J Kelly Dunn . com

Multi-award winning wood lathe artist, Kelly Dunn, lives on the north end of the Big Island of Hawaii. Kelly specializes in woods grown on the Big Island and creates bowls, hollow vessels and art forms full time for art galleries and private collectors.

J. Kelly Dunn

Kelly at work

Kelly was born into an air force family September 30, 1951. Birthplace: Bryan, Texas.

With creative influences around him, Kelly built tree houses as a child, had his first poem published at age 16 and won his first award for sculpture at age 18.

In Colorado in the 1970’s, he designed and created art candles, garnering much recognition for his talents. He owned and operated a craft gallery during this time.

Moving to Waimea on the Big Island in the late 1970’s, Kelly studied woodturning with the late Larry Trombly. He also worked as a carpenter and began building furniture.

In Palo Alto, California in the mid 1980’s, he worked as foreman for designer Bob Waterman, building one of a kind furniture and prototypical designs. He used that opportunity to seek out and study with some of the finest woodturners in the world.

A move back to Hawaii in the late 1980’s finds Kelly and his family living in a house he designed and built himself.

He says of himself “I have an intense curiosity as to the workings of the universe and the mechanical and spiritual wherewithal that makes it work. I always hope to grow in my art as the evolution of my talent allows me.”

Board of Directors; past president-Hawaii Wood Guild

Founding member-West Hawaii Woodturners, Big Island Woodturners

Treasurer-West Hawaii Woodturners





Awards

Hawaii Wood Guild annual East Side Show: Juror’s Choice Award 1994, 1995; Juror’s Choice Award - 1st and 2nd place 1996, Juror’s Choice Award 1st place 1997, Juror’s Choice Award 3rd place 1998, 2nd place in Turning 2001.