Metalsmith Margaret Jacobs’s organic forms in steel and brass draw on influences from her Akwesasne Mohawk heritage.
Margaret Jacobs’s work in metal often takes the form of plant life—a subject she says feels less like a choice and more like listening to stories that are asking to be told. In her sculpture and jewelry work, steel and brass—materials traditionally associated with infrastructure and industry—appear delicate, often taking the shape of food and medicinal plants tied to her Akwesasne Mohawk heritage. It’s this collision of man-made and natural that fascinates the Upstate New York–based artist, whose work has been widely shown and earned her numerous awards, distinctions, and residencies. Currently, she’s preparing for a solo exhibition at Middlebury College featuring work developed during a 2025 Winter Arts/Industry Residency at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Wisconsin. She’s also creating new pieces for group exhibitions at the Wassaic Project and the Iroquois Museum.
Jacobs’s work has been featured in print and online publications including Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and American Craft—where her Mint bolo tie appeared in “It’s A Cinch” in the Fall 2025 issue.
How do you describe your work or practice in 50 words or less?
I am a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) metalsmith who creates fabricated steel sculptures and powdercoated jewelry that showcase kinship to botanicals, medicine plants, and the natural world. My work explores the lines of contemporary craft and art objects alongside Indigenous, historical, and personal narratives, creating layers of storytelling in my work.
Jacobs with a casting she made at Salem Art Works in Upstate New York during her summer 2024 artist residency.
