Conrad Hicks is a Cape Town-based artist, blacksmith, and tool-maker renowned for his expressive hand-forged metalwork and commitment to traditional blacksmithing techniques. Rooted in craftsmanship and guided by intuition, his practice is both deeply physical and profoundly philosophical - an instinctive search for beauty shaped by fire, force, and form.
Conrad works exclusively with traditional jointing methods, believing that these ancient techniques are integral to the symbolic and structural integrity of each piece. Through a process of cutting, heating, hammering, pressing, and stretching metal, he uncovers a primal, archetypal language - one that echoes ancient art forms while speaking to contemporary aesthetics.
All of his creations, whether sculptural or functional, are conceived as tools - extensions of the human hand and spirit. His work is distinguished by its raw texture, organic abstraction, and a tactile relationship with nature. Blurring the lines between art, craft, and design, Conrad Hicks invites viewers to engage not only with material beauty, but with the deeper narrative embedded in the making - where tool, object, and art converge in elemental harmony.
Conrad works on a broad variety of commissions which range from architectural projects to sculptures for private collections. Some of his pieces can be viewed at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Tokara Winery, The Cape Quarter, 2010 World Cup Hero Walk and other visitor attractions.