Kenneth T. Forte, Hardwood Sculpture
Kenneth T. Forte is a designer and artist with exceptional skill, knowledge and appreciation of hardwoods. His works have been exhibited and commissioned nationally and internationally for the White House Pageant of Peace, the National African American Museum and Cultural Center, and the Columbus Museum of Art to name a few.
For over 40 years he has crafted finished three dimensional forms exhibiting spiritual and aesthetic awareness. Each piece combines the techniques of sculpting, carving, turning and flat joinery. The trademark of Kenneth Forte’s works are the absence of stains, paints and metal emphasizing the natural beauty and harmony of the hardwoods themselves. All items available for purchase are functional, limited edition, one-of-a-kind hardwood pieces of art. Larger commissioned works, like furniture, will be reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis as the artist’s schedule permits.
Many of the hardwoods, combinations or singular boards, are from his private collection, which consists of species collected during business travels of 34 years around the world -- England, Africa, South and Central America, etc, Mostly, the woods fit the rare category; Padauk, Ebonies, Bloodwood, Zebrawood, Snakewood, English Brown Oak, Goncalo Alves, Cocobola, Purpleheart, Satinwood, Canary wood, Bubinga, Birdseye and Curly Maple, and Pink Ivory are but a few. All were salvaged from various sites not logged for the woods.