Meet the Artist

About Patricia Healey

Patricia Healey, artist and metalsmith

In college, I started out studying elementary education. My mom thought teaching would be a good fit, summers off, reliable work, so that’s what I declared. But it didn’t take long to realize teaching is a gift, and it wasn’t one I’d been handed. I switched my major to theater arts, which turned out to be far less disciplined, and a much better fit. It sharpened my creative problem-solving skills, something I’ve relied on in every artistic path since.

I’ve always chased creativity with a sense of adventure. I’ve drafted fashion patterns, cooked on sailboats (sailing nearly all the way around the world), and spent five years with a bicycle co-op, picking up all kinds of practical, hands-on skills along the way.

Then came metalwork. Copper is my medium of choice. It’s forgiving, expressive, and full of character. I’m drawn to its responsiveness: the way it takes on texture, how light plays across its surface, and how each mark leaves behind a bit of intention. The mix of metals, the patina, the fine details added by hand… these are what keep me coming back.