The Daily Telegraph UK, Saturday Magazine travel article, Ciara Mcquillan
2021 – Introducing, Irish Examiner Magazine, feature article, Joe Mcnamee
https://www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-40328006.html
2021 – Sharp Minds, Irish Independent, Feature article, Bairbre Power
https://www.independent.ie/style/fashion/fashion-news/sharp-minds-five-innovatorsreceive-10000-bursary-to-give-crafty-designs-a-leg-up-in-retail-40244599.html
2021 – The Home Show, Newstalk FM, Irish radio broadcast, feature piece
2020 – Making the cut – introducing Irelands artisan knife makers, Food and Wine Magazine, Alex Meehan
2020 – WeAreMakers – Issue 1 - International makers magazine, Scotland
2018 – Carved Out – Image Interiors magazine, article and photographs, Lauren Heskin.
2018 – The Gannet – international food magazine, feature article.
2018 – Irish Times Magazine – Carving a niche, article for Ulster Bank
Awards Received :
2024 – Arts Council Ireland – Agility Award
2024 – Golden Fleece Awards – Applied Arts shortlist prize
2024 – Clare County Council – Local Area Grants Scheme, Artist Support
2024 – Creative Ireland – Projects Award teaching support
2024 – Creative Europe / Goethe Institute – Culture Moves education award
2024 – World Crafts Council - education support
2023 – Future Makers Award – Emerging Maker, travel and education support
2023 -Creative Ireland – Projects Award workshop support
2023 – Clare County Council – Local Area Grants Scheme, Artist Support
2022 – Clare County Council – Community Artist Support Grant
2021 – RDS Crafts Award - professional development bursary
2020 – Future Makers Award – Emerging Maker, studio support
2018 – ‘One to Watch for 2019’ , Image interiors Magazine
Language
English
Place
Ennistymon / Ireland
