Neo-Futurist artist opens art studio in Claremont
BY ROBERT WIRSING
An artist fusing nature with mechanics
hopes to fuel Bronxites’ creative
drives.
Renowned artist and metal sculptor
Josh Hadar is relocating his art
studio from Brooklyn to the Bronx.
On Tuesday, March 12, Hadar purchased
a 3,320 square foot Claremont
warehouse with basement storage at
407 E. 174th Street for $880,000.
Keller Williams Tribeca agent
Christina Gomez, who represented Hadar
in the deal, said the 1-story industrial
warehouse constructed in 1955 features
an elevator which easy connects
the ground fl oor and the basement.
Prior to the purchase, the warehouse
was used by Webster Plumbing
Supply, Inc. to store plumbing supplies.
The property was sold by Clair
Rose Holdings and the seller’s broker
was Joe Cosentino of Morris Park Realty.
Hadar’s recent move from Tribeca
to the Upper West Side inspired him
to consider properties in the Boogie
Down Bronx for his new studio.
“The warehouse didn’t look like
much from the outside, but when I
stepped inside I fell in love with it,”
he said.
A self-taught artist with 15 years
under his belt, Hadar is famous for
his statement-making bikes and elegantly
sculpted steel trees which have
appeared in GQ and Vogue.
Steel with hand-blown glass and
lights are the main components of his
awe-inspiring works.
Hadar’s bike building began one
day when he discovered a dumpster
full of discarded bicycles near his former
studio at Broome Street.
The Neo-Futurist was inspired to
transform commuter transportation
and make ecologically conscious vehicles
as aesthetically pleasing as pos-
sible.
Such iconic bikes include the Teardrop,
a nickel on rolled steel, handspun
aluminum plate wheels, handblown,
steel-wrapped, glass fuel tank
- 80cc gas powered with pedal assist;
Solar E-Trike, a hand made solar-powered
trike using carbon steel tubing
coated with midnight black powder
and Mother, a biomorphic bike featuring
gun black fi nish on rolled steel,
hand-blown glass fuel tank, 80cc gas
powered with pedal assist.
The Boston University alumnus
has been commissioned by hotels
worldwide to construct and install solar
powered tree sculptures.
Notable pieces include his 16-foot
‘Constellations’ at the Star Hotel
Group in Milan and his 11 feet high
by over 15 feet wide ‘The Grove’ at
the Intercontinental Hotel in Times
Square.
His 6 foot by 5 wide Photovoltaic
Acacia sculpture uses over 90 solar
cells embedded in hand-hammered
leaves throughout the piece to charge
the 12 volt batteries.
When charged, they light clusters
of LEDs placed inside blown glass
fruit scattered throughout the tree.
Hadar expressed interest in collaborating
with local residents, artists,
colleges and trade schools to provide
them training in various trade disciplines
including welding and fabrication.
He intends to utilize the studio as
an art and technology center with an
emphasis on sustainable energy and
using solar and wind generators for
sculptures and electronics.
Hadar plans to hold onto the property
for a while and share it with his
9-year-old twin sons Izzy and Zeke
who like their father also have a passion
for the arts.
To learn more about Hadar’s work,
visit www.hadarmetaldesign.com.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M 26 ARCH 29-APRIL 4, 2019 BTR
Josh Hadar’s passion for metalwork, art and technology fuels his creative drive.
Photo courtesy of Josh Hadar
Hadar’s ‘Lionheart’ bike features a black, oil-rubbed bronze fi nish and glass fuel tank fabricated in blood red.
Photo courtesy of Josh Hadar
Located in East Hampton, Hadar’s rendering of a willow welded in stainless
steel piping prompts a sense of wonder at its beauty and creation.
Photo courtesy of Josh Hadar
/www.hadarmetaldesign.com
/www.hadarmetaldesign.com