Maggie MacKenzie
She/Her
Pfafftown, NC, US
Maggie MacKenzie graduated from Appalachian State University in 2023, majoring in Industrial Design (Product Design) with a minor in Studio Art. Since then, she has been showing work regionally and attending short-term residencies.
“In my work, I am interested in merging my previous studies in Industrial Design with metalsmithing to create bespoke objects that facilitate meaningful interactions between the maker and the user through tangible experiences. Within metalsmithing, I have come to love the little instances of magic that occur when getting lost in the simple process of sawing through sheet material, bending copper sheet over a forming stake to create a curve. I hope my work evokes some type of feeling within the viewer that connects them not only to the object but also brings about a sense of nostalgia.”
@mag_mack04
How does your creative practice reflect your experience of living and making as a BIPOC and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ maker?
“My desire is to make work that feels like it belongs and has a history, regardless of whether it was made recently. Being adopted has made me acknowledge that I am grateful to be where I am, but also know that the feeling of wanting to belong is also part of my history. I make work to connect to those who have come before me and who have shaped who I am.”
"Untitled (Green Teapot)", Copper, aluminum, powder coat, and hardware, 9.5” x 2.75” x 4”, 2022
What techniques, stories, or materials have been passed down to you, and how are you reimagining them in the present?
“I look to early Industrial Designers for part of my inspiration, and my fascination with streamlined design, where design and function were on different footing. On the other hand, I try to cherish the early memories I have spent time with my family and my love of antiques by creating objects that may seem ‘dated’ but play a vital role at one point in time.”
"Untitled (Bird house Ring)", Copper and brass, .75” x 1.25” x 3”, 2026How does your work honor those who came before you while forging new pathways for the future?
“I am curious about learning all that I can, not only as a metalsmith, but as a maker. Combining old techniques and current technologies fascinates me in making work, whether that's using CAD to create a template or using hand tools to achieve a nice final finish.”
Photographs Courtesy of the Artist