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Nate Hensley at work in his Lee Street Studio | Photos by Sarah Jane Sanders
The metalsmith behind many of Lexington’s most recognizable facades
Simplicity is often key in art and music, and Lexington artist and musician Nate Hensley enjoys the challenge of “taking something simple and making it look like it didn’t come off the shelf.”
“I always liked making stuff as a kid but wasn’t sure where that would lead,” Hensley said. As it turns out, his penchant for “making stuff” has led him to opening his own metal studio on Lee Street, where he has created custom work for a diverse roster of clientele in recent years.
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Though his face might be most recognizable as a member of Lexington mainstay band The Other Brothers, which he co-founded with with his brother Gabe in 2001, Hensley’s behind-the-scenes handiwork has enhanced many familiar Lexington businesses, from dive bars to children’s gardens.
Hensley etched mirrors at Sidebar and Green Lantern, as well as logos on the doors of The Cheesecake Factory, set to open later this month; he also created the metal gate on the Children’s Garden at the Arboretum, and the gate and mirrors for Blue Stallion Brewery.
Other Hensley Studio creations include the storefront and stools for County Club; bar stools, benches and signage for Paris’s Rooster Brewing; the mirrors and gate for Blue Stallion; the railing of a patio behind Nick Ryan’s; and the marquee for Belle’s Bar. National Beer Hall owes much of its design to Hensley, as he worked on two large windows, storefront doors and the shelving behind the beer taps, and business is still thriving – he was recently commissioned by Burnett Sons to do the signage for the new Art Building at the University of Kentucky, his alma mater.
Hensley attended UK on a track-and-field scholarship and initially thought about pursing a degree in chemical engineering. Being advised that engineering and athletics could be a difficult match (due to the demands of both focuses), he considered architecture for a stint, ultimately deciding on graphic design.
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The university’s fine arts program proved to be the training ground Hensley needed, and after taking a variety of classes within the program, he found himself drawn to metal work.
“I was always working on sculpture and fell into kind of a niche,” said Hensley, who graduated from UK with a fine arts degree in graphic design and sculpture in 2004.
“There is a strong community of MFA students at UK – I still go over there and hang out,” he added. “We still get together and are involved in each other’s lives.”
After graduating, Hensley moved to Pittsburgh for five years to play bass in a band called The Yards. Despite the success that the band garnered – including an appearance on the Carson Daly show, two opening slots for Bon Jovi and recording in some rather posh studios in L.A. – the group disbanded, leaving Hensley to focus more heavily on his other art. He worked for a time with Emerald Art Glass, designing stained-glass windows and etching. He later refined his skills in metal work at Technique Architectural – a custom fabrication shop that laid much of the groundwork for the work he does today. In 2009 he answered a longtime yearning to return to his roots in Kentucky. After working for a few years at Tuska Foundry (now Prometheus Foundry), where he primarily created bronze equestrian-themed art as well as John Tuska reproductions, he created Hensley Custom Studio.
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Music continues to be his other passion. His band, The Other Brothers – a mix of honky tonk, country and singer/songwriter music – is popular around town and released its second album, “High Life ‘n’ Leisure Class” a couple of years ago. Their influences include the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Taking a hiatus until 2015 while his brother welcomes a new baby to the family, Hensley hopes to be back in the studio soon.
The marriage of art and music comes easily to Hensley.
“A lot of my art involves music. It’s not too conceptual. It is object oriented; there is some sort of meaning, but really the art is in the piece itself.” Hensley credits his success to current trends in art. “There is a new wave of simple designs across the country,” he said. As for the future, he hopes to hire an apprentice and take some time to enjoy the little things along the way. cc