Frank Ledbetter

Frank Ledbetter was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1953. After high school, he left Mobile to serve his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps. After his service, Frank returned home and went to work at International Paper where he met his wife Terri and in 1976 he founded his own metal fabrication company Ledco. Frank and Terri had two... children, Laura and Blake, and lived in both Mobile and Fairhope. In October 2001, the Ledbetters lives changed dramatically when they lost Blake in an accident. Overwhelmed by grief, and after 25 years operating Ledco, Frank decided it was time to step away from the business. Struggling to cope, Frank got back to his roots tinkering in his garage with scrap metal. He soon discovered that he could marry the creative ideas in his mind, with the metal he was working with, to skillfully craft unique works of art. Frank had found his true calling, so he started to build art every day, and with the help of his wife Terri, they started participating in art shows. They travelled to Art Shows all over the U.S., and Frank soon realized that people were responding positively to his creations. Early on, it was a challenge, but soon clients were commissioning him to build art for private and public display, and Frank was able to open his own Studio and Gallery. Frank admits that art saved his life, and that each piece represents Blake. Frank adds Blakes initials BWL next to his signature on each new piece he creates. Blake lives on through his art, Frank has even embedded some of Blakes possessions into public commission sculptures. As a self-taught metal artist, using aluminum and stainless steel, Frank draws inspiration from his native Gulf Coast using vibrant colors and a puzzle design that has become his signature. Frank has even expanded his medium by adding driftwood, engine parts and scrap that can be brought to life. Scrap metal from engines is incorporated in his mask series Faces of Things Discarded and his personal favorite series, the Wooties, are made from ...Read More