Member of the Month: Manjia (Liz) Zhu

Website: https://www.lizzhujewelry.com/

Instagram: @lizzhujewelry

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a metalsmith based in the San Francisco Bay Area and a BFA candidate in the Jewelry and Metal Arts program at California College of the Arts. Born in Hubei and raised in Shanghai, I immigrated to the United States alone at the age of fourteen to pursue my education. Moving across the East Coast, the Midwest, and California has shaped my ongoing exploration of identity, belonging, and family memory—recurring themes in my work.
I regard traditional metalcraft as both the foundation and lifelong pursuit of my practice. For me, craft is a language and the backbone of my art. When I am not caring for my three cats, I can usually be found in the studio, deeply immersed in the meditative rhythm of making.

2. What is your favorite tool and why?
My favorite tool is the diamond bur, which I often use during the finishing stage of my work. It comes in a wide range of sizes, allowing me to reach very fine and detailed areas. The surface it creates is similar to sandblasting, but with more brilliance and a stronger sense of handcraft.

3. Which materials do you create with most and what is your attraction to using them?
The material I use most frequently is silver. It is easy to form, has a well-balanced hardness, feels more refined than copper, and is more affordable than gold. Silver also combines well with many other metals, which makes it especially versatile for my practice.

4. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My creative inspiration often comes from my personal life—migration, identity, and the emotions tied to family. However, there are many moments when I do not begin with a specific concept. Instead, I lose myself at the bench, experimenting, practicing, and allowing the act of making to guide me. The process itself becomes the purpose; making transforms into reflection and quiet discovery.

5. How long have you been working in metals and what brought you into this field?
Before coming to CCA for my undergraduate studies, I had no experience with metalworking at all. I simply thought it might be fun and interesting, and I made the decision rather impulsively. However, I had always been a child who loved art and handcraft. Art allowed me to express my unusual ideas, while hand-making brought me into a quiet state where I could forget time. Over the course of four years in college, I gradually discovered my deep interest in metal.

6. What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in metals?

When I first arrived at CCA, I felt an overwhelming sense of gap and confusion. I had no idea what I was about to learn or what path I was heading toward, and I had no technical foundation at all. Throughout my college years, I committed myself to the bench, and keep attending multiple workshops. Even during times when I lacked inspiration, I continued to practice consistently. Those practices became into my inspirations and final.

7. What has been the biggest challenge for you as a metal artist and have you overcome it, or how are you working to overcome it?
The greatest challenge in my metalworking journey has been my mindset. As metalsmiths, I notice every flaw in a piece of jewelry very easily, and I am especially critical of imperfections in my own work. This often leads to frustration, as I realize I cannot create something that is entirely flawless by my hand. However, it is precisely this challenge—and this belief—that pushes me to continue refining my skills and improving my craftsmanship.

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