David Breeden 1898?-2006

Biscuit Run Studios’ founder, David Breeden, died of natural causes in 2006. During the course of his 68 years on earth, his two marriages produced seven children and four grandchildren. His early works were created in his hometown of Manassas, Virginia, where he participated in the family trade of land development. There he founded, Ball’s Ford Furniture Company, an “antique” furniture creation business,with clients like the Kennedys and Ambassador ___. Breeden’s quest to develop as an artist took him on a two-year adventure in the early 70’s through Africa and Brazil. During this time, he served as the photographer for the National Geographic Society, living with the tribal people of Botswana and teaching in Brazil, where he was inspired by the costumes and pageantry of the Carnival culture.

Upon returning to the States, he set up shop at Biscuit Run as the caretaker of the estate and established a studio which would produce over 10,000 works of original art over the next four decades. He collaborated with numerous artists and was always excited to trade resources and ideas. As his drive to create gained focus, he was introduced to the soapstone quarried in Alberene and Schuyler. This material spawned a golden era at Biscuit Run Studios. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s the stone carving flourished as Breeden’s insatiable appetite for tools and materials grew. At the height of production, the shop was a sprawling buzz of apprentices, assistants, and co-creators carving and polishing hundreds of pieces at a time.

His media ranged from native Virginia soapstone, stained glass, metal, and concrete to esoteric media collected at auctions and in scrapyards. He also held a salon every Wednesday night, which was a hotspot for Central Virginia’s arts and culture community to share meals, ideas, and fellowship.

Breeden’s legacy continues to touch many lives through his work, much of which is still on display at Biscuit Run’s gallery and in private collections around the world.

Biscuit Run now

David’s wife, Elizabeth, faithfully and diligently managed his career and claims to have retired in the year 2000. Their eldest son Christian has become the working artist and manager of Biscuit Run Studios. He has taught classes in stone sculpture and metal fabrication. He manages the sale of David’s voluminous stockpile of art supplies and has seen his own career branch into a realm of mechanized pyrotechnic neo-carnival art.

Other events since David’s passing have led to the land surrounding Biscuit Run Studios being donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the creation of a state park. We hope to continue the prolific output of sculpture to which he devoted his life and to facilitate an environment dedicated to the continued sharing of knowledge and ideals. David Breeden’s legacy includes a large number of works which are still for sale.

Send us an email and come on out if you’re in the neighborhood. Take Interstate 64 to Exit #120 (“Fifth Street”), Go south 2 miles. Biscuit Run is on the left.