ABOUT
Hi, I'm Andrew
Andrew Thomas
Sculptor • Designer
I'm a contemporary sculptor who breathes new life into reclaimed wood, transforming nature’s raw, weathered forms into distinctive focal points for interior spaces.
I'm drawn to pieces from desert and mountain landscapes that have already been shaped by weather, insects, erosion, and time. Cracks, holes, twists, and other imperfections aren't things I try to hide—they're what make each piece interesting.
BIO
I'm a contemporary sculptor based in Arizona, creating one-of-a-kind sculptures from reclaimed desert and high-alpine wood.
A graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia, I've spent more than 20 years as a digital design director, leading design systems and digital product strategy. That experience still shapes how I work. I'm interested in proportion, balance, symmetry, structure, and how a piece feels in a space.
The big difference is that these days I'm working with materials that don't come with an undo button…and I like that.
Today, I split my time between the studio and the outdoors, exploring the deserts of Arizona and the backcountry of Colorado. I'm drawn to the character and history of weathered wood, and I enjoy the challenge of turning something shaped by nature into something entirely new.
When I'm not in the studio, I'm usually somewhere out exploring, looking for the next interesting piece of wood. I live in the Tucson area with my wife and our two cats.
HOW I WORK
I don't start with a sketch and try to make the wood match it. Most of the time, the wood tells me where the piece is going.
Once I decide to work with a piece, I carve, cut, sand, and refine it while trying to keep the character that made me choose it in the first place.
I'm not interested in making weathered wood look new. The scars, insect damage, grain, cracks, and irregular shapes are part of the sculpture.
Some pieces incorporate minerals (like turquoise), metal leaf or resin.. I use them when they add something to the form rather than simply decorating it.
I give each piece time to reveal what it wants to become.
The finished sculpture is a combination of what nature created and what I decided to do with it.
PROCCESS
Nothing added without reason
A process that reveals the wood’s underlying character.
01 / DISCOVER & RECOVER
Every sculpture begins where the pavement ends. My wife and I venture into remote mountain and desert landscapes to look for weathered timber. From ancient, wind-swept spruce and pine to dense desert mesquite, every piece has its own shape, texture, and history, shaped by weather, insects, erosion, and time.
02 / REVEAL & TRANSFORM
I don't carve away the imperfections created by nature; I reveal them. I follow the natural grain and shape of the wood, removing what needs to go while preserving what makes each piece interesting. Deep checks, natural voids, lightning splits, and insect-bored cavities become opportunities for turquoise, mineral, resin, or metal accents.
03 / ELEVATE & ENDURE
Once the form is right, I finish each sculpture by hand with oils that protect the wood while preserving its natural texture. Each piece is then mounted on a custom, gallery-style base. The result is a finished piece designed to stand on its own, whether it's in a home, office, or larger architectural space.
PRICE RANGE
$500-$2,500+
SPECIES
Mesquite, Teak, Subalpine Fir
MATERIALS
Turquoise, Metal Leaf, Resin
DIMENSIONS
24-48in