Madison Reporter

Form, function, and fine art converge in "The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick," an exhibition running from February 17 to May 18, 2025, at the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, Wisconsin. The exhibition pays tribute to Wharton Esherick (1887–1970), a pivotal figure in the studio furniture movement, featuring nearly 70 pieces that provide an extensive view of his diverse body of work. Many items are being shown outside his Pennsylvania home and studio for the first time.

Amy Gilman, director of the Chazen Museum of Art and senior director for the arts and media at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, remarked: “The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick offers deep insight into the American sculptor’s innovative approach to design. His work seamlessly blends fine art and function, creating pieces that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore the breadth and versatility of his artistic practice.”

Esherick's home and studio, now known as the Wharton Esherick Museum, was described by him as “an autobiography in three dimensions.” Constructed over four decades from 1926 to 1966 on Valley Forge Mountain in Pennsylvania, it houses a significant collection spanning seven decades of his creative journey.

The exhibition presents a selection of rarely seen works including furniture, sculpture, historic photography, paintings, woodcut illustrations among others. These are displayed across four thematic vignettes: rural and urban landscapes; patterns and form; natural growth; and the human body in motion. Each vignette highlights geometric patterns and sleek forms characteristic of mid-century design.

Initially trained as a painter at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under notable Impressionists like William Merritt Chase and Edward Willis Redfield, Esherick chose not to complete his studies there. He sought instead to develop his own distinctive style. A self-portrait from 1919 included in this exhibition reflects influences from his early training with its soft hues and bold brushstrokes.

Esherick transitioned from painting to furniture making after working briefly as a commercial illustrator. Without formal training but guided by cabinetmaker John Schmidt's expertise from Hungary, he began incorporating carved designs into furniture during the 1920s. The Drop Leaf Desk (1927) exemplifies this integration with abstract patterns reminiscent of landscapes etched onto red oak adorned with leather.

Among other exhibits is Esherick’s renowned three-legged stool series initiated during the 1950s using leftover materials for affordable yet comfortable seating priced initially at $25 each—rising later during production peaks throughout subsequent decades up until reaching $50 per piece.

His playful side manifested through creations such as chess sets or games like "The Race" (1925)—a horse racing game crafted originally for children where horses appear animatedly poised mid-stride through exaggerated angles conveying speed vividly sculpted into them.

Gilman further commented: “Wharton Esherick elevated wood from a mere material to a medium for artistic expression... The Crafted World demonstrates how he fused nature's beauty with human craftsmanship leading today's ongoing influence within studio furniture artistry."

Organized by Brandywine Museum alongside Wharton Esherick Museum support comes additionally via Anonymous Trust Fund plus Brittingham Wisconsin Trust backing this showcase hosted by Chazen Museum Art institutionally too.