Boris Bally

Boris Bally was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bally's interest in the metal arts began at age 13 through a class at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, taught by Steve Korpa, where he learned to make jewelry and later brass knuckles and throwing stars.

His interest in the crafts continued to grow as he experienced the industry through more classes and meeting and working for local jewelers and artists including Jeff Whisner and Ronald McNeish.

In 1979, he graduated early from Carlynton High School and apprenticed for Alexander Schaffner Golsdschmied in Basel, Switzerland.

He then returned to the USA and attended the Tyler School of Art, and transferred to Carnegie Mellon University where he received his BFA.

Through his travels and apprenticeships, Bally showed an interest in the more extreme and mechanical aspect of art and design especially in radical new approaches to material use.