Graham Williams

Masterful woodworking inspired by Aotearoa’s native timbers.

Graham Williams a legend of Aotearoa's woodworking scene, has honed his self-taught craft for over 50 years. Inspired to pursue fine art by his high school art teachers, Don Binney and Gretchen Albrecht, he later embarked on furniture-making apprenticeship, which led him to work for the prolific Rudi Schwarz during the country’s furniture manufacturing heyday. Revered for his ability to create anything with wood, Graham crafts one-of-a-kind objects like amphorae, and vessels up to 120cm high, frequently from native timbers like Kauri, Tōtara, Matai, and fallen limbs of Pohutukawa. From his Beehive refit to a pineapple-shaped table for the King of Tonga or simply a humble bowl, Graham’s work attests to his lifelong passion for turning timber into objects of enduring beauty.