Born in 1944, David Ellsworth has a long and multifaceted career as a studio woodturner, teacher, demonstrator, tool maker, speaker, fine craft advocate, and leader in the field.

• He played central roles in the founding and development of the American Association of Woodturners and served as the organization‘s first president from 1986–1991.

• He has been an inspiring and dedicated teacher at major craft schools such as Arrowmont and Anderson Ranch and founded his own school of woodturning more than 40 years ago.

• David developed new tools and techniques and started his own tool company to enable woodturners worldwide to create previously unattainable thin-walled hollow forms.  

• He pioneered thin-walled hollowform turning and has creations in wood in more than 40 museums worldwide. He is Fellow of the American Craft Council and in 2021 was named a “Visionary” craftsperson by the Smithsonian Institution.

OTHER INFORMATION (These links will take you to other websites.)

David's and Wendy's Website

David's Artistic Statement and Bio

Interview of David Ellsworth, conducted by Connie Mississippi. Published in Collectors of Wood Art (CWA) Newsletter, August 2007.

An interview with David Ellsworth By Steve Worcester

"Personal Growth and the Creative Process" Audio interview by Digital Production Buzz

David Ellsworth at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (YouTube Video)