About the Artist

Born in St. Louis, Missouri I have lived most of my life in the Midwest and currently reside in Champaign, Illinois with my wife Donna. I feel a connection to the Midwest and my work often reflects that connection through design and use of materials native to this region.

My college studies began in Fine Art and Design at both Parkland College and the University of Iowa. I completed a degree in Fine Art. I then went on to study Landscape Architecture and Historic Architecture at the University of Illinois, where I was an honors graduate.



After college I went to work for the University of Illinois as a Landscape Architect and Campus Planner. Over the years my work at the U of I transitioned from design oriented work to primarily administrative. Consequently, I felt a strong desire to again feed my artistic soul and return to my creative roots. Furniture design and creation became my passion and has offered me the perfect outlet for my art.

I have long been interested in furniture. I learned much about classic furniture from my mother, a professional interior designer. My early work and designs were more formal in style. Developing skills in traditional design have given me a foundation for understanding quality construction and classical furniture design. I still use those principles today when designing and building my studio furniture.

Today my furniture and decorative wooden objects are my art. I explore three dimensional forms with an eye for celebrating the beauty of wood. Each creation is a unique expression that portrays my design philosophy of simple form, expressive details and useful function. I strive for my work to exist in harmony with a wide variety of settings and surrounding décor.

I have been blessed by the support of my family, friends, fellow artisans and the art community. I have been fortunate to have my work published and recognized for national awards. I welcome inquiries about my work and opportunities to work with design professionals, galleries or individual clients.

Thomas Skaggs