Our Work
Practik transforms creative concepts into realized artwork to enrich our cultural landscape, celebrate diversity, and inspire dialogue.
Chelsea Gaddy
Co-Founder
Chelsea Gaddy is a driven metal fabricator, designer and entrepreneur in Seattle, WA. Her career has been in pursuit of creating work at the intersection of art, craft and technical skill. Chelsea received a BFA in Photography from University of Washington in 2008, followed by technical training in Metalsmithing from Pratt Fine Art Center through 2013. She founded Force/Collide in 2013 endeavoring to combine three main strengths: working one-on-one with clients, creative vision for original design, and precision metal fabrication.
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Technical expertise and a keen eye for detail are at the core of Chelsea’s skillset. She works on the basis that creativity should be applied not only to aesthetics, but to process for truly well-designed work. On the fabrication side, she is passionate about TIG welding, precision fitting, creative problem solving, and fine finishing in a wide variety of alloys. Chelsea excels in balancing the bigger picture of a project while refining meticulous details.
As equal parts director, project manager and fabricator, Chelsea brings technical expertise to bear as an ideal liaison between design, production, delivery and installation. She enjoys orchestrating project plans that push the boundary of what’s possible and working together as a team to produce work that will add connection in everyday life, enrich community and cultivate diversity for generations to come.
Chelsea’s portfolio includes a breadth of work ranging from original custom furniture and lighting, public artwork, high-end architectural metal packages and structural metalwork. She has fabricated work for the Sound Transit KDM and Tacoma Light Rail Stations and her own work has been shown at Bellevue Arts Museum, American Design Club for NYC x Design, Ghost Gallery, HyBrid Architecture and many private homes across the region. She is the recipient of the Carol Duke Artist Award of Excellence from Bellevue Arts Museum and has been featured in CBS News, Architectural Digest, The Sound Transit Platform Modern Luxury Magazine, 1stdibs The Study, How to Build a Furniture Brand Podcast, and as a panelist for Women in Metal hosted by Pratt Fine Arts Center.
Ignacio Lopez
Co-Founder
With nearly two decades of expertise in metal fabrication and fine art production, Ignacio Lopez is a highly skilled craftsperson specializing in custom metal fabrication and art installations. Ignacio received a BA in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts from Northwest College of Art in 2003. His breadth of skills developed through experience at The Bronzeworks, Fabrication Specialties, Seattle Art Museum and Force/Collide, fostering his ability to work intimately with artists while mastering various aspects of metal craft and finishing techniques.
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During Ignacio’s career at Fabrication Specialties, one of the Pacific Northwest's most prestigious metal fabrication studios, he contributed to numerous high-profile public art installations and worked alongside internationally renowned artists. His exceptional proficiency in TIG and MIG welding across various materials including stainless steel, bronze, and aluminum, allowed him to execute complex artistic visions. Handling museum-quality and monumental-scale artworks has required both technical expertise and sophisticated problem-solving skills.
Throughout his career, Ignacio has collaborated with a diverse range of clients including government agencies, renowned artists, designers and engineers. His technical expertise extends beyond fabrication to include complex art installations. He is dedicated to the bridging the gap between artistic vision and technical execution, while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship and safety.
Ignacio’s work can be found in numerous public and private collections, representing his commitment to excellence in metal fabrication and his significant contribution to the field of public art.
Portfolio
Michelle de la Vega, Inheritance 2025 | Stainless steel and mild steel, 15 x 30 x 26’ | Sound Transit KDM Light Rail Station in Kent, WA | Fabricated by Force/Collide; Project Manager and Lead Fabricator: Chelsea Gaddy; fabrication team included Ignacio Lopez
Patty Warashina, Dreamer 2023 | Cast aluminum, 20 x 8 x 20’ | Private Development in Seattle, WA | Fabricated and installed by Fabrication Specialties, LTD | Lead Fabricator and Installer: Ignacio Lopez
Chelsea Gaddy, Parenthetical Light | Silicon bronze and light, 10 x 3 x 2’ | Exhibited at Bellevue Arts Museum for Metalmorphosis in Bellevue, WA | Fabricated by Chelsea Gaddy / Force/Collide
Left: Douglas Hollis, Sky Column | Stainless steel, granite and terrazzo, 2021 | Located at Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center in Arlington, VA | Fabricated by Fabrication Specialties, LTD | Right: Buster Simpson, Presence | Stainless steel, concrete and LEDs, 35' x 16' Salt Lake City Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City, UT | Fabricated and installed by Fabrication Specialties, LTD, whose team included Ignacio Lopez
Chelsea Gaddy, Fold Coffee Tables (left), Nexus End Tables (right) | Mild steel and glass | Private residences in Seattle, WA | Designed and fabricated by Chelsea Gaddy / Force/Collide
Left: Gerald Tsutakawa, Tonbi Fountain | Silicon bronze and water | Amazon Doppler Campus in Seattle, WA; Right: Julie Speidel, Petros | Amazon Dopper Campus in Seattle, WA | Fabricated and installed by Fabrication Specialties, LTD, whose team included Ignacio Lopez
Chelsea Gaddy, Domino Coffee Tables (left), Nexus End Tables (right) | Mild steel and glass | Private residences in Seattle, WA | Designed and fabricated by Chelsea Gaddy / Force/Collide
Left: Douglas Hollis, Sky Column | Stainless steel, granite and terrazzo, 2021 | Located at Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center in Arlington, VA | Fabricated by Fabrication Specialties, LTD | Right: Jill Anholt, Bouyant Pavillion | Stainless steel, water and LEDs | Redmond Downtown Park in Redmond, WA | Fabricated and installed by Fabrication Specialties, LTD, whose team included Ignacio Lopez
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