METAL STUDIOS
The Metal Museum offers a unique experience where visitors can see works in the galleries and then step into the Studios to watch the making process firsthand. The Studios serve as both an educational space for the public and an international community of artists through workshops, conferences, apprenticeships, and internships. The Metal Studios also produce commissioned work and provide repair and restoration services for metal items brought in by the public.
THE BLACKSMITH SHOP
Open to the public since 1985, the Blacksmith Shop, also known as the Smithy, offers visitors the chance to see blacksmiths at work while also hosting workshops by visiting artists and regularly scheduled classes led by resident artists. Museum staff also completes special commissions for public and private clients, including projects for the Memphis Zoo, the U.S.S. Tennessee, and the Memphis in May International Barbecue Cooking Contest. Expanded in 1993 with support from Schering-Plough and major tool and equipment donations from S. Fargotstein and Sons, the Blacksmith Shop also includes a state-of-the-art metals repair and restoration facility, with past work including the gates at Graceland, the Elvis Presley statue at the Memphis Visitor Center, cemetery gates in Pontiac, Illinois, and bronze leaves for the Oklahoma State Capitol.
THE FOUNDRY
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Stanley Lawler, president of Birmingham-based Lawler Machine and Foundry, provided funding for the foundry located west of the Smithy. The foundry houses melt furnaces, a kiln, and molding equipment for green sand casting. Founded in 1933, Lawler Machine and Foundry remains a leading supplier of cast and forged iron components for the ornamental iron industry and also cast the railings for the Metal Museum’s Riverbluff Pavilion, a site used for weddings and concert performances overlooking the Mississippi River bluff.
FINE METALS
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The Metal Museum at Overton Park, opening September 5, 2026, will include a Fine Metals Studio, the Martha Banyas Enamel Studio, and a dedicated demonstration area connecting the two. While fine metals has always been part of the Museum’s work, it has received less emphasis than larger-scale practices due to dedicated space and ventilation limitations in the Museum’s current Bluff location. With dedicated studio space in Overton Park, the Museum will be able to expand its programming to include classes for all ages, along with workshops and conferences for artists from across the country and around the world.
REPAIRS AND RESTORATION
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The Metal Museum’s Repair & Restoration Lab takes on metal repair projects year-round, led by in-house Repair Specialist Kevin Burge, who has worked in the lab for over a decade. The team restores a wide range of objects including sculptures, lamps, serving ware such as teapots and trays, bed frames, antiques, and more. The facility also handles larger restoration work, with past projects including the gates at Graceland, the Elvis Presley statue at the Memphis Visitor Center, cemetery gates in Pontiac, Illinois, and bronze leaves for the Oklahoma State Capitol. Repair projects must be inspected in person before a cost estimate can be provided; items can be brought to the Smithy with contact information left on site, and most projects are completed in 6–8 weeks, with welding work sometimes requiring additional time.
CLASSES
Whether you're experienced or trying something new, there’s a class for you. Sign up at the Metal Museum today.
COMMISSIONS
When you commission work through the Metal Museum, you support the Museum’s programs and help train the next generation of metalsmiths.
REPAIRS
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Bring your metal repair, restoration, or heirloom piece to the Metal Museum for expert restoration.