Meet José Pereira of Durham, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to José Pereira

Hi José, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in metal work started with a blacksmith who was doing work in front of my uncle’s house on Pico Island in the Azores, Portugal, where I vacationed each summer as a child. He would be working with a forge, hammering metal, and I was always curious about what magical things he was doing. That was my introduction to metal.

I enjoyed creating things and expressing myself artistically and making displays out of design. I started as a metal worker apprentice in the Azores, Portugal, and then moved along to start my own business where I worked with clients from all over the world at a marina for boats that were on long voyages.

As an adult, I moved to Boston and then to Durham, North Carolina. I opened a art studio in Durham in 2006 and have been working on projects here ever since.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Sometimes challenging, but that’s exactly what makes you or breaks you and keeps it exciting. Leaving my business and shop in Portugal and moving to the United States on my own at 32 was a huge jump. Finding clientele as a person new to the States was hard. Many times I would have a commission and would need to figure out how to complete a project without a shop, which sometimes meant working outside, welding in the summer heat. I believe these challenges have made me a more capable fabricator and artist.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in custom, original metal artwork. I am capable of doing functional repairs, but I most enjoy making unique pieces and using my creativity to make a product come to life. I create someone’s custom dream that has never existed before: a gate, a bridge, railings, wall and garden art, etc.

What am I most proud of? Most proud that I keep learning and adapting. I love the learning process – it’s a nonstop thing and I keep learning everyday, no matter what. Most of the things we need to know are already inside of us to discover.

What matters most to you?
This is a tricky question. If it is a question about character, I would say things like integrity. If it’s a general question, I would say my family. Those things come first. If it’s a question about what matters most to me professionally, it’s the excitement on the faces of my clients about the product that I deliver to them – that is even better than payment. The moment when I unveil a project to a customer and get to show them the enjoyment I had working on the piece is why I do what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jpmetal.art
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jpmetalart