Customer Spotlight: Mats Fogelvik
Matts Fogelvik, born in Sweden in 1959, is a designer/artist and woodworker. In 1987, he attended an art and furniture making school in Stockholm and worked as a teacher for woodshop classes during 1988. His world adventures landed him on Maui in 1991. Since that time he has been a full-time woodworker and furniture maker. He is the past president and co-founder of the Maui Woodworker's Guild.
"I grew up in an arts & crafts family," Mats says. "We still have a living tradition of woodworking in Sweden, and I was surrounded by old and new furniture in my youth. I have a rich inspirational source to draw from in the Scandinavian heritage and traditions. I am attracted to simplicity, beauty, and function in a form. I believe a lot of furniture nowadays is 'over-designed.' There is a fine balance between beauty, function, and sculptural value in a piece, and I am not afraid of using old well-proven designs in my work to achieve that. It doesn't take much of a change or detailing, to add the 'personal touch' to a piece. Too much, and the balance is thrown off.
"My goal is to create pieces with a 'one of a kind quality,'" he explains, "and at the same time, the customer will be able to recognize and connect with the piece on a very emotional level. I believe wood is a living material, and I am excited about bringing out the soul within to make the wood express itself to you. Listen carefully, and you will hear my furniture speak to you!"
