C2 FAB

My name is Chad Copeland, and I got the nickname C-Squared in college, more on that below.

From my earliest experiences, I’ve been driven by curiosity, creativity, and a desire to make things with my own two hands. I began my artistic education at the American Academy of Art in Chicago in 2005, majoring in oil painting and illustration. However, I soon realized these fields weren't the best fit for me, and I made the difficult choice to step back and explore new paths. During this time, a professor, Bobby Joe Scribner, offered me a transformative opportunity to work in his sculptural fabrication studio in Woodstock, Illinois. What started as an entry-level role with sweeping floors and organizing materials evolved into a three-year apprenticeship where I advanced from assisting with small tasks to welding components, making aesthetic decisions, and collaborating on large-scale projects. The experience reshaped my career aspirations and taught me the immense possibilities within sculptural fabrication.

Encouraged by Bobby Joe’s belief in my potential, I decided to pursue a formal education in sculpture. I enrolled at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where I immersed myself in a vibrant creative environment, working with a diverse group of professors, graduate students, and classmates. As a Sculpture major, I studied a wide range of 3D fields, including glass, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, casting, and carving, alongside 2D courses in design, illustration, video art, and multimedia. These years were filled with challenges and growth, and I was fortunate to serve as the wood and metal shop monitor and assistant, gaining exclusive access to the best tools and equipment—a dream for any sculptor.

Upon graduating, I took a trip to visit friends in Denver, Colorado, which marked the beginning of a five-year stay that led me to found my own shop, originally known as C-Squared Studios. My good friend Jack Allen, whom I’d worked with in my hometown of Valparaiso on various projects like custom car work, cycling, and the underground sport of bike polo, joined me in Denver as my business partner. Together, we pooled our tools and moved into an 800-square-foot space on East Colfax Ave. With its long, narrow layout, it was a modest setup, but it was enough to get our business off the ground.

At first, I split my time between C-Squared Studios and working as a project manager for a landscape design firm, where I learned project management, financial management, and communication skills essential to running a business. Eventually, we were working full-time on C-Squared, serving high-end clients with custom furniture, sculptures, lighting fixtures, and even brewery parts. We also gained visibility through Dabble, where I taught welding and blacksmithing classes, attracting nearly 700 students over four years. This experience expanded my network, brought in business, and gave me my first apprentice, Drew, a bright, driven 14-year-old who went on to work with me for three years.

In 2015, as demand grew, C-Squared Studios moved to a larger, 3,300 sq. ft. space in Lakewood’s “40W” arts district, which became a true creative hub. I divided the space into my own sculpture studio, two rentable studio bays, and C2 Gallery—a gallery run by Rosie Taylor, a local textile artist. With its striking black walls and monochromatic epoxy floors, C2 Gallery became known for its edgy monthly openings that consistently drew high attendance and sales. The multi-use space quickly became a staple in the arts district, hosting creatives from woodworkers to sculptors and drawing together Denver’s artistic community. With this new, expanded space, I rebranded the business to C2 Fab, which operated successfully in this vibrant arts community until I ultimately decided to move back to my hometown to be closer to family.

Today, I’m grateful for the journey that has shaped C2 Fab. My life is centered around my family, including my fiancée Jess and her three wonderful children, who have become my family as well. Looking to the future, I’m excited to build on what we’ve accomplished, expanding C2 Fab’s scope and taking on larger, more complex projects that blend functionality with art. With a foundation rooted in craftsmanship and community, I’m dedicated to making C2 Fab a trusted name, creating work that both my family and community can be proud of.