Evert Sodergren
Encyclopedia
Evert Sodergren is a leading studio furniture maker
based in Seattle. He taught for many years in the School of Art at the University of Washington
, but is now retired.
Evert Sodergren was born and raised in Seattle. He is a fourth generation woodworker in his family. At age 15, he started working in his father's furniture
shop and learned the basics of furniture making and cabinetry. After high school he took evening classes in production drafting and worked as a drafter during World War II
. In 1947, when his father returned to Sweden
, Sodergren continued the business on his own.
Sodergren was very interested in the modern furniture being made in Scandinavia
in the 1940s and 1950s, and turned away from the historical modes his father had followed. Sodergren was influenced by the work of Hans Wegner
, Bruno Mathsson
, Finn Juhl
, and George Nelson
. In the 1950s his work began to be exhibited in the Pacific Northwest
and then across the United States.
Sodergren joined the faculty of the School of Art at the University of Washington
in 1951, and taught furniture for nearly 30 years.
Sodergren's influence and example helped shape the studio furniture movement in the Pacific Northwest. He was an early participant in the development of Seattle's Northwest Gallery of Fine Woodworking (which continues today as Northwest Fine Woodworking).
Studio Furniture
Studio Furniture is a subfield of Studio Craft centered around one-of-a-kind or limited production furniture objects designed and built by craftspeople. The work is made in a craftsperson's studio setting as opposed to being made in a high volume factory...
based in Seattle. He taught for many years in the School of Art at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, but is now retired.
Evert Sodergren was born and raised in Seattle. He is a fourth generation woodworker in his family. At age 15, he started working in his father's furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
shop and learned the basics of furniture making and cabinetry. After high school he took evening classes in production drafting and worked as a drafter during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1947, when his father returned to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Sodergren continued the business on his own.
Sodergren was very interested in the modern furniture being made in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
in the 1940s and 1950s, and turned away from the historical modes his father had followed. Sodergren was influenced by the work of Hans Wegner
Hans Wegner
Hans Jørgen Wegner, , was a successful Danish furniture designer who contributed to the international popularity of mid-century Danish design. His work belongs to a modernist school with emphasis on functionality. He is probably best known for his chairs.-Early years:Born to cobbler Peter M...
, Bruno Mathsson
Bruno Mathsson
Bruno Mathsson was a Swedish furniture designer and architect with ideas colored by functionalism/modernism, as well as old Swedish crafts tradition. Being the son of a carpenter in the town of Värnamo in the South of Sweden, it was fairly obvious what work the young Bruno would choose...
, Finn Juhl
Finn Juhl
Finn Juhl was a Danish architect, interior and industrial designer, most known for his furniture design. He was one of the leading figures in the creation of "Danish design" in the 1940s and he was the designer who introduced Danish Modern to America.-Early life and education:Finn Juhl was born on...
, and George Nelson
George Nelson (designer)
George Nelson was a noted American industrial designer, and one of the founders of American Modernism. While Director of Design for the Herman Miller furniture company both Nelson, and his design studio, George Nelson Associates, Inc., designed much of the 20th century's most iconic modernist...
. In the 1950s his work began to be exhibited in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
and then across the United States.
Sodergren joined the faculty of the School of Art at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1951, and taught furniture for nearly 30 years.
Sodergren's influence and example helped shape the studio furniture movement in the Pacific Northwest. He was an early participant in the development of Seattle's Northwest Gallery of Fine Woodworking (which continues today as Northwest Fine Woodworking).
Further reading
- "Evert Sodergren" in Edward S. Cooke Jr., Gerald W.R. Ward, and Kelly H L'Ecuyer, The Maker's Hand: American Studio Furniture, 1940-1990, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA, 2003.
- "Evert Sodergren" in Works in Wood by Northwest Artists, Portland Art Museum, Portland OR, 1976.
- Scott Landis, "Design in Context: Woodworkers of the Northwest," in Fine Woodworking Design Book Five Taunton Press, Newtown CT, 1990.