Ai Iijima studied basic metalworking, especially in jewellery making in Japan.
After graduating from Japanese school, she was keen to gain a European art & craft education (mainly metalworking). In the UK, she studied 3D Materials Practice at Camberwell College of Arts London and the University of Brighton, majoring in metalworking and wood work.
Since then, she has been a blacksmith apprentice at Glynde Forge near Lewes.
She returned to Japan after took apprentiship for 3 and half years and opend her own Blacksmith workshop called 'Metalsmith iiji'.
From 2018, she has been taking a part of TATARA MATSURI in Yachiyo as a role of Blacksmith.
Also she is a member of Chiba Traditional Blackamith Association since 2019.
東京学館総合技術高校工芸科(現・東京学館船橋高校美術工芸科)にて日本の伝統的な技法を含む彫金技法を学ぶ。在学中より西洋の金工技法にも興味を覚え、卒業後かねてからの夢であったイギリスの美大へ留学を果たす。渡英後、ロンドンのカンバーウェルカレッジオブアーツに入学。
より技術的な事を学びたいと言う理由からブライトン大学, 3D Materials Practice (WMCP)コースへ編入し金工と木工を専攻。BA2年時の夏にグラインドフォージで鍛冶見習いとして伝統的な鍛金技法を学ぶ。
2019- : Chiba Traditional Blacksmiths Association, japan2018- : Tatara Festival Blacksmithing Demonstration, Yachiyo, Japan2017- : Opening Forge at Yachiyo-shi, Chiba Japan2011 - 2017: NAAR (Tax Free shop at Narita International Airport), Japan2008 - 2011: Blacksmith Apprentice at Glynde Forge, near Lewes UK2007 - 2009: 3D Materials Practice (Wood, Metal, Ceramic & Plastic) at University of Brighton, Brighton UK2006 - 2007: 3D Material and Critical Practice at Camberwell College of Arts, London UK2005 - 2006: Foundation Course (Fine Art Sculpture) at Camberwell College of Arts, London UK2001 - 2004: Fine Art Course (Wood, Metal, Ceramic, Plastic and general Art & Design) at Tokyo Gakkan Technical High School, Chiba Japan