Artists of Albuquerque

Organic Materials Form the Foundation of Ben Forgey’s Art

By Leon Sterling, 9-09-05

By Leon Sterling

One of the first things you notice about anything Ben Forgey makes is that it’s remarkably eye-catching, whether it’s his functional art or his pure art – constructions made with his favorite materials: found wood and driftwood. His work makes you stop, look and smile. And even though Forgey only began making functional and creative art when he moved to New Mexico in 1990, he’s by no means limited to this state. He has had highly successful shows in Italy and Spain, and created custom furniture for several clients throughout the U.S.

For me, having arrived in New Mexico just over a year ago, Forgey’s work somehow became emblematic of the state. It cheers you up just to see it – pretty much the way New Mexico’s sky, mountains and landscape affect your spirits.

If you’ve been through Albuquerque in the last ten years, there’s a good chance that you’ve had a meal at The Range Café either in town or at their original spot in Bernalillo, directly north of Albuquerque. And if you’ve had a meal at The Range then you’ve already seen some of Ben Forgey’s unique work: his whimsical chairs, his striking chandeliers and his remarkable, magical mirrors.

New Mexico is a uniquely supportive environment for every kind of artist. But it would no doubt be challenging for any of our artists to say precisely “why.� Each will mention the obvious things – the sky, the light, the landscapes – but it’s hard for almost anyone to put their finger on the feeling that’s generated in some of us. The feeling that kept bringing Georgia O’Keefe keep back again and again, even when her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz, did not return. Innumerable artists have followed since Georgia O’Keefe first discovered the uniquely nurturing characteristics of New Mexico in 1917.

Does all of this mean that New Mexico is a magic pill for anyone who wants to be some kind of artist? Hardly. It’s more like a golden opportunity. Saint Augustine said, “God makes the wind, but man must raise the sail.� Just moving to New Mexico won’t necessarily make anyone anything, except maybe a little more relaxed. You have to want to bring “it� out. If you do, New Mexico is one of those rare places that not only allows the process to happen, it supports it.

So it may be that people like me and Ben Forgey and so many others I’ve met since coming to New Mexico were ready to raise the sail. I’m certainly glad that Ben chose this state as his home.

Ben Forgey is an artist and furniture designer who employs an organic approach to both. His individual pieces, which have sold throughout the world, are often created from found material, primarily driftwood, to form pieces as natural when completed as they were in rivers and oceans. A unique hallmark of Forgey’s work is how his pieces appear to float, echoing their state when discovered in nature.

In the late 1990s, Forgey lived in Italy, where he was awarded four gallery shows and created more than 150 pieces of furniture and sculpture. Articles about him appeared in more than 90 Italian publications.

In 2001, Forgey was invited to exhibit at a gallery in Barcelona, Spain. Upon arrival, he went immediately to nearby Mediterranean beaches to gather driftwood. All of the finished works, constructed entirely of local materials, sold within a few weeks.

In 2003, Forgey completed a range of career-defining pieces for the vacation home of a well-known landscape architect. Located on Maryland’s eastern shore, this unusual house and its rugged setting are now fully furnished with Forgey’s extravagant yet comfortable chairs and tables, his massive yet buoyant bed frames, and his stunningly original yet environmentally compatible gazebo, a focal point for James van Sweden's entire property.

Ben Forgey has regular shows in Albuquerque and the burgeoning Bernalillo galleries. His latest work is on display in Santa Fe at Studio HVL. You can take a look at some of the work at Studio HVL's website

Ben Forgey: furniture and art currently on display in Santa Fe

I recently spoke with Ben about his experiences and his evolution:

LS: When did you first know you wanted to become an artist?

BF: I wouldn’t have become an artist if I hadn’t moved out here. The openness of the landscape creates openness, both personally and culturally. I’ve heard that there are 10,000 artists between Santa Fe and Taos. The art world in New Mexico crosses a lot of genres, from functional art to creative art, and it doesn’t seem like we’re competitive – except maybe in Santa Fe.

LS: How did you happen to choose New Mexico?

BF: I moved to New Mexico after also considering Miami, Key West and New Orleans. I was looking for a place that would be a significant change from where I grew up in Virginia. New Mexico kept drawing me and I ended up in Algodones, which is north of Albuquerque. Some amazing things happened to me when I first visited there, including finding a very old piece of pottery and an arrowhead.

LS: How did your art first emerge?

BF: After looking for a long time for a job, I found work as a proofreader for an art history magazine. It was the only job I could get and I wasn’t especially great at it. But there weren’t a lot of jobs for people with history degrees in New Mexico. I had driven across country on a motorcycle, so I had no furniture. After a while, I started collecting sticks and driftwood and putting furniture together. Little by little, more and more people who saw the pieces would ask if I would make them some. Then I started going to the Santa Fe flea market and selling pieces. After a while, I was doing it for a living.

LS: What’s kept you here in the Albuquerque area?

BF: It’s a little easier to live here. In the west, there’s a little more space for dreamers. I’ve been doing as much art as furniture, and making the furniture has become easier because of the art. I’m not trying to choose, I work on whatever comes up. But I have the freedom to do that here.

LS: How was it living in Italy?

BF: My time in Italy often seemed surreal. I was passing the statue of David and the Duomo on my way to the hardware store.

LS: How would you characterize the kind of work you do?

BF: I would describe my work as "knowing folk art." I like to keep the energy and daring of the amateur. This suits my personality since I’m not a perfectionist. Rather than just working hard to develop my skills, I'm working to strengthen and deepen the layers of meaning in my work.

LS: What are your hopes for the near-future?

To be able to work with a gallery or an agent who will handle the selling for me – that’s the hardest part. I’m not as good as some at the kind of socializing required to be a tremendously successful artist. So my hope is to have an agent who is loyal, supportive and allows me to grow.

LS: Can you talk about your inspiration?

BF: My artistic inspiration, as well as my professional education, is in the vast landscapes and arching skies of the Southwest; the wild waters and grasses of the desert itself; the exotic shapes of the piñon roots and cottonwood branches you see everywhere; the endurance of the neighboring pueblo people and descendants of Spanish settlers; the sustaining love of friends and family. From these I’ve learned to see beneath surfaces, to discover underlying structures, to honor the suspended movement of natural objects.


For more information on Ben Forgey’s work: call 505/550-2879 or visit this website

Leon Sterling is an award-winning advertising, public relations and marketing communications writer/consultant now located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He can be reached via e-mail at:

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