Rockledge Design Studios

We Create Conversation Pieces!

Rockledge designs and produces contemporary art furniture, sculpture, accessories, and architectural elements.  The studio consists of a number of artists, many of which work with marine grade aluminum.  The finishes are either brushed or a baked powder coating.  The pieces shown are available for purchase in the gallery or over the phone.

   Fred Garbotz was born in Rhode Island and grew up on the East Coast. After completing his B.A. in Business Administration at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, Garbotz continued his education at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. There, in the 1970's, he majored in both art and architecture. He then began his studies under several mid-western sculptors. His unique and playful style of art was born under their tutelage.
    For the past 20 years Fred has worked primarily in metal as an art form. He began with copper and brass, then evolved into steel and aluminum, and now combines all metals plus glass for accents.
   Today his work spans a wide spectrum including both sculpture and furniture. He prides himself in creating pieces that marry form and function. "To me, my art is fun. Using the human body in a simplified form, my furniture becomes more than function. I like to think that there is an underlying personality in each piece that speaks out to you in a light and friendly way."

   Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Christopher Royal grew up in the south and went on to study Theater at the North Carolina School of the Arts from 1982 to 1987.
    In between acting jobs, Royal began making and selling a successful line of contemporary jewelry and in the process learned to manipulate a full range of metals. His quest to create something truly unique and his facination with architecture and design led Royal to create a series of miniature chair sculptures made from brass, copper, steel, glass and intricate beadwork.
    In January of 1995 his art chairs caught the eye of the window designer for Tiffany & Company, and she displayed the entire line in the windows later that month. Royal went on to design and build sculptural display pieces for countless Tiffany windows over the next several years.
    In the fall of 1998, Royal met Fred Garbotz of Rockledge Design Studios, and the two began discussing plans to translate the miniature designs into full size chairs. This has developed into a full line of furniture including chairs, barstools, tables, lamps, mirrors and accessories and more.