Foundry to Gallery: An Introduction

Art has always been about process for me, about sweat, fire, story, and soul. It started with my own hands as early as I can remember, to sculpting and casting at a small family-owned foundry in my early 20s and 30s and now at Hefestus Fine Arts, where I’ve spent years refining the craft and helping other artists bring their visions to life in bronze. The foundry has been a sanctuary of creation, a place where permanence meets passion. There came a point where opportunity kept knocking on the door, and I realized the process deserved a proper home on the other side too…a space not just for making, but for sharing.

So welcome to The Foundry and Gallery at Grapevine…this expansion isn’t just about displaying art in a room. It’s a continuation of the journey, from the first sketch to the molten bronze, to the moment someone locks eyes with a finished piece and feels something shift. Grapevine, with its deep Texas roots and vibrant arts culture, is the perfect backdrop for this next chapter. This space has long held its roots and it's been an honor to carry it forward, shaping a foundry and gallery that brings the foundation into the present, where time-honored techniques and modern creativity live side by side.

As both sculptor and now gallerist, I carry the responsibility of ethical representation. I know what it means to pour months into a single piece, and I know how vulnerable it feels to release that work into the world. At The Foundry & Gallery, we don't just sell art-we steward it. Every artist represented here is chosen with care, and every sale honors the integrity of the work and the hands that made it.

This space is for the ones who shape, mold, weld, and dream. It's for the collectors who want more than decoration-they want a story. And it's for the next chapter of what Hefestus has always been about: building something that lasts.

Whether you're stepping into the studio, the foundry space, or the gallery floor…welcome to the whole picture.

-Jimmy Hill
Artist. Sculptor. Founder.