Ron Layport

biography  |  portfolio  |  artists listing

b. 1942, Elyria, Ohio


SELECTED COLLECTIONS

University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI
Arthur and Jane Mason
Ron & Anita Wornick    

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2002-08   Turned Wood - Small Treasures, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008        Selected Works, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                Collectors of Wood Art Forum, Scottsdale, AZ
2007-08   Palm Beach 3, Palm Beach, FL
2002-07   Turned & Sculptured Wood, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exposition, Chicago, IL
2000-07   Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, New York, NY
2006        Woodturning On The Edge, Prichard Art Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
                Our Turn Now: Artists Speak Out in Wood, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
2005        Collectors of Wood Art Forum, Philadelphia, PA
                Ron Layport: Works in Wood, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
                Nature Transformed, Wood Art from The Bohlen Collection, Mobile Museum of Art,
                Mobile, AL
                Innovative Perspective In Turning, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA, in conjunction
                with the Brookfield Craft Center
2004        Nature Transformed, Wood Art from The Bohlen Collection, University of Michigan
                Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI
                Celebrating Nature, Los Angeles Craft Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2004-05   Selected Works, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003        Put A Lid On It: Containing Human Experience, American Association of Woodturners,
                Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, CA
                Collectors of Wood Art Forum, Santa Fe, NM
2002        The Bugs of Summer, Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston, VA
2001-02   Nature Takes a Turn, International Juried Exhibition,
                Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN
                University of California, Davis, CA
                University of New York, Purchase, NY
                Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2001        Selected Wood, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
                Consignment Work, American Craft Museum, New York, NY
2001        Consignment Work, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
                Collectors of Wood Art Forum, Presenter, Minneapolis, MN
                Against the Grain: Turned and Sculpted Wood, The McAllen International Museum,
                McAllen, TX

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2007        “Animalist Traditions”, Artist Profile by Kevin Wallace, Craft Arts International  #70
                “Small Treasures,” American Woodturner, Summer, Vol. 22 No. 2
2006        Ron Hampton, Small And Miniature Turning: a Complete Guide, Guild of Master
                Craftsman Publications Ltd.
                Roger Rowley, Jim Christiansen, Gerritt Van Ness, David Ellsworth, Woodturning On The
                Edge, University of Idaho
2005        Turning Points, Wood Turning Center, Winter Vol. 17, No. 2
                American Woodturner, American Association of Woodturners, "An Eye for Platters",
                spring, Vol. 20, No. 1
2004        500 Wood Bowls, Lark Books
                Woodturning, Guild of Master Craftsman Ltd., "Chicago Turns to Wood", No. 135, spring
                Woodturning, Cover page and profile, Vol. 139, August
2003        American Woodturner, American Association of Woodturners, Cover and Woodturner's
                Gallery feature, Spring, Vol. 18, No. 1
                Woodturning, Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd., No. 126, August
                Woodwork, No. 84, December, Ross Periodicals Inc
2002        Michael Hosaluk, Scratching the Surface, Guild Publishing
                Fine Woodworking, No. 157, July/August, Taunton Press
2000-01   Fine Woodworking, 25th Anniversary Issue, No. 146, Taunton Press
1994        American Woodworker, No. 36, February, Rodale Press


ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ron Layport spent 40 years in the advertising business, receiving numerous national and international awards for his work in design, writing and film production.

Throughout the 1980s he designed and built one-of-a-kind furniture. His work was featured in Fine Woodworking, and various other woodworking publications. Introduced to studio woodturning in 1992 by David Ellsworth, Ron was turning professionally by the year 2000.

His work is included in numerous exhibitions, collections and publications.


ARTIST'S STATEMENT

My work celebrates a connection with Earth and it’s creatures. Natural imagery, ancient cultures and my materials themselves, are all sources of inspiration.

Animal effigy figures have inspired utilitarian vessels and ceremonial objects since the earliest forms of human expression. My efforts are directed toward bringing my own voice to this ongoing dialog.

Working at the lathe brings focus and form to the work. Sculpting and texturing furthers the hands-on aspect of my work. Much of my energy remains with each piece.