Rick Martin Welded Iron Candleholder Sculpture, Signed & Dated 1991

A freestanding functional sculpture by American metal artist Rick Martin, signed and dated "R Martin 91" in gold paint marker on the base. Welded iron construction in a matte black finish, the central rod rising to a square platform fitted with a cylindrical cup sized for a 1-inch taper. Two angled flanking rods carry the composition's color notes — a white painted wood sphere and an orange-red painted wood cube — set against the black vertical framework on a rectangular iron base. The underside retains the Roberts Gallery label, 1429 Market, Denver, Colorado.

Martin builds with narrow black iron rods almost as though drawing in the air, concentrating saturated color into isolated geometric forms — here the sphere and cube playing off the vertical line and platform. The vocabulary is Constructivist: circle, cube, rod, plane, arranged in asymmetrical balance rather than a rigid grid. The result reads as a coherent three-dimensional composition that happens to hold a candle, placing it closer to small sculpture than to household object. The 1991 date sets it in Martin's early documented production, and the Roberts Gallery provenance ties it directly to the 1990s Denver contemporary art circuit relevant to New Mexico collectors.

Rick Martin works primarily in welded and ground iron and steel, occasionally adding wood, finishing with paint or stain. His practice spans freestanding sculptures, wall pieces, clocks, candleholders, and furniture, combining modernist geometry with approachable domestic function. He has described wanting his work to keep the clean, graceful lines of modern design while appearing bright, colorful, and slightly aged. Documented signed works carry dates from the 1990s through the 2010s; this candleholder's 1991 date places it among his earliest recorded pieces.

• Roberts Gallery, 1429 Market, Denver, Colorado 80202 — original retail label present on base
• Signed and dated "R Martin 91" by the artist in gold paint marker on base

CONDITION

Good with signs of use. Wax residue present in and around the candle cup. Minor handling wear to the painted surfaces consistent with age and display.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 16½" H × 4" W × 3" D
• Candle cup: fits standard 1" taper
• Materials: welded iron framework; painted wood geometric elements (sphere and cube)
• Signed: "R Martin 91," gold paint marker on base
• Retailer label: Roberts Gallery, Denver, Colorado
• Campbell's Soup Can (4" H) Shown for Scale — Not Included