Kimberly Winkle, an Oklahoma native, is an accomplished maker whose furniture and objects reflect a harmonious blend of form, color, and surface pattern. Her work seamlessly integrates wood and paint, showcasing an interplay of structure and artistic embellishment. As a Professor and Director of the School of Art, Craft & Design at Tennessee Technological University, Winkle plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of artists and craftspeople.
Her academic background in both ceramics and furniture design informs her approach to woodworking. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Fine Arts in Furniture Design from San Diego State University, experiences that have deeply influenced her exploration of shape, texture, and decorative techniques.
Winkle’s creative practice spans multiple disciplines, including furniture, sculpture, woodturning, and collaborative projects. In furniture design, she merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, often incorporating bold colors and intricate surface patterns. Her sculptural work explores form and materiality, pushing the boundaries of wood as an expressive medium. As a woodturner, she is known for her distinctive use of milk paint, which adds depth and vibrancy to her turned objects.
Collaboration is a meaningful part of Winkle’s artistic journey. She has created works that blend wood, metal, textiles, and mixed media, and she has participated in projects that bring together artists from diverse disciplines. She also co-curated the exhibition "Turning It All Around: Turners in Collaborative Conversation", which explored post-pandemic life through turned wood and mixed media sculptures.
Winkle has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, including at SOFA Chicago, Wanted Design NYC, and the Architectural Digest Home Show. Her pieces have been featured in numerous publications, including Fine Woodworking, Woodworker, and Woodworker West magazines, as well as the books 500 Tables and 500 Chairs.
Beyond her artistic practice, Winkle is deeply involved in education. She has taught workshops at esteemed institutions such as Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Anderson Ranch Art Center, The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Port Townsend School of Woodworking, John C. Campbell Folk School, Peters Valley School of Craft, and the Appalachian Center for Craft.
Her contributions to the field have been recognized through several artist residencies, including the Windgate International Turning Exchange at the Museum for Art in Wood in Philadelphia, the Windgate Artist Residency at SUNY Purchase, the Windgate Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Open Studio Residency, the Windgate Craft Residency at the Vermont Studio Center, Anderson Ranch Art Center, and the Appalachian Center for Craft. She has also received prestigious awards, such as the John D. Mineck Furniture Fellowship and the State of Tennessee Individual Artist Award.
One of her upcoming workshops includes Decorative Woodturning at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking in Washington State, where she will guide students through her signature surface embellishment techniques.
For more details on her techniques and upcoming workshops, you can explore her official website.