Each June, as we approach Juneteenth, we’re reminded of how the work we do intersects with history in a very tangible way. At Bollinger Atelier, we cast in bronze—a material chosen for its permanence. It’s a medium that has outlasted empires, preserved stories across centuries, and, in the case of Hugh Hayden’s Freedman, carries forward a legacy that is still unfolding.

Hugh Hayden’s Freedman sculpture reimagines John Quincy Adams Ward’s 1863 sculpture The Freedman, one of the first American works to portray a formerly enslaved Black man as a self-possessed figure. Rather than replicate Ward’s original, Hayden transforms it: dressing the man in contemporary clothing and seating him in an Adirondack chair. The shift is quiet but profound—this is no longer a distant historical symbol, but someone who could be alive today. The piece asks us to consider: What does freedom look like now? Who gets to claim it, and how?

As fabricators, we don’t take this lightly. To cast such a work in bronze during a time of reflection and remembrance—especially around Juneteenth—felt deeply significant.

From Digital Design to Physical Form

The project began with a 3D scan of Ward’s original sculpture. Hayden then digitally sculpted new elements, including the clothing and chair. These additions had to be carefully integrated with the original posture and anatomy of the figure. We supported this step with detailed digital modeling, ensuring that the contemporary changes honored both Hayden’s vision and the integrity of the figure’s form.

Once finalized, the modified 3D file was translated into physical form using printable wax. This is a modern technique that allows for exceptional detail & continuity from digital to physical. From there, each wax section was cast in bronze using the lost wax method. This process, which dates back thousands of years, involves creating a mold around a wax form, melting the wax out, and filling the cavity with molten metal.

There’s something deeply resonant about using this ancient method to make a contemporary statement about Black identity and presence. Each stage—modeling, shelling, pouring, chasing—is a ritual of transformation.

The Impact of Patina

The final phase was patina: a carefully applied chemical finish that brings depth to the bronze. In this case, patina allowed us to subtly differentiate between skin, fabric, and wood textures—bringing Hayden’s updated vision fully to life.

Hayden noted that it was during this step that the piece truly came alive. He even joked that the shirt looked like one he owned. That moment—when an artwork becomes not just an object but a presence—is something we always strive for. With Freedman, it felt especially powerful.

Bronze as Witness

Casting a work like Freedman in bronze means inscribing it into the future. The material is unyielding, enduring. And so is the message: freedom is not static. It’s something we continue to define and fight for.

At Bollinger Atelier, we’re proud to bring works like Freedman into being with precision, and deep respect for their meaning. In honoring the past and reflecting the present, this piece speaks to what sculpture can do at its most powerful: bear witness, demand reflection, and endure.