About

Ray Kelso has been building furniture for over forty years. He works in his studio at his residence in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

“I do not feel bound by the confines of the straight line or by any other conventions of classical furniture design. In fact, many walks in the woods have taught me that a straight line and flat plane are not natural occurrences, but are man-made devices created to provide a sense of simplicity and order in our lives. I believe that furniture, perhaps even more than the structures in which we place it, is such an intimate part of our lives that it needs to manifest the natural and playful world of which we are a part. I attempt to do just that in each piece that I create. Like a walk in the woods, I stray from the straight line and the sharp corner. And like trees that provide raw material and much of the inspiration for my work, my furniture begs to be touched. I attempt to instill a sense of playfulness in each piece, all the while being conscious of the fact that it must function as intended. If my work raises the spirit and brings a smile to the face, then I have been successful.”
– Ray Kelso

Education:
BS Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1971
Self-taught in woodworking

Awards:
1981 “Best in Show” – Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show
1982 “Best in Show” – 24th Contemporary Craft Exposition: Delaware Museum of Art
1998 Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council Award – Philadelphia Furniture and Furnishings Show
2003 The Wharton Esherick Prize for Excellence in Wood – Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

Publications:
The Taunton Press: Fine Woodworking Design Books II, III, VI, and VII
“American Woodworker” Volume 1, Number 2
“Custom Woodworking Business” August, 2000
“Montgomery County Town and Country Living” Fall 2001
“Inquirer Magazine” May 27th, 2001