Modern Art Creations turns Tampa welding shop into fine art gallery

Modern Art Creations is expanding its Tampa fabrication shop into a contemporary art gallery and sculpture platform built around reclaimed metal, custom commissions and curated exhibitions. The move positions the company to serve collectors, designers, developers and public-facing venues while keeping production in-house.

Why it matters: - Modern Art Creations is showing how industrial fabrication can move beyond construction work and into the fine art market. - The model combines sustainability, custom design and in-house production for collectors, homeowners and commercial clients. - The approach gives architects and designers a way to build sculpture into projects before construction is finished.

What happened: - Modern Art Creations, the artistic division of Tampa Mobile Welding, is expanding its role in Tampa’s creative community. - The gallery transforms new and reclaimed metal into original contemporary artwork for homes, commercial properties and architectural projects. - The flagship piece, “Eagle,” is priced at $16,970. - Modern Art Creations has produced more than 150 original works since its founding. - The gallery was founded by Kostyantyn Fedorenko, Founder and Executive Director of Operations, and Christian Stefko, Co-founder and Director of Fabrication. - The operation now represents five or more artists and presents about 12 exhibitions each year.

The details: - The gallery works with builders, architects, interior designers, developers, homeowners and commercial clients on custom commissions. - Modern Art Creations can join the design process before a home, business, renovation or development is complete. - Artists and fabricators work together to shape pieces around a space’s scale, materials, surroundings and intended character. - A significant share of the work uses reclaimed industrial metal. - The fabrication process includes cutting, welding, precision finishing and powder coating. - Each piece is made as a one-of-one original, not as a reproduction series or numbered edition. - Felipe Lopez leads the artistic direction as Director of Art. - Lopez’s recycled-metal sculpture practice has drawn national and international recognition for sustainability, cultural identity, craftsmanship and transformation. - Lopez has been featured by Telemundo, selected for the National Sculpture Society’s Young Sculptors Exhibition in New York, presented at the 38th Annual All Florida Exhibition and shown at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa. - Colombia’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge recognized Lopez through the Soy Cultura registry. - Lopez’s dual exhibition with textile artist Staci Swider, “Artifacts of Transformation,” ran at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. - The exhibition paired metal sculpture with textile collage to explore identity, resilience, memory and the passage of time. - Modern Art Creations says the combination of Lopez’s art direction and Tampa Mobile Welding’s fabrication capacity gives the studio control over structural integrity, corrosion resistance, precision welding, material selection and finishing. - The gallery serves three main groups: private collectors and homeowners, hospitality and commercial properties, and project partners such as builders, architects, contractors, designers and developers. - Residential commissions can include pieces for entryways, foyers, patios, gardens and pool areas. - Commercial work can include art for clinics, offices, lobbies, hospitality venues and other public-facing spaces. - Artwork starts near $900, while larger gallery centerpieces reach five figures. - Modern Art Creations also offers completed works and custom commissions for first-time buyers and experienced collectors. - The gallery and adjoining Tampa Mobile Welding workshop are open to visitors, members of the press and the public. - The space is at 9430 Lazy Lane in Tampa. - Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and no appointment is required. - More information is available at the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The setup blurs the line between gallery and fabrication shop, which can appeal to clients who want site-specific work and direct access to makers. - The sustainability message is central to the brand, with reclaimed metal positioned as both an artistic material and a reuse strategy. - The in-house model may help Modern Art Creations control quality, speed and fit for custom projects.

What's next: - Modern Art Creations is likely to keep pairing exhibitions with custom fabrication work as it expands its reach in Tampa and beyond. - The gallery’s public access and project-partner model suggest a continued push toward both art sales and commissioned architectural work. - The company is aiming to grow its role with collectors, design professionals and developers seeking original sculpture.