Jose Varela is a 3-D artist specializing in steel sculptures and custom metal gates. Varela shapes iron into undulating shapes reminiscent of the surrealist sculptor and painter Salvador Dali. 

In 2004, Varela launched his business creating artistic metal gates.  Varela’s original style, using patinas and steel materials, is truly unique and is sought out by clients across the Southwest United States.    Valera specializes in customized, stunning ranch and estate entrance gates, including 20-foot metal gates, side pillars as well as walking gates and garden doors and fences.  He also custom crafts home accessories from fire pits to woodwork and window coverings.

Varela’s artworks have been featured in a number of local and state exhibitions and in a variety of publications. Varela’s clients value his creative Southwest designs and assiduous attention to detail.   His atelier is based in Bernallio, New Mexico.

Artist Statement:  My journey as a 3-d artist began small scale and was associated with both home décor items and religious themes.  For several years I’ve channeled my artistic talents into the design and creation of decorative gates and doors.  I have always been fascinated with the psychological tensions represented in doorways and gateways:   the preternatural anticipation of what lies beyond the threshold; the potential act of forgetting once a threshold is crossed, and the definitions of memory sealed with a door’s closing.  Most recently, my metal work has evolved to large-scale abstract sculptures.