Julian Watts

Julian Watts combines traditional wood carving techniques with an experimental sculptural approach in order to explore the formal and conceptual intersections between the human body, the landscape, and the functional objects that we interact with every day. This approach has continued to evolve, expanding to incorporate an entire ecosystem of abstract, biomorphic wood carvings, ranging from bowls, to furniture, to largescale, purely sculptural works.  

This interest in creating a sense of an evolving ecosystem of sculptural objects reflects Julian’s dedication to the natural landscape of the West Coast where he has spent his entire life. Based in the lush forests of rural Oregon, Julian sources wood from fallen or salvaged trees in his area, and collects branches, rocks, leaves, and moss from the property where his studio and home are located. These natural materials find their way directly or indirectly into his work, either as the raw carving materials, or a visual guide for shape, texture, or structure. 

Julian Watts is an artist and woodworker based in Alpine, Oregon. After earning a BFA in sculpture at the University of Oregon in 2012, Watts returned to his hometown of San Francisco to apprentice under furniture makers before beginning his own practice.

His work has been shown internationally in recent solo exhibitions. He has participated in numerous art and design fairs, including Design Miami/Basel, Fog Fair, and The London Design Festival, and has had work exhibited in the London Design Museum, and the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Architectural Digest, The New Yorker, and American Craft Magazine, among other publications. He was shortlisted for the Loewe Craft Prize in 2018. He has taught courses at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Anderson Ranch, and was the Wornick Distinguished Visiting Professor of Wood Arts at the California College of the Arts.