Mata Iaia is a metalsmith based in San Miguel, California. She works primarily with copper, silver, and vitreous enamel. Her journey as a metal artist began 25 years ago when she stumbled upon the art of architectural and ornamental metal work. She was immediately drawn in by the magic of forging, forming and moving metal and knew this was her calling. She began working with steel and copper with a forge and anvil under an avocado tree in her back yard in Southern California.
Since then her passion for the craft has only grown and she now works indoors in a lovely studio in San Miguel. She continues to improve her skills through study and by taking classes and workshops around the country with Master Metalsmiths and Artists. She spends time in her workshop, hammering away, shaping and manipulating metal into unique, organic and one-of-a-kind pieces.
