Annalisa Barron is an interdisciplinary artist based in New York City and Rochester, NY. She graduated from Penn State University with a BFA in painting and drawing in 2013 and with an MFA in sculpture from the Pratt Institute in 2017. Her work has been exhibited at the Cooper Union, University of Rochester, Southern Oregon University, BunkerPROJECTS Gallery (Pittsburgh, PA), U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua, NO/GLOSS film festival (UK), and the Anthology Film Archives (NYC). The Kingdom of Back (2017) was featured in Berlin, Germany, as part of GRRL HAUS Cinema’s 2018 European tour. She served as a panelist for the 2020 NYFA Craft and Sculpture Fellowships and is a recipient of NYSCA’s 2021 DEC Regrant Program/Individual Artist Grant. She has received support from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the New York Film and Video Council, the AAUW, the New York State Inspire Grant, Penn State University, and the Simmons-Jansma Project Renew Grant. Currently, Annalisa teaches in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Annalisa Barron
Upcoming Classes
Introduction to Power Hammers
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
Weekend course: January 30 – 31, 2027
Price: $375
This two-day workshop introduces students to the safe and effective use of the power hammer for forging steel.
Students will learn how the machine works and how to control hot material beneath the dies. Demonstrations will cover drawing out, tapering, spreading, isolating mass and creating texture. The class will also address forging temperature, work holding, body position and basic tooling.
Students will practice moving between the power hammer and the anvil as they complete a series of structured exercises. The goal is to build confidence with the machine and develop skills that can support future sculptural, functional or toolmaking projects.
Prior blacksmithing experience is helpful but not required.
Students Should Bring
● Leather steel toe boots or safety-toe boots
● Long natural-fiber pants
● Long-sleeved natural-fiber shirt
● Notebook or sketchbook
● Reusable water bottle
Introduction to Forged Sculpture
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
3-day course: February 26 – 28, 2027
Price: $550
This three-day workshop introduces forging as a way to develop sculptural form. Students will begin with basic techniques such as drawing, tapering, bending, twisting and spreading. They will then use these processes to create small studies in steel.
Demonstrations will include hand forging, power hammer use, cutting, grinding, fitting and basic joining. Sketching and quick physical studies will help students test ideas before committing to a finished form.
The emphasis is on experimentation and on learning how the behavior of hot steel can influence design decisions. Students will leave with forged samples, sculptural studies and a stronger foundation for using blacksmithing processes in their own creative work.
No previous forging experience is required.
Students Should Bring
● Leather steel toe boots or safety-toe boots
● Long natural-fiber pants
● Long-sleeved natural-fiber shirt
● Sketchbook and pencils
● Reusable water bottle
● Packing materials for finished work
Introduction to Power Hammers
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
Weekend course: April 3 – 4, 2027
Price: $375
This two-day workshop introduces students to the safe and effective use of the power hammer for forging steel.
Students will learn how the machine works and how to control hot material beneath the dies. Demonstrations will cover drawing out, tapering, spreading, isolating mass and creating texture. The class will also address forging temperature, work holding, body position and basic tooling.
Students will practice moving between the power hammer and the anvil as they complete a series of structured exercises. The goal is to build confidence with the machine and develop skills that can support future sculptural, functional or toolmaking projects.
Prior blacksmithing experience is helpful but not required.
Students Should Bring
● Leather steel toe boots or safety-toe boots
● Long natural-fiber pants
● Long-sleeved natural-fiber shirt
● Notebook or sketchbook
● Reusable water bottle
Introduction to MiG Welding
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
Weekend course: May 15 – 16, 2027
Price: $375
This two-day workshop provides a hands-on introduction to MIG welding and basic steel fabrication. Students will learn how the welder works and how to set up the machine for mild steel. Practice exercises will focus on establishing a stable arc and producing consistent welds.
Students will make several common joints and learn how to recognize basic welding problems. Demonstrations will also cover measuring, marking, cutting, grinding, clamping and fitting steel. Safety, ventilation and material preparation will be discussed throughout the workshop.
After completing the practice exercises, students will apply their skills to a small fabrication project.
The class is designed for beginners and does not require previous welding experience.
Students Should Bring
● Leather steel toe boots or safety-toe boots
● Long natural-fiber pants
● Long-sleeved natural-fiber shirt
● Notebook and pencil
● Reusable water bottle
Design Ideation 2D to 3D
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
3-day course: June 18 – 20, 2027
Price: $450
This three-day workshop explores practical ways to develop an idea from a drawing into a three-dimensional form. Students will begin with short drawing exercises that focus on shape, proportion, space and movement. They will then translate selected drawings into simple physical models using paper, chipboard, wire and other accessible materials.
