Forge
53°
Custom steel fabrication and furnishings
Jesse Rudiger-Aasgard & Mike Muirhead
Like any big decision in a person's life, it was a lifetime of decisions
that led to Jesse Rudiger-Aasgard and Mike Muirhead coming together to create Forge 53.
Jesse and Mike have known each other since childhood, and even had a snow removal business together at the age of 12. They both have backgrounds in fabrication--Mike in steel manufacturing and Jesse in woodworking. In 2014, their vision shifted toward a more commercial market and they came together to found Forge 53. They didn’t know where they were going, but they knew custom furnishings and metalwork were how they were going to get there.
Across everything they had done up until that point, problem solving and facilitation had played a big role, so that’s where they started. They knew there was a desire for products that they had the ability to build, so they started to build them.
“Inspiration is funny. Sometimes it’s vague, and other times it’s incredibly direct. Sometimes you sit and reflect and really turn a problem over and over again.”
Today, they work to help their clients realize their creative vision, using their expertise to craft one-of-a-kind decor, seating, surfaces, and spaces. They approach each project and challenge with a sense of optimism, excitement, and openness. Their work is fresh and often unexpected, but it’s also always exactly what the space needs.
A key part of their business has been developing an identity around art, culture, and design in Edmonton. It’s their home town, and they often praise the community for the support they’ve received along the way. Now, with numerous international commissions under their belt, they have the opportunity to help showcase Edmonton’s talent and creativity across North America and beyond.
