We recently connected with Maliika Nia-Imani and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maliika, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned the basics of metalwork and making jewelry at a small jewelry school in Brooklyn, called BK Metalworks. It was a 6-week course with other people like me who were interested in making their own metal jewelry, but didn’t really have any experience. After that, I was hooked and wanted to learn more! I wanted to more about design, fabrication, and about the jewelry industry. I found a job as bench jeweler apprentice, and did that work for about a year.

I started creating glass jewelry when I was accepted into the 2022 Bead Project cohort along with about 12 other women and non-binary people. The Bead Project is a program run by UrbanGlass where the cohort is taught glass jewelry making skills, as well as lessons on how to start a small business. It was an amazing experience that offered me a new medium to work in, and a great community of creatives to connect with!

Although I do wish I had taken jewelry design and fabrication classes earlier in life, I am also a firm believer that we are all exactly where we need to be in each stage of life! Now, I just focus on continuing my education and try to worry less about the “what ifs” and “if only’s”.

The most essential skills I’ve learned so far is to creatively address issues that may come up when creating. And to know when to start over, if needed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My brand is Nia Imani Studio, and I make silver and glass jewelry (for now!). I began making jewelry when I took a course in metal smithing in 2020. And then it was all up from there! I was always interested in jewelry, but that course definitely sparked my passion.

I would describe my jewelry as statement jewelry. I’ve never been into minimalism, and I love stacking my jewelry – multiple chains and rings on each finger kind of thing. I love it.

I want my clients and people following me to know ME. I am a first generation Caribbean-American, who grew up in NYC. I’m queer. I’m passionate about growing my art and my business. I’m most proud of the fact that I put so much of myself into my work. I’m grateful for my experience, because they brought me to where I am today. I hope that when people see my work they see the beauty I want to bring into the world. And when they wear my jewelry, they look into the mirror and see their own beauty enhanced and reflected back to them. I just want everyone to feel REALLY good when they wear my jewelry.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best support for artists and a thriving creative eco-system is providing livable wages. It is incredibly difficult for people to prioritize creativity in their lives when they are struggling to survive. And who know how many creative geniuses our world is missing out on because so many of us are operating in “survival mode”. Once we as a society start to truly value our artists and art in general by providing the resources to our communities, we will see a shift in our creative ecosystem

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I don’t believe anyone is actually 100% non-creative. If you cook your own meals, that is a creative act. If you do your hair and makeup, that’s creative. For some reason, we reserve the idea of who or what is creative to certain practices or to a certain kind of person. I had to realize that I’ve been creative my whole life. Being an entrepreneur hasn’t made me more or less of a creative person. I had to lean not to shy away from claiming the title “artist” or “creative”. I had to learn to embody what I was doing, and to be proud of how I show up as a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: NiaImaniStudio.com
• Instagram: @NiaImaniStudio

Image Credits
All photos credit to Boston Chery Ig @Boston Chery