Unpolished Intent is a stunning exhibition of new sculptural work by Frank Strunk III at ARTicles Gallery in St. Pete (1234 Dr. MLK Jr St N). The show invites viewers into a raw, industrial world in which Strunk uses metal, concrete, brick, and mortar to echo the colors and textures of his surroundings.

The exhibition is on display daily at ARTicles Gallery through November 30 and admission is free.

Behind the sculptural scenes

This exhibition is influenced by the stark, industrial environment Strunk calls home. A world-class, self-taught metal artist, Strunk spent more than two decades in St. Pete before returning to Maryland. The small town of Cumberland, once a critical railroad junction and the starting point of the first National Road (now Route 40), was also a hub for mining and manufacturing. Though only about 19,000 residents remain today, its rugged history echoes in the welds and surfaces of Strunk’s work.

Untitled by Frank Strunk III

Reclaimed and reimagined

“The inspiration was really just to impart the textures and colors and architecture of my new surroundings,” Strunk says. “The historic brick buildings and their materials are really engaging.”

That connection runs deep. Strunk salvages bricks from old buildings—including his own home—and cuts them down to create new forms. “Imagine clay from the earth being dug up and formed and fired into a masonry brick in the early 1800s,” he explains. “Decades later, after the building falls apart, some artist finds this half a brick and cuts it into pieces to represent his former self in a piece of art. Crazy stuff.”

His appreciation for architecture is hands-on. Strunk speaks of the weight and color of bricks, the way they feel in his hands, and even the way cement can leave his skin dry. These sensations make each sculpture a study in textures of the past and present.


Left to right: Untitled sculptures from “Unpolished Intent”

Unplanned inspiration

Strunk had been searching for a new place to create for some time before finding Cumberland. A chance drive through town led to a coffee shop stop, a walk along historic streets, and eventually a studio and home. “Cumberland is my place,” he says.

The authenticity of Unpolished Intent resonates with St. Pete art lovers, evidenced by the many pieces marked “sold” on opening night. The show will be displayed at ARTicles Gallery until November 30. The gallery is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.

For more information, visit the gallery’s website.