Ilya Kavalerov

Artist Statement

Artist's Statement

Shaker philosophy is the heartbeat of my studio. My mission is to create "right" furniture - pieces that have design that emphasizes their function or the beauty of the material. The way I take towards this is with impeccable craftsmanship and honest intent.

I am deeply inspired by the lifecycle of our local landscape. By working with salvaged Elm and California Walnut, I aim to give a "second life" to the trees that define our region. My inspiration comes from the challenge of minimalism: how to make a chair or table as simple as possible while ensuring it remains a legacy piece that can be passed down through generations.
For me, the "art" is found in uncovering beauty, like the way a specific cut of wood catches the light to show its glistening chatoyance, like a cat's eye in the night. I believe that in an age of goods designed to be fast to manufacture, there is a necessity for objects designed and built in harmony with nature and with human comfort as a priority.