Jamaal Sheats of Sheats Repousse

The technique of repousse' is the art of producing metal relief by using hand-held tools to hammer and/or punch sheets of thin metal through various forms. The hammering and/or punching gives the form of a curved, three-dimensional appearance. Historically, repousse' has been an art form of thousands of years, and examples can be found in almost any culture where metal is available.

Outside of Jamaal's family, his greatest influence was Greg Ridley, his art professor at Fisk University. Ridley introduced Jamaal to repousse' and became his mentor. "He is kind of like Mr. Miyagi from the movie The Karate Kid," says Jamaal. "Each time I talk to him I learn something new".

Another inspiration was Benny Andrews, an artist he heard speak at Vanderbilt. Because of Andrews' influence, when Jamaal looks at a piece of cooper, aluminum or brass he sees his reflection. "In my reflection I see my thoughts, my desires, my influences and my experiences all balled into one. I take my reflection and I start to mold and shape it until it takes on a whole new body and a piece of art is created. Essentially, my work is an extension of me.


Jamaal B. Sheats
1915 Charlotte Avenue
Suite 220
Nashville, TN 37203

615-467-8808 or 615-405-9269

www.sheatsrepousse.com