STEFAN TOBOLKA

I have a longstanding relationship with handcrafted furniture. Growing up in rural Ontario, I was raised in a home where my father made everything from our kitchen table to the beds in which we slept. For me, the mark of craftsmanship symbolizes that I am home. It brings to me a sense of familiarity, comfort and security. In my own work, I build furniture with the end user in mind. Considering where the piece will live, the interactions it will have and the tasks it will perform, in hopes of creating relationships with the people it surrounds.

 I’ve always had an affinity for Scandinavian design. I admire it for its minimalistic aesthetic qualities and its quiet simplicity in which it appear to be made. I approach my own design with that in mind. Trying to achieve something that is simple in it’s design, understated yet refined. Contrasting materials and wood species in order to create visual interest and bring warmth to space that it occupies.

 I enjoy exploring a wide range of materials and techniques. My current practice blends digital technologies and processes with traditional craftsmanship in order to create unique furniture that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. Pushing the boundaries of traditional forms in hopes of creating something new and stay relevant in the digital age.