Laura Minuto,has a passion for building functional and wearable art
A love of art and a passion for equestrian sports created a unique path for local artist Laura Minuto, leader her to open the Catalina Island Leather Company.
Her passion for artistic endeavors began early in life, where she studied photography and music. Equally interested in athletics, Laura participated in many sports including equestrian pursuits. Her love of horses led her to adopt an Arabian gelding with an unusual back who needed a custom saddle.
Rather than hire someone to build his saddle, she instead began researching how she might make the saddle herself. She met with renowned saddle maker Gary McClintock of McClintock Saddleworks and learned how to design and build a saddle for her horse Charlie.
McClintock saddles are famous for Gary’s style of carving, which feature intricate hand carved designs adorning sturdy and well-built leather pieces. She apprenticed for Gary for several years before moving to Catalina Island, where she then began building her own leather working shop from the ground up. Over time her leatherworking interests expanded into metalsmithing, beading and jewelry making as well.
Laura has a passion for building functional and wearable art. She thrives on the left-brain and right-brain balance of work that is both analytical as well as artistic. Her pieces are designed to be sturdy and practical, yet aesthetically pleasing. She enjoys making one-of-a-kind, high quality, and well-made items that will last a lifetime. Each piece is uniquely handcrafted utilizing materials carefully selected and sourced in the USA wherever possible.
Her love for the outdoors, the island, and creating functional art culminate in her timeless pieces inspired by the ocean and beach life, island geology, ¬flora and fauna, nautical and aircraft, as well as the island’s rich and complex history.
Every piece she creates tells a story about a part of this island we love. When not creating pieces for her business, Laura enjoys working for the Catalina Island Conservancy as a Ranger, Los Angeles County Fire Department as a Patrol Firefighter, and spending time with her husband, two kids, two dogs and her horse on Catalina Island.
For more information, visit catalinaislandleather.com.
