Hank Gilpin

Hank Gilpin has been designing and building fine art furniture for almost 30 years.  A native of Connecticut, Gilpin graduated from Boston University with a degree in photojournalism.  He served in Vietnam as an army photographer, and returned to the States with the intention to study photography at the Rhode Island School of Design.  A random choice of electives led Gilpin to woodworking, and his first teacher (and future mentor) was Tage Frid. 

Gilpin is best known for his traditional, sturdy benches, which he builds from his home shop–a converted church.  He works entirely in solid wood, utilizing many domestic species and relying on extensive hand-tool work to produce his classic styles.  His love of wood and trees has led to a parallel career in horticulture, and he now designs gardens and landscapes as well as furniture.