Heikki Seppä

Heikki Markus Seppä, also known as Heikki Seppa (March 8, 1927 – May 18, 2010) was a Finnish-born American master metalsmith, educator, and author. He taught at Washington University in St. Louis,

In 1950 he emigrated with his first wife to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Then they moved to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he attended Cranbrook Academy of Art. They stayed together until her death in 1993.

In 1998, he moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington and married metalsmith Laurie A. Lyall. He died at his Bainbridge home at age 83.

Career Seppä taught art in Louisville, Kentucky from 1960 to 1965. He later taught at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts at Washington University in St. Louis from 1965 until his retirement at 1992 as Professor Emeritus. He was a founding member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. His metal sculptures are in private collections, as well as in museums including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Awards American Craft Council Fellow and national treasure, 1987 Art and Education Council Award, St. Louis, 1996 The Hans Christiansen award, Society of American Silversmiths, 2003 SNAG Lifetime Achievement award, Society of North American Goldsmiths, 2008