About
Stewart Wurtz maintains his studio in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. He is inspired by the minimalism of modern form and design and embellishes this simplicity with details that reveal process, structure, or the hand of the maker. He combines wood with other materials, like metal, as the play between them can enhance each material and encourage new discoveries.
“When I begin a project, my time sketching is indispensable in working through ideas. Often I am inspired by a particular gesture or form in an early sketch that starts the dance of a new piece. The challenge is to keep the freshness of this gesture while continuing to develop the idea. I find myself going back and forth between the drawing and 3D mock up until I really understand the essence of this new object. The details and the structure develop out of this exploration and begin to crystallize as I start work on the final piece.
All I can hope for in making my furniture is to pay homage in some small way to the wonder and beauty of our natural environment. I strive for an economy of form in my work and like to use simple lines with spare detail to achieve this balance. My work is meant to be utilitarian, and I’d be honored to think that it will be enjoyed both today and well into the future”
Education
| 1980-84 | Boston University Program in Artisanry, BFA | Boston, MA |
| 1984 | Furniture Design and Woodworking |
| 1981-82 | Boston Architectural Center| Boston, MA |
Professional Experience
| 1984 to present | Stewart Wurtz Furniture, Studio Furniture Maker | Seattle, WA |
| 2002 to present | Guest Lecturer, Furniture Studio, School of Architecture University of Washington | Seattle, WA |
| 2006 | Guest Lecturer, Bellevue Arts Museum | Bellevue, WA |
| 2004 | Co-Instructor, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship | Rockport, ME |
| 1984 | Beginning Woodworking Instructor Program in Artisanry, Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 1981-84 | Assistant to Jere Osgood, Studio Furniture Maker |
| 1977-79 | Cabinetmaker. Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers | New Gloucester, ME |
One/Two Person Exhibitions
| 2006 | Spotlight | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 1995 | New Work by Jere Osgood and Stewart Wurtz | Pritam & Eames Gallery | East Hampton, NY |
| 1992 | New Work by Stewart Wurtz | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
Competitions
| 1992 | Finalist in the Bumbershoot '92 Art of the Workplace | Seattle Arts Commission | Seattle, WA |
Collections
Work in the collections of: Ron Abramson, Peter Joseph Collection, Paul Brainerd, Margaret Minnick, Carl and Jan Fisher, Alexander Payne, Rob Morrow & Chris Peters
Selected Exhibitions
| 2011 | Second Life of Trees | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2010 | 30th Anniversary Members Showcase | NWFW | Seattle, WA |
| 2010 | Against the Grain | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2009 | Maker’s Mark | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2008 | Legacy of Talent | Center for Furniture Craftsmanship | Rockport, ME |
| 2008 | Meet your Maker | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2008 | Live Edge | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2008 | Chair: The fine art of seating | NW Fine WW | Seattle, WA |
| 2007 | Pattern | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2007 | Cascadia: Studio Furniture from the Pacific NW | Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery. University of Victoria | Victoria, B.C. |
| 2006 | 25+1 | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2005 | 25th Anniversary Exhibit | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 2003 | Craft Transformed | Boston University’s Program In Artsianry 1975-1985. Fuller Museum of Art | Brockton, MA |
| 1998 | Dining Elegance | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 1997 | Modern Chairs | NW Fine Woodworking | Seattle, WA |
| 1993 | Chairs: Embodied Objects | Western Gallery, Western Washington Univ. | Bellingham, WA |
| 1993 | Spring Show | Pritam & Eames Gallery | East Hampton, NY |
| 1992 | Night Tacoma Danced | Tacoma Art Museum | Tacoma, WA |
| 1991 | New Work | Pritam & Eames Gallery | East Hampton, NY |
| 1991 | Table, Lamp, & Chair 1991 | sponsored by Oregon A.I.A., Oregon School of Arts & Crafts |Portland OR |
| 1989 | The Fine Art of Woodworking | Highlight Gallery | Mendocino, CA |
| 1989 | Early Spring Show | Pritam & Eames Gallery | East Hampton, NY |
| 1988 | Western States Invitational | Highlight Gallery | Mendocino, CA |
| 1986 | Art at Home | Pritam & Eames Gallery | East Hampton, NY |
| 1984 | Boston Connections | Snyderman Gallery | Philadelphia, PA |
| 1984 | Desks & Chairs | Pritam & Eames Gallery | East Hampton, NY |
Selected Articles/Publications
| 2012 | UW Press. “Furniture Studio, Materials, Craft, and Architecture”. April 2012 by Jeffery Karl Ochsner |
| 2011 | Luxe, Interiors + Design. Vol. 9 No. 1 Winter 2011 “Northwest Zen” by Nancy Ruhling |
| 2010 | Lark Books. Asheville, N.C. “500 Cabinets” by Ray Hemachandra and John Grew Sheridan |
| 2008 | Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times. Dec. 7, 2008 “Out of the Wood, Work” by Rebecca Teagarden |
| 2008 | Lark Books. Asheville, N.C. “500 Chairs” by Ray Hemachandra and Craig Nutt |
| 2007 | Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times. Oct.7, 2007 “Seeing the Sound” by Rebecca Teagarden |
| 2007 | Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times. Aug. 12, 2007 “Right Place, Right Fix” by Rebecca Teagarden |
| 2006 | Lark Books. Asheville, N.C. “The Penland Book of Woodworking” |
| 2005 | Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times. Oct. 2, 2005 “Portraits” by Rebecca Teagarden |
| 2002 | Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times. Feb. 17, 2002 “Good Bones” by Lawrence Kreisman |
| 2001 | Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, Mar/Apr 2001. “Ranch Dressing” by Deirdre Allen Timmons |
| 1999 | Furniture Studio: The Heart of the Functional Arts, Sept. 1999. “Furniture Gallery” and “Commissioning” by Margaret Minnick |
| 1997 | Home Furniture. Aug./Sep. 1997 "Peeking Over the Designer's Shoulder" by Jonathan Binzen |
| 1996 | Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times. Feb. 25, 1996 “Small Alterations” by Fred Albert |
| 1995 | Designer's Resources. Winter 1995 "Designing Wood" by Therresa McKenna |
| 1994 | Seattle Magazine. December 1994 "Turn the Page" by Fred Albert |
| 1990 | Design Book Five. The Tauton Press. Newton, Conn. |
| 1987 | Pacific Northwest. May 1987 "The Enchanted Woods" by Janice Queener-Shaw |
| 1984 | Craft International. Oct/Nov 1984 "Boston Furniture" |
| 1984 | NY Times Magazine. June 17, 1984 "Artistic Furniture" By Helen Harrison |