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Table titled: "Pahoehoe 1"
(table is included in the Hawaii Craftsmen Juried Exhibition)

Mirror with Cabinet Titled: "The Jewel"

ARTIST STATEMENT & BIO

A native of Sweden, Mats arrived to Maui 1991. In 1987, he attended an art and furniture making school in Stockholm, and worked as a teacher for wood shop classes during 1988. Since then he has been working as a builder, finish carpenter, and the past 14 years a full time woodworker and furniture maker. He is the co-founder of the Maui Woodworker’s Guild. Over the years he has built a successful woodworking business on Maui, and at the same time worked on building a new shop on his property on the Big Island. In the spring of 2010 he moved with his wife Maira, and five cats to Ocean View, Hawaii.

"I grew up in an Arts & Crafts family", Mats says. "We still have a living tradition of woodworking in Sweden, and I was surrounded by old and new furniture in my youth. I have a rich inspirational source to draw from in the Scandinavian heritage and traditions, and apply my background knowledge to specialize in native Koa wood and advanced veneer work for my furniture pieces. I am attracted to simplicity, beauty and function in a form."

“My goal is to create pieces with a "one of a kind quality", and at the same time the customer will be able to recognize and connect with the piece, on a very emotional level. I believe wood is a living material, and I am excited about bringing out the soul within, to make the wood express itself to you. Listen carefully, and you will hear my furniture speak to you!".

Mats has been featured in numerous juried shows, won many awards, and he has been published in several books, the latest one being “Contemporary Hawai’i Woodworkers” by Tiffany DeEtte Shafto and Lynda McDaniel.

Table titled: "Wailuaiki"

The table above is called "Lava Fountain" one of my latest pieces. It is currently on display at the Volcano Art Center.
 

Artist Contact Info:

Ph: 808-280-8405. Fax: 808-929-8458
email: mats@fogelvik.com, web: www.fogelvik.com
 

My specialty is custom made handcrafted furniture and interior woodwork. I also create studio furniture for sale and display in galleries. My main medium is Koa wood, endemic to Hawaii. I also use other local and exotic high quality hardwoods.