Biography  /  Scope of Work :

Lee W. Badger's life-long career as a self-employed artist-blacksmith began during the 1970's in the Colorado Rockies and brought him to the National Capital region in the late 1980's.  He is a sculptor, furniture maker and the owner, director and chief talent of Anvil Works®, in business since 1981.  He taught and worked as an artist-in-residence at Glen Echo National Park in suburban Washington, DC from 1989 to 1993.

As the scope of his work and business increased, Badger sought a regionally central location where he could create a workshop of his own design.  In 1998 he built the Anvil Works studio and metal workshop in Hedgesville, W.Va.  This location where the Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys meet in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle provides easy access to industrial and artistic resources throughout the entire Mid-Atlantic region.

Lee Badger specializes in ornamental metal design and the creation of hand crafted metal work for home and garden. As a sculptor and furniture maker, he is a member of  International Sculpture Center and The Furniture Society. He also belongs to national, regional and local artist-blacksmith guilds and associations, and attends metalsmithing workshops and craft conferences wherever his interests may lead.

Lee Badger's work and creative achievements consistently earn honors and awards in museum and gallery exhibitions. The mainstay of Anvil Works' studio business is a regular flow of privately commissioned work.  Although private furniture commissions predominate at Anvil Works, interior and landscape architectural projects create variety and sculpture fills out the studio schedule as time allows.

Selected Recent Awards, Exhibitions, Commissions:

2012
▪ “City of Valparaiso Art Walk” Juried public art exhibition. Valparaiso, IN
▪ “SculptureWalk 2012" Juried public art exhibition. Sioux Falls, SD
▪ “2012 Outdoor Sculpture” Art & Cultural Center. Portsmouth, VA
▪ “Allied Artists of W. Va. Juried Exhibition” Parkersburg, WV
▪ “Sculpture Tour 2012” Juried public art exhibition. Eau Claire, WI

2011
▪ “CityArt walking sculpture tour” Juried public art exhibition. Mankato, MN
▪ Best of Show (Media other than bronze) “SculptureWalk 2011" Sioux Falls, SD
▪ “ArtInPlace” Juried public art exhibition. Charlottesville, VA
▪ “West Virginia Art & Craft Guild 8th Biennial Competition Exhibition” Juried traveling exhibition.
          Parkersburg, Wheeling and Beckley, WV

2010
▪ “2010 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition” Juried public art exhibition. Portsmouth, VA
▪ “SculptureWalk 2010" Juried public art exhibition. Sioux Falls, SD
▪ Invitational exhibition. Orpheum Theater Center Courtyard, Sioux Falls,SD

2009
▪“SculptureWalk 2009" Juried public art exhibition. Sioux Falls, SD
▪“Gallery in the Park” Public sculpture exhibition. Altona, Manitoba
▪“AIR - Art In Roanoke” Juried public art exhibition. Roanoke, VA

2008
▪ Institutional Commission: ECGC Distributors Ltd., Mechanicsburg, PA
▪“SculptureWalk 2008" Juried public art exhibition. Sioux Falls, SD

2007
▪ Juror’s Award of Excellence: “34th Annual Member’s Craft Exhibition”
          Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE
▪“2007 Annual Juried Sculpture Show” Craven Arts Council, New Bern, NC
▪“Nancy Rodig Regional Exhibition” Juried exhibition. The Arts Centre, Martinsburg, WV
▪“All About Metal” Invitational exhibition. Morgan Arts Council, Berkeley Springs, WV
▪“SculptureWalk 2007" Juried public art exhibition. Sioux Falls, SD
▪“A Twist on Tradition” Juried exhibition. Artisans Center of Virginia, Waynesboro, VA
   
2006
▪ Best in Show “West Virginia Art & Craft Guild 6th Biennial Competition Exhibition”
          Juried traveling exhibition.  Parkersburg, Hurricane and Wheeling, WV
▪ Juror’s Award of Excellence: “33rd Annual Member’s Craft Exhibition”.
          Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE
▪ Institutional Commission: ECGC Distributors Ltd., Mechanicsburg, PA
▪“Show Me Your Metal” Juried exhibition. Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA

2005
▪ Best Sculpture “67th Annual Member’s Fine Art Exhibition”
          Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE
▪ Best in Show “32nd Annual Member’s Craft Exhibition"
          Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE
▪ Institutional Commission: ECGC Distributors Ltd., Mechanicsburg, PA
▪“Appalachian Corridors, 2005" Juried Exhibition. Avampato Museum, Charleston, WV