Natalie Bojarsky

Growing up, I always gravitated toward activities that provided me a platform to create. I learned to value creativity in a city that prides itself in craft—from beer to coffee to furniture, Portland is a place that helped to foster in me an appreciation for artistry and workmanship. Pursuing the arts and working with my hands is integral to who I am, and woodworking allows me to combine art and utility to create highly functional art pieces.

After completing my Bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia, I decided to pursue a woodworking career. In the spring of 2024, I completed a yearlong Fine Woodworking course at Selkirk College in Nelson, British Columbia, and was awarded my Cabinet Maker (Joiner) certification for Levels 1 & 2 with SkilledTradesBC. While the program gave me a baseline knowledge of common woodworking practices, it also provided me with a platform through which to practice more specialized and complicated processes and techniques. I had the opportunity to explore veneering, bent lamination, curved panel work, steam bending, and woodturning.

In addition to learning construction techniques, this program equipped me with a knowledge of furniture design that has allowed me to develop my personal design style. Inspired by the clean lines of the mid-20th century, my work focuses on simplicity and purpose. I aim to transform simple, geometric shapes into elegant, functional furniture pieces. Wood selection plays a key role in my building process, and by keeping my designs understated in form, I allow the wood grain of select boards to shine. Although minimal, my furniture features subtle yet intricate detailing, making for refined pieces built to last.