Our approach to any work of art is obviously biased and heavily depends on personal, impenetrable criteria that are commonly referred to as our “tastes“. Nevertheless when we judge a work of art, we can deeply feel that one factor at least, has got nothing to do with our personal tastes, namely our acknowlegement of the artist’s creativeness and mastering techniques. These two concepts have constantly been a prevailing guiding force in Joël Orgiazzi’s work, from the creating process to the actual realization of his pieces... Combining a know-how to revive a classical style that has moulded France’s reputation and fame over the past centuries along with a forceful imagination to manufacture prestigious contemporary objects, Joël Orgiazzi has definitely carried an ideological quest to support the revival of his craftsmanship and express his passion for wrought iron.

In 1972, Mario Orgiazzi, a blacksmith and a locksmith, started training his son Joël (then15) who was already fascinated by working with metals. The young boy quickly discovered that such demanding metal required a tremendous amount of skill and constant determination to master it, to be able to reach the height of his passion . Joël was so deeply motivated that he took and passed several exams. Besides, he also attended evening classes at the Fine Arts Museum to complete his artistic culture . Thanks to his outstanding optimism and talented excessiveness, he was awarded the prize of Meilleur Ouvrier De France and won several prizes and medals as a token of his value.

As a realiable craftsman in terms of restoration, rehabilitation and creation, he became internationally acknowledged. His first contract in Geneva was the start of his international career and acknowledgement (in Gstaad, Kenya, Osaka, New York, pieces for a private mansion in London. He also worked for King Faad, the Chaabi Bank in Marocco, Lancel, the Plazza Athenée Hotel, the Intercontinental hotel. He manufactured gigantic bronze gates for Hotel Meurice and an XVIIIth Century-style entrance-railing for a Palace in Barhein. The Musée Du Louvre ordered numerous restorations including the XVIIIth Century railing of the Apollo Gallery... To cope with this growing popularity, Joël had to enlarge both his family workshop and his working team to serve his customers with dedication and to ensure the durability of the quality concept of his work.

Most of his current orders are for the traditional style of wrought iron as it is extremely popular and so Joël’s technique is peerless in this field. As highly specialized craftsmen, Joël and his team are entrusted with the restoration and creation of monumental railings, banisters which are finely decorated with volutes or spiraling golden leaves, all of which are very often on an enormous scale. Through his various creations, he is able to achieve his deeply cherished dream of “giving new life to the blacksmith art, of recreating the splendor of the craftsmanship in wrought iron as it used to be: prestigious, well-balanced and perfectly structured in its minute refinement.”

Joël is equally at ease in working with a chateau-type décor as he is with a very minimalist, modern athmosphere. Both his open-mindedness and his imagination contribute to create a halo of mystery surrounding his creative world... Look into the details and study them ! Nothing has been overlooked or oversimplified, nothing is left to chance in terms of care, patience, dedication and devotion, whether it be a one meter high volute or a slight incision at the back of a leaf or a detail which is not detectable at first sight ! Pursuit of perfection is indispensable to Joël’s satisfaction and fulfilment.

As regards mastering the technique, he has got nothing to prove. Each piece, which is never repeated to avoid monotony, inspires a new creation while profoundly taking into account his customer’s tastes and wishes. What matters most is to have a good reason to love his finished piece to be sure that he does indeed deserve the esteem and acknowledgement of his customers and admirers . He has achieved international success because he made a kid’s dream come true thanks to a life of hard work, devotion and passion !