Kibaek Sung is based in Bellingham, Massachusetts, where he creates hand-fabricated metal objects that live between function and expression. He began working with metal in 2005 while in college, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Metal Craft in South Korea in 2009, followed by a Master’s degree in 2015. After moving to the United States, Sung completed a second Master’s degree in 2019. Alongside his independent studio practice, he works as a silversmith at Tiffany & Co., refining his skills through traditional hands-on metalworking and modern fabrication techniques.
“My work has always been about balancing function and aesthetics,” Sung says, “but over time I’ve become more interested in approaching that balance in a playful way.” Early in his career, he imagined following a more academic path, but moving to the U.S. exposed him to a broader range of experiences and approaches. “That naturally pushed me to expand my practice and explore new directions,” he explains.
Sung draws inspiration from nature, simplicity, and everyday observations, combining pure, essential forms with a sense of joy and play. Movement often becomes central to his work, acting as a bridge between object and viewer. “I’m especially interested in movement, interaction, and how people experience objects,” he says, relying on both traditional and modern metalworking methods, along with careful hand fabrication, to bring those ideas to life.
For Sung, the pleasure of making lies as much in the process as in the outcome. “The process of finding an idea and figuring out how to make it real is just as important, and enjoyable, as the final piece.” Created to be handled rather than simply observed, his objects invite curiosity, touch, and quiet moments of surprise, offering small but meaningful connections in everyday life.
Follow Kibaek on Instagram.
