We are METAL

Marx Et Al makes lighting, furniture, and decorative objects deeply inspired by the things we love — 20th century British novels, anime, the ancient arms and armor hall at the Met — without sliding into pastiche.

The studio began when Aaron Marx was in Colorado helping his brother set up a metal fabrication shop. Working around the laser cutter and press brake, he became obsessed with pointing industrial machinery in a more romantic direction. He started sketching, taught himself design software, and spent months reading everything he could find about applying patinas to brass and copper. With his brother, he tested chemical mixes and application techniques through hundreds of experiments, eventually developing the suite of finishes that would become central to the studio's identity.

Aaron's wife Leah Smit handles our photography and is responsible for the brand identity. His high school classmate (and best man!) Chris Howard oversees the digital and operational systems that support the studio. Together, the three of them run Marx Et Al.

We work extensively in brass, finishing it in proprietary patinas that draw on the depth and variation created by natural processes. Some patinas mimic the effects on metal of decades of exposure to the elements, while others are inspired by the millennia-spanning processes that produce marbles and granites. The finishes range from deep, near-black oxidations to verdigris greens, warm aged tones, and rich mineral hues. Each is applied by hand, so no two pieces are the same.

Craft and experimentation, driven by a deep interest in historical techniques, are at the core of what we do. We combine archaic skills with modern technology and a contemporary point of view. In that way, our work becomes part of a long-running conversation in the decorative arts - one we intend to push forward.