Rohit Warrier

Based in Durham, North Carolina, I am primarily a woodturner dabbling in other creative expressions in green wood such as spoon carving and Scandinavian chip-carving.

I primarily work with found wood as it allows me to connect with people and their land. I use my skills to preserve the stories I learn and embellish the unique tales of survival the wood carries—scars, burls, knots, spalting, embedded nails, and voids. For example, I transformed a storm-felled piece of a 100-yeard old Cherry tree from a farm in Highland, Virginia to an Ikebana Flower Vase that now sits in their home for generations to cherish. Through these transformed "imperfect" materials, I create connections—helping viewers rediscover their own relationships with their land and its history.

I also strive to express multiculturalism through my pieces. Born in the southern state of Kerala, India, I have split half my life between India and America. My art allows me to explore connections between these different identities. For instance, I decorate my hand carved spoons and chip-carved wall hangings with folk art and mandala patterns through Scandinavian kolrosing and mineral inlay techniques, bringing the vibrant colors of India in my designs.