Although Steve Heine never practiced traditional architecture, the Kentucky native thinks of his modern, multi-layered artwork as architecture on a small scale.
Artist: One of nine kids and the second-born of identical twins, Heine grew up in a loud, raucous house in Louisville. He later graduated from the University of Kentucky’s College of Architecture in 1996 as an older, non-traditional student.
He initially assumed he would be an architect. But, during a five-year design program, Heine began to wonder if he could combine his diverse interests in architecture, art and language to carve out his own creative practice.
Company/studio: Heine started Cranium Design in 1998 in Louisville, to create commissioned art for homes and corporate clients.
Heine maintains two studio spaces: One, a large studio on five quiet acres east of Louisville. This is where he keeps his woodworking equipment, and where he can make a mess.
When his two daughters were young, Heine created a second studio in the family’s historic home, where clients can meet him and see some of his work. Clementine, a rescued golden retriever, keeps him company.
Company name: “I love words,” said Heine. “Cranium is a nod to the brain, the source of vision, creativity and thoughtful design.”
Art: Minimal, multi-layered wall-mounted pieces. Heine thinks of his artwork – with its construction, in-between spaces and subtle play of light and shadow — as small-scale architecture.
Materials: Laser-cut steel, paint or primer, and often integrated LED lighting. Lately, Heine has been using small magnets as both an elegant connection of steel to steel and a visual design element.
Heine typically creates his work as 1:2 scale models. These small study models are about 8 inches to 12 inches square. They are not for sale.
Rather, one single, larger version of each scale model is available for commission. These larger pieces, typically from 16 inches to 24 inches square, sell for between $2,300 and $3,700. Heine has created work as large as 48 inches by 48 inches.
Process:
- Designs in Adobe Illustrator and exports the final version of the design to a laser-cutter.
- Digital design file then drives the laser-cutting machine, and a piece of steel sheet is precisely cut.
- Once the steel is cut, it’s cleaned, sanded, subtly folded, if necessary, and painted.
- Then he constructs a base or frame from poplar.
- LED lights can be integrated or steel and magnets joined to complete a piece.
Favorite tools:
- A portable drill press that he has owned for twenty-five years. “It’s a small, powerful beast that I can easily move around my work tabletop,” said Heine. “I use it to place magnets accurately within my work.”
- A little Parmesan cheese grater that cranks by hand. “My wife bought it in Venice in the winter of 1993,” he said. “I told her it would never hold up.”
Inspirations: Many, including:
- Art of Ellsworth Kelly, Carmen Herrera and Donald Judd.
- Textile work of Bauhaus artist Anni Albers.
- Architecture of Le Corbusier and Peter Zumthor.
- Recently the novels “James” by Percival Everett and Paul Harding’s “This Other Eden.”
Recent news: Two of Heine’s study models (“New Roses” and “Cut Roses”) have been juried into the 2024 Louisville Visual Art Ohio Valley Biennial at the Louisville Visual Art gallery. Through Oct. 24.
Unusual & recent projects:
- “New Roses” was commissioned as the 2024 Louisville Visual Art Honors awards. Heine created five versions of the award, each with its own distinct palette of roses.
- In ongoing series of pieces, Heine uses a QR code as a visual metaphor for the artful, mesmeric and beguiling distortion of language in American political discourse. Heine chooses a specific political phrase and then generates and transforms the QR code for that phrase.
Commissions: craniumglass.squarespace.com.
Buy now: One of Heine’s pieces, “Night Clouds,” is on exhibit at Louisville’s Capacity Contemporary Exchange in Louisville. The piece ($2,400) is 18 inches x 18 inches x 3 inches.
Connect:
- Instagram: @craniumglass.
- Email: [email protected]
