Born in Rochester, NY, and brought up in Cleveland, OH. Edward Moulthrop was a self-taught woodturner, known as the father of modern woodturning. He attended Princeton University, where he received his graduate degree in architecture in 1941; he resigned from his career as an architect in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960s to pursue woodturning. His work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, Renwick Gallery, White House Collection of American Crafts, and MAD in NYC.

• Born: 1916
• Died: 2013
• Hometown: Rochester, NY
• Education: Self-taught

Moulthrop’s Work and Artistry

Moulthrop’s work is characterized by its sheer size, often producing turned vessels that reached monumental proportions, showcasing the beauty of the wood’s grain and texture. Over the course of his career, Moulthrop developed important relationships with gallery owners, others in the wood working field, and many well-known clients which helped to spread knowledge of his work and pieces across the country. Because of this, he was able to elevate woodturning to an art form and is recognized as a significant proponent of that shift.

This recognition caught the eye of fellow wood worker, president Jimmy Carter who had read about Moulthrop’s work and anxiously wanted to visit his workshop. This led to a friendship that would last Moulthrop the rest of his life and placed his pieces in the hands of political dignitaries around the world.

Edward Moulthrop’s legacy lives on through his impact on the world of woodturning, and will be remembered as a pioneering figure who elevated this craft to new artistic heights. His influence can be seen in the work of contemporary woodturners who continue to explore the expressive and artistic possibilities of turning wood on a lathe.