Benjamin Keating Hand-Fabricated Steel Bonsai Sculpture – One of Only Ten Commissioned

A Bonsai Pot That Becomes Part of the Sculpture

Some bonsai pots are designed to disappear beneath the tree.

This one is meant to become part of the composition.

We commissioned just ten of these hand-fabricated steel bonsai sculptures from New York artist and bonsai practitioner Benjamin Keating. Each piece was individually cut, formed and welded by hand, creating a sculptural container that does far more than simply hold a tree.

It changes how the tree is seen.

The elevated planting chamber appears to balance within an angular steel framework, giving the entire composition tension, movement and presence. Planted with the right bonsai, the pot, stand and tree become one complete work of living sculpture.

Made to Look Handmade

This is not a production bonsai pot, and it was never intended to look polished or manufactured.

The visible welds, heavy steel plate, irregular markings, raw edges and changing surface are all part of the piece. Every sculpture has its own character because each one was fabricated individually rather than stamped out by a machine.

When these were first delivered, the steel was raw, bright and almost silver. We intentionally left them unfinished so the surface could age naturally.

The patina is now beginning to develop.

Warm rust tones, darker areas and subtle variations are emerging across the steel. The finish will continue to change with time, moisture and exposure, making the sculpture increasingly individual.

Designed for a Tree With Presence

This medium sculpture has real visual weight without overwhelming the bonsai. Its strong architectural lines work especially well with trees that have movement, age and character.

Shimpaku Junipers, collected junipers, pines, rugged deciduous trees and other distinctive specimens would all feel at home in this container.

We included a photograph of bonsai artist Chase Rosade planting a Shimpaku Juniper into one of these sculptures. That image shows exactly what makes the design so special.

The steel does not compete with the bonsai. It lifts it, frames it and turns the entire planting into something unexpected.

Approximate Dimensions

• Overall height: approximately 14 inches
• Planting chamber length: approximately 12 inches
• Planting chamber width: approximately 5.5 inches
• Planting chamber depth: approximately 4 inches
• Construction: heavy, hand-welded steel
• Drainage: integrated drainage holes

This listing is for the exact medium-sized sculpture shown in the photographs.

One of Only Ten Commissioned

Benjamin Keating is a Brooklyn-based sculptor, foundry artist and bonsai practitioner whose work explores the relationship between permanent materials and living trees.

His bonsai sculptures have been featured in The New Yorker, and his work is represented in collections including LongHouse Reserve. Through Keating Foundry, he has also worked with major contemporary artists including Kiki Smith, Robert Longo, Julian Schnabel and Nicole Eisenman.

This series was Keating’s foray into creating sculptural steel containers for serious bonsai enthusiasts and collectors.

We commissioned only ten of these several years ago. We have a small number of medium and smaller pieces remaining, and once they are gone, we do not know that we will ever have them again.

This is an opportunity to build a bonsai composition around an actual piece of sculpture, rather than simply placing a tree into another pot.

One hand-fabricated steel sculpture is included. Bonsai tree is not included.

We have a few additional pieces in medium and smaller sizes. Please contact us if you are interested in seeing what is still available.