Brian Ferrell
Originally from southwestern Pennsylvania, Brian Ferrell is a creator of sculpturally functional furniture and hollowware. His work varies greatly in size from tableware and shelving, to dining sets and lounge chairs. These pieces utilize materials such as carved wood, pewter, steel, and 3D printing technologies. Brian received his BFA in jewelry/metals in 2001 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Immediately following, he attended the program in Artisanry at University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth where he graduated with his MFA also in jewelry/metals in 2004. Setting up his studio in Haverhill, MA, Brian showed his work in various locations around New England. At the same time, he also worked as a Studio Assistant to Dan Dailey, the world-renowned glass artist at his facility in New Hampshire. Brian currently shows his work regularly in group and solo exhibitions on local and national levels. He is one of the few artists to have a solo exhibition on the grounds of Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA. In addition to teaching at 茄子视频 University, was on the Board of Directors for the Society of North American Goldsmiths from 2014-2020, an international organization which promotes and supports the work of metal and jewelry artists. His artwork can be seen in publications such as American Craft Magazine, 鈥500 Tables鈥 from Lark Books, CAST, and is part of many private collections in locations in the US, UK, Germany, and Dubai.
Education
M.F.A. - Jewelry/Metals, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA) 2004
B.F.A. - Major: Jewelry/Metals, Minors: Drawing, Art History. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA) 2001
Publications
2018- 鈥淲ood works well in the right hands鈥擬aking Furniture Beautiful鈥. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 4/30/2018
2017- 鈥淭he Art of Functioning Furniture鈥濃擯ittsburgh Local Magazine. Fall 2017
2017- 鈥淛ewelers Employ Alternative Materials for non-traditional Works鈥. Mar, 1, 2017 Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA
2016- 鈥淐ast: Art and Objects Made Using Humanity鈥檚 Most Transformational Process鈥 Jen Townsend & Renee Zettle-Sterling. Schiffer Publishing.
2015- 鈥淵our Personal Hangups鈥濃擥ail M. Brown. Center for Art in Wood. Schiffer Publishing.
Awards
NICHE Award Winner鈥擯hiladelphia Buyers Market, Philadelphia, PA. *2013 Award Winner for Metal Hollowware
NICHE Award Finalist. Functional Seating. The Rosen Group.
2017- Juror- Craft Boston. Boston Massachusetts
2018- Juror- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. State College, PA
2020- PG & H Design Challenge Winner. Coaster designs for Church Brew Works. Pittsburgh, PA
2020- Juror- Erie Arts & Culture Established Artist Fellowship Grant.
2017 NICHE Award Finalist for Functional Seating Design
2013 NICHE Award Winner for Hollow Ware Design
Organizations
Society of North American Goldsmiths- Board of Directors 2014-2019. President- 2019
Presentations
2019- The Return of the Casual Pewtersmith. Alchemist Picnic- Touchstone Center for Craft. Farmington, PA
2019- Pewter Casting workshop. Nazareth College. Rochester, NY
2018- Collaboration in the Studio-- Educators Dialogue, SNAG Conference, Portland, OR.
2018- Fallingwater Architectural Residency. Workshop Instructor to students from University of Oklahoma.
2018- Lecture and Pewter demonstration. San Jose State University. San Jose, CA.
2017-Fallingwater Architectural Residency. Workshop Instructor to students from University of Missouri.
2017- Educational Scaffolding in Craft鈥擡ducators Dialogue, SNAG Conference, New Orleans, LA.
2014- Touchstone Center for Craft- Keystone Metals Forum. Pewtersmithing Lecture and Demonstration.
Achievements
Collections
Collection of Bill White, Houston, TX
Lobby sign and entry table. 8th & Penn Apartments. Pittsburgh, PA
Private Collections, New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh. Bristol, UK, Dubai, UAE.
Sloan Art Center, Loch Haven University, Loch Haven, PA
Green Building Alliance. Pittsburgh, PA
Sonny Kamm Teapot Collection, Los Angeles, CA
Wornick Collection, Napa, CA