We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Hogan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I don’t remember exactly when I determined that I wanted to have my own business, but I’ve always had an incredibly independent minded personality and felt I offered clients a unique, creative approach that was not always appreciated or utilized within the confines of some of the companies for which I had worked. There were several times along my development journey in which I tested the idea of striking out on my own, but it took ten years of working various fabrication and fabrication management positions before I felt confident enough to fully commit.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The primary focus of my business, Reliquary Studio, is the development of custom furniture and production of specialty fabrication projects for residential and hospitality applications. Over the last twelve years I have had the opportunity to work with clients ranging from international design studios to individual homeowners and have developed a great core group of additional fabricators in a variety of mediums that have made it possible to execute such a wide range of projects with what boils down to a one person shop. The journey has definitely been tough, especially relying on the unpredictable and often volatile nature of high end/luxury restaurant and residential construction, but I feel incredibly privileged to continue to be involved in such diverse projects. I really thrive on the problem solving aspect of building highly custom pieces and enjoy being able to talk through ideas with my clients to develop work that fulfills their functional requirements with beautiful, original detailing that speaks to their individual taste while maintaining a sense of my own signature. Those conversations, and the resulting built pieces, create a connection between the client and the final product that feels intimate and really drives consistent return customers and word of mouth marketing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Clermont, NY, which is where my workshop is located, is a pretty rural locale, but the area has some great food, music, and sights within a short drive. Some of my favorite restaurants include Gaskins and Universal Cafe & Bar in Germantown, Feast & Floret in Hudson, and Silvia’s, Goodnight, and Medo in Woodstock. I also enjoy people watching at the bar, Early Terrible, and catching a band at The Colony, both in Woodstock.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have been influential in my development both as an artist and in my business it’s hard to pick just one. However, Oliver Freundlich is one name that always comes up as a primary source of optimistic support and encouragement, as well as serving as a trusted mentor. Oliver was a partner at the architectural design/build firm MADE while I was working there as fabrication shop manager, was instrumental in guiding me in the process of setting up my business, and transitioned into my biggest consistent client as we both followed our independent paths.

Website: reliquarystudio.com

Instagram: @reliquarystudio

Image Credits
Emma Tuccillo, David Reigada, shot by Philip Johnson

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