Through repeated cycles of making and revision, students will explore structure, balance, scale and joining. The emphasis is on using sketches and maquettes as tools for thinking rather than treating the first idea as a final solution.
Students will leave with drawings, models and a repeatable process for developing future projects.
The workshop is appropriate for artists, designers, craftspeople and makers at any experience level.
Students Should Bring
● Sketchbook
● Pencils and eraser
● Personal drawing materials if desired
● Images or sketches of projects
Introduction to MG Welding
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
Weekend course: October 2 – 3, 2027
Price: $412
This two-day workshop provides a hands-on introduction to MIG welding and basic steel fabrication. Students will learn how the welder works and how to set up the machine for mild steel. Practice exercises will focus on establishing a stable arc and producing consistent welds.
Students will make several common joints and learn how to recognize basic welding problems. Demonstrations will also cover measuring, marking, cutting, grinding, clamping and fitting steel. Safety, ventilation and material preparation will be discussed throughout the workshop.
After completing the practice exercises, students will apply their skills to a small fabrication project.
The class is designed for beginners and does not require previous welding experience.
Students Should Bring
● Leather steel toe boots or safety-toe boots
● Long natural-fiber pants
● Long-sleeved natural-fiber shirt
● Notebook and pencil
● Reusable water bottle
Past Classes
Introduction to Bladesmithing
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
3-day course: October 11 – 13, 2025
Price: $450
In this class, students will create a small kitchen utility knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, full-tang blade, ready to prep a meal. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is strongly recommended but not required.
Must bring:
- Work boots/shoes. No sneakers
- Long pants, no shorts
- Clothing must be cotton/denim/wool, no synthetics
- Comfortable safety glasses
- Notepad
- Water bottle
Class size is limited to 6
Materials fee: $25
Introduction to Bladesmithing
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
3-day course: August 1 – 3, 2025
Price: $450
In this class, students will create a small kitchen utility knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, full-tang blade, ready to prep a meal. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is strongly recommended but not required.
Must bring:
- Work boots/shoes. No sneakers
- Long pants, no shorts
- Clothing must be cotton/denim/wool, no synthetics
- Comfortable safety glasses
- Notepad
- Water bottle
Class size is limited to 6
Materials fee: $25
Sculptural Metalwork: Lighting
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
4-day course: July 25 – 28, 2025
Price: $550
This workshop focuses on the ideation process for designing and fabricating a steel table lamp. Students will each design their own lamp from a set of parts and materials provided for them and then learn essential skills in cutting, hot and cold forging, welding, and finishing to craft their own unique lamp. The class will begin with an introduction to working with mild steel followed by a prototyping session and demonstrations of key metalworking techniques. It concludes with open studio time for executing each design. By the end of the workshop, students will have completed a functional, handcrafted steel table lamp. This class is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience in metalworking, offering practical skills and a solid foundation in forming steel.
Students should bring:
- Steel, aluminum, or composite toe leather boots. No mesh or open toed shoes.
- Cotton pants and cotton long sleeve shirts. No shorts or short sleeves.
- Drinking bottle
- Notepad and pencil
- Leather work gloves
- Material to pack up your project
Class fee: $500
Materials fee: $50
Class size limited to 6
Steel Candleholders: Welding, Forming, and Forging
Instructor: Annalisa Barron
4-day course: June 20 – 23, 2025
Price: $800
This workshop focuses on the creation of a pair of sculptural metal candlesticks, combining functional design with metalworking techniques. Students will learn essential skills in cutting, shaping, welding, and finishing metal, using various shaping tools to craft their own unique pieces. The class will begin with an introduction to working with mild steel, followed by demonstrations of key metalworking techniques. Students will then create initial sketches and experiment with different forms by constructing chipboard prototypes of their candlesticks.
By the end of the workshop, students will have completed a pair of functional, handcrafted metal candlesticks. This class is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience in metalworking, offering practical skills and a solid foundation in working with steel.
Students should bring:
- Steel, aluminum, or composite toe leather boots. No mesh or open toed shoes.
- Cotton pants and cotton long sleeve shirts. No shorts or short sleeves.
- Drinking bottle
- Notepad and pencil
- Leather work gloves
- Material to pack up your project
