Composition in Black, White, a

STEVE LOAR began a full-time artistic practice as a sculptor in 2016 after a life-long career in academia that spanned nearly 40 years. Steve is widely recognized as one of the primary innovators in the development of the contemporary woodturning field. His artistic practice began in earnest in 1981 and, since, his work has been featured in over 30 books, 170 exhibitions, 50 published articles, and is held in over 15 significant public and private collections. Steve has been repeatedly honored for his work as a mentor, designer, innovator, researcher, and educator. In 2006, he was honored as one of 23 turners who were still active since the American Association of Woodturners was founded in 1986. Of his published articles, Steve feels that his greatest contribution as an author came in 2011 as a contributing editor for the 25th anniversary book for the American Association of Woodturners. He wrote the book’s anchor essays that explored the theme "Significant Moments in Contemporary Woodturning" and he developed the corresponding time-line of the field. He has been on numerous boards of directors like The Center for Art in Wood and was a member of the Founding Advisory Council that guided the creation of the Kentucky School of Craft. Since retiring, Steve has established an active artistic practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he uses wood, especially wooden bowls, to make abstracted compositions that are typically colorful and present a narrative. In addition to teaching numerous workshops, his career in university teaching provides special expertise in design, creativity, furniture, and woodturning. Steve was recently honored with Professor Emeritus status from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; having retired in 2015, as the founding Director of The Center for Turning and Furniture Design. He had previously retired as a Professor from the College of Imaging Arts & Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology (NY).

- Steve Loar