Matt Wallace is a native of West Virginia and a 1997 graduate of WV Wesleyan College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degrees in both History and in Studio Arts. During his studies, Wallace completed an internship with renowned WV artist-blacksmith, Jeff Fetty, a family friend and mentor who introduced Wallace to the forge at the early age of 12. After graduation, Wallace moved to Connecticut where he worked as an apprentice to colonial-blacksmith, Robert Valentine, and later worked with master fabricator, John Winslow. Wallace returned to West Virginia in 1999 and established Wallace Metal Works in 2000.

As an active member of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA), Wallace has attended conferences and educational tours in both Europe and the United States. Wallace is also a member of the National Ornamental Metals Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as the Appalachian Blacksmith Association in West Virginia. Wallace's hand-forged architectural ironwork is featured in the permanent art collection at the West Virginia Cultural Center, as well as in the WV Office of Historic Preservation and the office of the WV Commissioner of Art and Culture. Wallace has also been chosen to display his forged iron artwork at the West Virginia Juried exhibition and the Charleston Allied Artist exhibition. In 2008, Wallace was juried into Tamarack for metal art.