Featured Member: Olivia Van Oot — What Inspires Her
Olivia Van Oot is a woodworker based in Portland, Maine. She graduated from Maine College of Art & Design in the Woodworking and Furniture Design program, completing her Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2024. Her work is a re-contextualization of the historical connotations of American Pieced Quilt patterns, centering around qualities of gendered material and craft practices.
We caught up with Olivia to hear more about her experience with the furniture community.
Who are some of your inspirations for furniture making?
A few years ago I had the chance to take a class with Phoebe Kuo at Haystack where we explored coopering. After letting the information marinate in my brain for the last couple of years it has come back into my work recently and pushed me to explore more curved forms and incorporate them into my work.
How has The Furniture Society supported you as a furniture maker?
As a part of The Furniture Society, I had the chance to go to the conference this past summer as a demonstrator. Through this opportunity I made a number of lasting friendships and was able to grow my community of woodworkers. It reminded me that although we are not working side by side everyday I am a part of a larger and immensely supportive community.
What does the furniture community mean to you?
Through the furniture community I have built wonderful friendships. One of my favorite parts is that since the conference when passing through other states I have gotten the chance to see and connect with furniture friends from other parts of the country and the same has happened when others come to Maine and pass by me!
Olivia Van Oot has work currently on display at the 365 Gallery at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, ME.
Check out Olivia’s profile page, her website, and follow her on Instagram