Bio: 

Maia graduated from Tufts University in 2008 with a degree in Biology and Community Health. She received training in jewelry and metals from various craft schools, including Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Pocosin Arts, Penland School of Crafts and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and her Masters of Fine Art from SUNY New Paltz.  She has participated in artist residencies at Arrowmont and Fallingwater and has taught around the country including Penland, Arrowmont, Pocosin, and Touchstone.  She currently works out of her studio in the Brewhouse Association on the south side of Pittsburgh.

Artist Statement:

For over 15 years, my artistic practice has centered on creating steel jewelry inspired by botanical forms reduced to their most fundamental shapes. Minimalism is at the heart of my work, where form and function intersect to produce clean, precise designs that are simple yet complex in their interaction with the body.

A key aspect of my practice is the integration of industrial processes with traditional craft techniques. By combining 3-D rendering software and laser-cutting with manual methods, I achieve a synergy of precision and craftsmanship. This approach allows me to merge the exacting standards of industrial design with the nuanced, tactile qualities of handcraft, resulting in objects that balance technical accuracy with a personal, sensory experience. Through this fusion, I create work that enhances how people interact with both adornment and functional objects in their daily lives.