Jay Kim is a self-taught patina artist known for pioneering a distinctive technique that unites flame patina and engraving on brass. Through nearly a decade of independent experimentation, he developed a process regarded as both authentic and unprecedented within contemporary metal art. His works reveal the luminous gold of raw brass beneath layers of patina, which he describes as “the beauty of our true being hidden beneath the drama of life.”

Jay begins his process with hand-hammering flat brass sheets into convex domes through sheer physical effort and for concave or angular pieces he heats the metal to a glowing red and allowing it to warp naturally, capturing energy in motion—waves sealed in metal. He then applies flame in repeated passes with a handheld torch, building layers of subtle hues and patterns from within the brass itself. No paint is used. Once the patina settles, he engraves his chosen themes with a Dremel, exposing the untouched golden brass beneath.

In his mineral copper patina work, Jay streams a solution of his own making across tilted brass surfaces, allowing it to form the branching patterns found throughout nature—in rivers, roots, and living organisms. Through an additional fuming process lasting hours to days, these patterns set, and he engraves along the veins, once again revealing the golden brass beneath the turquoise patina, which holds the beauty of divine light within us beyond time and space.

Jay’s journey began without formal training, driven by relentless experimentation and a desire to reveal hidden beauty. His work has since been featured in numerous national juried exhibitions, earning awards and recognition for its originality and technical mastery.