Founded in 2012, Smith Shop is a dynamic craft-centric metalworking studio based in Detroit, Michigan. Smith Shop produces functional and ornamental metalwork of all descriptions specializing in the custom fabrication of gold, silver, copper, brass and steel while also producing limited-production wholesale runs ranging from jewelry to architectural hardware. Smith Shop has been recognized for excellence through numerous awards and by publications including Saveur, Food & Wine, Metropolis, Dwell, and American Craft. In addition to its manufacturing business, Smith Shop offers access to its metalworking facilities in Highland Park through classes, workshops, and private lessons.
If you would like to work with us, drop us a line at info@smithshop.com.
Gabriel Craig
Co-Owner, Metalsmith
Gabriel has been a metalsmith for twenty years, starting his career as a jeweler and gradually becoming interested in larger and more varied metalworking techniques. His work is often influenced by historical ornament and architecture. Gabriel’s work has been exhibited nationally including exhibitions at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., The National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, TN, and the Cameron Museum of Art in Wilmington, NC. In addition to his metalwork Gabriel writes about craft, focusing on historic ironwork and craft cultural relevance and implications in the 21st century. His critical writing has appeared in prominent craft publications including Metalsmith, American Craft and Surface Design Journal. He has lectured throughout the country on his own artistic work, decorative arts history and contemporary craft. He has held artist residencies at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Warren Wilson College. Gabriel received his BFA in Metals/ Jewelry from Western Michigan University and his MFA in Jewelry and Metalworking from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Amy Weiks
Co-Owner, Metalsmith
Amy began her art career studying photography. She took a break from the camera to study printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. In 2004 she discovered metalsmithing and never looked back. Like photography and printmaking, metalsmithing was also a medium steeped in technical processes, but working in metal allowed her to move into three-dimensions creating new opportunities to explore form, volume, and function. Amy’s work dissects the visual language of utilitarian forms often seeking to imagine them in new poetic or whimsical iterations. Her innate sense of form and composition, her sensitivity to line quality, and deft skill with a hammer are the defining hallmarks of her work. Amy has shown her artwork nationally and internationally including exhibitions at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, TX, The Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, WA, The Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC, Velvet da Vinci gallery in San Francisco, CA and Galerie Marzee in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Amy received her BFA from Western Michigan University and her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Meredith Bracken
Metalsmith
Meredith is a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a BFA in Metals and Jewelry Design. Homeschooled with her three sisters, Meredith was encouraged very early to develop her creativity and imagination, eventually leading her to pursue a degree in the arts. Besides metalworking, her experience includes printmaking, illustration, woodworking, and CAD. When she’s not working in the shop, Meredith enjoys writing, surprise outings, dessert, and finding reasons to wear her vintage clothing collection.
Jesse Pequeño
Apprentice
Jesse was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is currently studying welding and metallurgical Engineering at Wayne State University in Midtown, Detroit. Jesse is interested in bridging the worlds of engineering and art through his work. Jesse’s Mexican-American identity has driven him to focus on providing avenues for social mobility in his community—especially through his knowledge and expertise in metalworking. Jesse is interested in developing public artworks. He is passionate about learning both the scientific and artistic aspects of metalworking. He is an avid reader and enjoys literature, his favorite author is Cormac McCarthy. Jesse’s dream is to one day publish his writing.
Niko Nicolaides
Metalsmith
Niko studied metal fabrication and machining in high school and college, but his passion for metalwork began with knife making—which he picked up as a hobby while going to college and working in restaurants. While studying manufacturing engineering in school he stumbled upon knife making videos on YouTube. Quickly Niko’s focus shifted to forging knives and he began his own knife making studio, Nicolaides Knives. He is an expert is pattern welded mosaic damascus steel, and he brings his critical eye and expert finishing skills to his work at Smith Shop. Niko continues to pursue his passion for forging hot steel and making beautiful things at Smith Shop.