Michael Puryear is a nationally recognized designer/furniture maker. He is self-taught learning his craft through reading and experimentation and has been practicing this craft for more than 30 years. His work has been exhibited in Museums and galleries around the country such as the Museum of Art & Design in NYC; Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC and the Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem MA. His work has been published in many books most recently in 500 Chairs, 500 Tables and 500 Cabinets published by Lark Books and Makers: A History of American Studio Craft published by the University of North Carolina Press. His work is found in the collections of: the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Rockefeller University and the Newark Museum to name a few. In 2009 he won the Silver award at the 27th annual Smithsonian Craft Show.
At present Michael is an associate professor of woodworking at SUNY Purchase. He has also taught workshops at: Penland, Arrowmont, Anderson Ranch, Haystack and the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship.
He is a member of Furniture New York, The Hudson Valley Furniture Makers and a trustee of the Furniture Society He maintains his studio in the Catskills of NY.
