Founded in the 1950s by his father, Louis Herrera Jr. now carries on the fine tradition of creating original handcrafted ironwork for Herrera Ornamental Iron Works, Inc.
Our History
Louis Herrera Sr. founded Herrera Ornamental Iron Works in the 1950s. As a young man in 1945, he joined the Army Air Corp. After leaving the service, he trained and apprenticed under the GI Bill at Boyce Iron Works in Austin. There he learned ironworking, metal smithing and the art of forging ornamental iron work.
In 1952, he met and married his wife, Dominga. In 1953, they started Herrera Ornamental Iron Works. They built their shop and home from the ground up themselves. The business was a family affair with the children helping to clean the shop, learning the trade or helping with office chores. Louis Herrera Sr.’s work can still be found at many businesses and homes in the Austin area. In 1989, Louis Herrera Jr. continued with the business.
About Louis
From his childhood, Louis learned the value of hard work from his father, who taught him the day-to-day operations of the shop as well as his first skills in blacksmithing.
Later, Mr. Herrera expanded his skills by studying blacksmithing and metalsmithing under Master Blacksmith Frank Turley of Santa Fe, New Mexico at his school, the oldest of the modern blacksmithing schools.
Louis then went on to study repousse* 
under Master Nahum Hersom, in Boise, Idaho.
Published in several magazines, such as Texas Architecture, and appearing on Home & Garden TV’s “Modern Masters” television program, his work is recognized throughout Texas and beyond the Lonestar State’s borders.
Today, Louis has raised the quality of work produced at the shop to a new level. Producing work of the highest quality for some of Austin’s finest custom homes, as well as prominent public art projects, such as the Zilker Garden Botanical entrance gate, Louis has built a solid reputation for delivery of quality work. See Our Gallery.