We work with over 79 artisans and producers from Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Wood Artisans
Meet The Wood Carvers.
Gabriel is 47 years old and has six children. He learnt the craft through his father. He has been carving for almost 20 years now. He aspires to teach the craft one day. The challenges that he is facing now are lack of customers.
Gabriel Musumbi
Emma Mutisya
Emma is 31 years old and has one child. She has been carving for two years and particularly enjoys making bowls. She says that her favourite thing to do is go to church.
Patrick Kimundiu
Patrick is 58 years old and has 6 children. He was introduced to wood carving by a friend and has been carving for 30 years now. He loves the freedom and creativity that comes from this profession. Wood carving has enabled him to provide for his family for years although Covid 19 was particularly challenging given that he could not sell what he makes. The other challenge that he is facing at the moment is market exposure.
Ian Lawson: Woodturner and Artisan
Ian Lawson is a woodturner and wood carver based in Tūranganui a Kiwa/Gisborne and Kirikiriroa/Hamilton, Aotearoa/New Zealand, whose work is deeply influenced by his family’s rich history in woodworking, art and arboriculture. Growing up surrounded by creativity, Ian’s passion for woodturning was inspired by his father’s skills as a wood machinist and woodturner, and his mother’s artistic talents.
Ian balances tradition and innovation in his woodturning by blending time-honoured techniques with modern approaches. He respects the classic methods passed down through generations, ensuring that the craftsmanship and quality of his work remain high. At the same time, he isn’t afraid to experiment with new designs and finishes to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with wood.
This balance allows Ian to create pieces that are both rooted in tradition and fresh with contemporary flair. His ability to honour the past while embracing the future is a feature of his work.
Craftsmanship
Ian combines traditional and innovative techniques to create functional and artistic pieces. He works with local, sustainably sourced wood, ensuring each piece is as natural and sustainable as possible.
Style
Ian’s work highlights the natural beauty of the wood, incorporating its unique grains and imperfections. His creations range from bowls and vases to intricate artistic pieces.
Teaching
Ian also shares his passion through one-on-one classes, helping others discover the joy of woodturning. In future we are looking at connecting Ian to our artisans in Kenya for upskilling sessions.
Ian Lawson’s work is a testament to the beauty of wood and his dedication to his craft, enriched by his family’s legacy in woodworking and art.
You can find his work in store at Made Hamilton and online soon.
Photos of Lawson taken by @honereadphotography
Ceramics Artisan - Vaughan Norman
Vaughan Norman is currently producing functional stoneware pottery and sculptures using a reduction-fired gas kiln. Vaughan identifies with the oriental stoneware tradition, drawing inspiration from the work of Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach, and their mentor from South Africa, Andrew Walford.
Vaughan began their pottery journey in South Africa in the early 1980s, greatly supported and encouraged by Andrew Walford. After a 15-year hiatus, Vaughan has recently returned to pottery, finding deep satisfaction in the process despite the challenges of relearning old skills.
For Vaughan, working with clay offers a tactile, practical, and creative alternative to the thought and conversation-oriented nature of day-to-day life. The unpredictable textures of reduction firing captivate Vaughan, who strives to make the natural colors and textures of the clays a prominent feature in each piece. Each creation is a testament to the manipulation of earth, fire, water, and air—a tradition that dates back to our earliest ancestors.
Vaughan’s approach to pottery is dynamic, beginning with an intention to replicate a previous piece, only for it to evolve into something unique. This process allows the craft to become truly creative, with the pottery sometimes shaping the potter.
Weavers
Wendo Wa Aka is a self help group that started 15 years ago. Weaving is an a proffesion that a lot of women have taken up to provide for their families.
In Kenya, women self-help groups are very common. They are established to improve the economic wellbeing of the women and they also provide a sense of belonging and safety for those experiencing domestic violence.
Kasaini Weavers
Kasaini Weavers is a women’s group based in the Kamba region in Kenya. The group is made up of married and widowed women. Currently, there are 30 members but the numbers change every now and then. The money they earn from weaving and selling baskets goes to daily upkeep and school fees for their children.
