Wendell Castle (1932 – 2018) was an American furniture artist and a leading figure in the American Studio Craft Movement. He was born in Emporia, Kansas. In 1958, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in industrial design, and in 1961, he received a Master of Fine Arts, both from the University of Kansas. From 1962-1969, he taught at Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Craftsmen, in Rochester, NY, and was an Artist in Residence.

• Born: 1932
• Died: 2018
• Hometown: Emporia, KS
• Education: University of Kansas

In 1980, he opened the Wendell Castle School in Scottsville, NY. Castle is famous for his use of stack-lamination, a woodworking technique he pioneered in the 1960s, which was based on a 19th-century sculptural technique used for making duck decoys. Stack-lamination allowed Castle to create large blocks of wood out a series of planks, which were then carved and molded into the biomorphic shapes for which he is best known. He has garnered a number of awards, including a 1994 ‘Visionaries of the American Craft Movement’ award sponsored by the American Craft Museum, a 1997 Gold Medal from the American Craft Council and a 1998 Artist of the Year Award from the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester. He has also received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Comfort Tiffany Foundation. In 2001 he received the Award of Distinction from The Furniture Society. His work is in numerous museums throughout the world.

Wendell Castle’s Legacy in the Art Furniture Movement

Castle is considered a major figure in the studio furniture movement, leaving behind a profound legacy that has shaped the landscape of contemporary design. Renowned for his visionary approach to furniture making, Castle elevated functional objects to the realm of fine art through his innovative designs. Pioneering the acceptance of the use of machines in furniture, Castle’s work blurred the boundaries between art and utility. His innovative techniques, such as stacking laminated wood and incorporating unconventional processes, redefined the possibilities of furniture design. Castle’s legacy extends beyond his individual creations; he inspired generations of artists and designers to view furniture as a medium for artistic expression. His impact on the studio furniture movement remains enduring, solidifying him as a luminary whose contributions continue to influence and resonate within the realms of art and design.