Jimmy Mongene

Artisan
Jimmy Mongene

Known For
Blacksmithing

Tucked in a quiet North Carolina open-air workspace, Jimmy shapes metal with instinct and fire. What began as a father-son project grew into something extraordinary: a refined artistry rooted in raw material, grit, and unshakable creativity.

Jimmy builds his own equipment, fabricates custom tools, and works with copper, stainless, and aged steel to bring his ideas to life. With an eye for form and balance, he bends and twists iron like it’s an extension of himself—creating sculptural roses, abstract forms, and handles and hooks that feel more heirloom than hardware, all with a craftsman’s precision and an artist’s intuition.

No blueprints, no templates—just skill and flame. “I don’t draw it out. I let the material tell me where to go,” he says. That ability to read metal like a second language is what gives his work such natural movement and presence.

Jimmy doesn’t work in a traditional studio. His forge is open to the elements—part porch, part proving ground—where raw metal, fire, and imagination collide. From salvaged dock plates to weathered iron, nothing is wasted. It’s this resourcefulness, paired with decades in construction and a natural sense of design, that elevates his work beyond craft into fine art.

You can spot Jimmy’s work at shows across the Blue Ridge, where his down-to-earth charm and rugged style make a lasting impression. He’s not just forging steel—he’s forging a legacy.