Mark Sfirri studied furniture design at Rhode Island School of Design, where he received both his BFA and MFA while studying under Tage Frid. He is a woodworker who incorporates lathe-turned forms in his furniture and sculpture. His specialty within turning is the use of multiple axes, which has allowed him to create forms that are not readily apparent as turned objects. He teaches in the Fine Woodworking Programs at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA. He received a “Distinguished Educator Award” in 2010 by the Renwick Alliance. His work is included in the permanent collections of twenty-seven public institutions including the Museum of Art and Design (NYC), The Renwick Gallery (Smithsonian Institutions, Washington DC), The Yale Art Gallery (New Haven, CT), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Mint Museum of Craft + Design (Charlotte, NC), among others.

Sfirri has authored eighteen articles on history, design, and technique for a variety of craft publications. Since 2006 he has been researching the life and work of woodworker Wharton Esherick. He has authored or co-authored six articles about him for Woodwork and Journal of Modern Craft.

See more of Mark’s work at his website: www.marksfirri.com