James Klein

James Klein is a New Zealand–based maker whose work sits between industry and instinct. With a background as a qualified boilermaker and pipe fitter on major infrastructure projects across the country, his practice is shaped by a long relationship with materials, structure, and making by hand.

Grounded in an early fascination with building, collecting, and observing natural forms, his work explores raw materials, structure, and restraint. Steel, leather, and plywood are central to the practice, chosen for their honesty, durability, and the way they age over time.

Each piece is made by hand in small numbers, embracing both precision and imperfection, and carrying the marks of the making process itself.