Thomas R. Irven is a wood artist
who has been producing custom furniture and woodturnings
in his Bellaire, TX studio since 1987. He earned a BS in
Business from Ferris State University and an MS in
Occupational Education from the University of Houston
while he apprenticed under an English master craftsman.
Thomas has taught woodworking and drafting in public and
private institutions, and has conducted seminars in
woodworking, woodturning, and design. Woodturning has
always been a passion for Thomas, and always played a
large part in his furniture making, but in 1998, turning
wood became the focus of his work. Thomas spent a year
as an Artist in Residence at the Houston Center for Contemporary
Craft in 2002, and is
currently teaching classes in woodturning and design,
and creating woodturnings and furniture. His recent
recognition includes, an Award of Merit, the top award,
in the “Craft Houston 2004: Texas”
exhibition organized by the Houston Center for
Contemporary Craft and juried by Lawrence Rinder of the
Whitney Museum in New York City. Thomas Irven’s
work is also a part of the 2004 Lark Books
publication 400 Wood
Boxes: The Fine Art of Containment and
Concealment. Thomas was a
Niche Award Finalist in 2004 and 2006, and was an
exhibiting artist in “Craft Houston 2006:
Texas” and “Craft Texas 2008”.
Thomas R. Irven
5202 Willow St., Bellaire, TX 77401, PH/FAX
713-666-6881
