Get to Know

Sarah Holden: Metalsmith & Jeweler

Sarah’s Background

Hi! I’m Sarah. I am a contemporary studio jeweler and sculptor.

I received my Master of Fine Arts with a focus in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Crafts Materials Studies and Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University.

My limited production jewelry and sculpture can be found in galleries across America. I live in Chicago where I work as a studio artist, metals instructor and mom.

Teaching, recognition, and awards:

Visiting artist at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Metals Instructor at The Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina
Work found in the permanent collections of the Mint Museum in North Carolina and the Racine Art Museum in Wisconsin
Honored with an Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Grant and a Society of North American Goldsmiths Professional Educational Endowment
Currently teaching steel fabrication, welding and metal forming at The Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center in Chicago, Illinois

RESUME

Artist Statement

My work investigates how female identity is constructed and performed through the body.

The female body is site and content for my work and yields series in sculpture, drawing and limited-production jewelry. I source and celebrate imagery and histories of women that rebel against cultural expectation of the submissive female. Working inside this contested space I use traditional and non-traditional craft techniques to challenge these expectations by creating a role reversal through material.

About the Company

Holden Metalsmithing Company is my jewelry fabrication and sculpture business. My goal is to create bold, statement jewelry for bold wearers.

I pride myself of making high quality artist made jewelry that is unlike anything else. I want people to stop you on the street to ask you where you got your jewelry.

My team:

I’m the designer and lead fabricator of the jewelry and objects made here. However, my female owned and operated business supports other women run businesses whenever possible. My work is about strong women and I hire, train and support strong women on my team.

I believe it’s important to hire promising junior metalsmiths in order to share the knowledge and technical skill, that I have learned in the 20 years that I have been making jewelry. I often learn a lot from the younger generation too. This is how our institutional knowledge remains and grows in the future.

Shop jewelry

Sarah’s Story

I grew up in the Virginia-Maryland-Washington, DC, area. My parents are absolutely makers! (Although they would only ever consider their craft as a hobby). I learned how to frame a house and hang drywall from my Dad, and how to sew, crochet, knit and quilt from my Mom.

I knew that I wanted to make art, go to art school and learn how artists can both make art and support themselves. I was the first in my family to go to college and I took it very seriously.

While earning my BFA at Virginia Commonwealth University, I first learned how to fabricate small objects and jewelry in copper, brass and sterling silver. I was awarded a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship in 2007 and had the opportunity to buy gold and practice how to fabricate in gold. I started working in steel and welding larger steel sculptures towards the end of my undergraduate degree in 2008 and I have been working in precious metals and steel ever since.

I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the fall of 2008 and began my graduate program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. I learned how to set up a metalsmithing studio and spent most of my time in my graduate program experimenting with sculpture and performance art. I also taught my first metalsmithing class and dug deep into the histories of feminism and American culture.

After my graduate program, I moved to Chicago, started teaching steel fabrication, making jewelry and getting to know Chicago. Fifteen years later, I’m still living in this crazy city doing all the jewelry things, eating amazing food & exploring the midwest.

Shop jewelry