John Grieg: Wharton Esherick

Hailed as the Dean of American craftsmen, Wharton Esherick pioneered what was once seen as a utilitarian craft—wood-working—into an art form. The exhibition, Wharton Esherick: An Artistic Legacy Through Necessity, highlights how after training as a sculptor at PAFA, he dedicated his talent and aesthetic vision to handcrafting every material part of his personal and professional life, from furniture to architecture, from utensils to painting frames.

Exhibition curator John Greig tells the story of this influential artist and how his unique philosophy—“If it isn’t fun, it isn’t worth doing”— is evident in the joyful expression of his works.