Bill Luce is a studio woodturner internationally recognized as one of the most influential contemporary pure form turners. His passion is the study of the power of simple vessel form, in particular his signature closed round bottomed bowls. Bill's work constantly pushes the envelope both aesthetically and technically, and includes a focus on the use of challenging woods such as Douglas fir.
For example, Bill’s ground breaking and ever evolving "Bones of the Tree" series explores the impact of revealing elements in the wood on the presence and power of the overall form. In these Skeleton Bowls, the tree's internal structures -"bones"- are exposed to more completely contribute to the vessel's statement.
Artist Statement
My passion is a continuous exploration of the power contained in the quiet power of understated vessel form.
To this end, most of my work has a deceptively simple shape–minimalism through refinement. My goal is to create vessels with quiet yet powerful emotional impact, utilizing the lessons learned both at the conscious and intuitive level.
Many of my pieces have no separate foot. They rest in balance on a rounded lower portion. In this way the form seems more pure, with no interruption from rim to rim (visual or tactile). I am drawn to this shape because it is so expressive yet so unforgiving both technically and aesthetically. Such a simple shape is completely honest and vulnerable, with nothing to hide behind.
I often use series of similar work to explore and study nuances of form and tactile balance that interest and stimulate me. Part of the real power of a piece, when successful, is the unity and harmony of the visual form and the tactile quality of the turning. Such a creation can give quiet joy every time it is experienced, with the shape and balance speaking softly yet firmly.
Selected Exhibitions
Woodturning over the Edge , Pritchard Gallery, Moscow, Idaho, Sept-Nov 2008
Spheres, American Association of Woodturners Professional Outreach Program exhibit, St. Paul , MN, 2008
Eighth Contemporary Sculptural Wood Invitational, American Art Company Gallery, Tacoma, WA, 2008
Turned Wood - Small Treasures 2008, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2008
7 Visions: Wood as Fiber, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA., 2008
Far From the Tree, national traveling exhibition starts at Messler Gallery, Maine, 2007 - 2008
Turning Green, (Jury's Choice Award), traveling exhibition starts at Hoffman Gallery, Portland, OR, 2007
Japanese Bowls - A Western Perspective, St. Paul , MN, Portland, OR, 2007
Seventh Contemporary Sculptural Wood Invitational, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, 2007
Turned Wood - Small Treasures 2007, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2007
Open and Closed, Wood and Ceramics Exhibition (AAW), St. Paul , MN, 2007
Turned Wood - Small Treasures 2006, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2006
Woodturning on the Edge, Pritchard Gallery, Moscow, Idaho, 2006
Sixth Contemporary Sculptural Wood Invitational, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, 2005
Art Beneath the Bark: A Celebration of Woodturning, Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, Lake Oswego, OR, 2005
A Nation of Enchanted Form; Woodturning Artists across North America, Messler Gallery, Maine, 2005
Turned Wood - Small Treasures, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 2005
Fifth North American Sculptural Wood Invitational, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA,2004
The Spirit of the Tree: An Exhibition of Northwest Contemporary Woodturning, Moscow, ID, 2004
Work on display in the del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, March - 2004
Beneath the Bark: 25 Years of Woodturning Exhibition, Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo, UT, 2004
Turning Around the World Exhibition, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA, 2003 -2004
Fourth North American Sculptural Wood Invitational, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, 2003
Wood Art 2003, Northwest Fine Woodworking Gallery, Seattle, WA, 2003
Northwest Fine Woodworking Gallery 2002 Bowl Show, Seattle, WA, 2002
Solo Exhibit, Highline Community College Exhibit Gallery, Des Moines, WA 2002
Cambium Layers (Exhibit), Snohomish Arts Council, Everett, WA, 2001
Selected Inclusion in Publications
Masters: Woodturning, Lark Publications, 2009
Niche, 2009 Niche Award Finalist, Winter 2008
Woodturning Over On the Edge, exhibition catalogue, Pritchard Gallery, 2008
Woodwork, October 2008
The Art of Turned Bowls, Richard Raffan, Taunton Press, 2008
Front cover of American Association of Woodturners Resource Directory, 2008
The Quiet Power of the Understated Form, The CraftsReport, June 2008
Spheres, exhibition catalog, American Association of Woodturners 2008
American Art Collector, Alcove Books, 2008
Master of Harmonies, Kevin Wallace, Woodturning, July 2007
Japanese Bowls: A Western Perspective, exhibition catalogue , 2007
Turning Green, exhibition catalogue, 2007
American Art Collector, Alcove Books, 2007
Front cover of American Woodturner, Summer 2007
Bill Luce: Redefining Minimalism, American Woodturner, December 2006
Woodturning On the Edge, exhibition catalogue, Pritchard Gallery, 2006
American Art Collector, Alcove Books, 2005
500 Wooden Bowls, Lark Publication, 2004
American Art Collector, Alcove Books, 2004
Beneath the Bark: 25 Years of Woodturning, BYU Museum of Art, 2004
The Aesthetics and Properties of Wood, a DVD by John Jordan, 2004
New Face on the Circuit, , Woodturning , June 2004
Turner of the Month, , Woodezine , April 2004
The Clean Lines of Bill Luce, American Woodturner, June 2003
Some Thoughts on "Process of Design", David Ellsworth, Woodworker West, May-June 2003
Pick Up Perfection, Woodturning , July 2002
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