Osgood, Jere (1936-2023)

Name:

Osgood, Jere (1936-2023)

Title:

National Endowment for the Arts Grants, 1980, 1988
Nominated to be named a fellow of the American Craft Council in October 1993

Born:

1936

Birthplace:

Staten Island, NY

Died:

2023

Death Location:

Peterborough, NH

Residence:

Wilton, NH, where he worked out of his studio

Nationality:

American

Occupation:

Furniture master

Notes:

Jere Osgood was born on February 7, 1936 in Staten Island, New York, the son of Sidney and Margaret (Hill) Osgood. After high school he studied architecture at University of Illinois for two years, he transferred to the School of American Craftsmen program at Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with a BFA in furniture design in 1960. He then went on to post graduate study in Denmark through the Scandinavian Seminar program.

Upon returning from Denmark Jere found success in selling small handmade wood items at America House in New York City. In search of more space to begin making larger furniture he established his first studio in Merryall-New Milford, CT. Here he gradually gained more clients interested in his furniture.

In addition to private commissions Jere was also a well-respected teacher of furniture design at schools such as; Philadelphia College of Art, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Rhode Island School of Design. He is well remembered as a founding instructor at Boston University's Program in Artisanry. He was Associate Professor of Woodworking and Furniture Design from 1975 until 1985, in addition to Acting Director from 1985 until he left.

In the 1980's Jere established a home and studio in Wilton, NH. After leaving teaching full time he dedicated himself more to commissions and gallery shows. He continued to teach short courses at many craft schools such as Peters Valley, Anderson Ranch, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and Penland School of Crafts. His furniture is in many private and public collections such as The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The American Craft Museum, and The Renwick Gallery/Smithsonian American Art Museum. He was a recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants, a fellow of The American Craft Council, and a founding member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association.

Jere Osgood contributed greatly to the studio furniture movement as a woodworker, designer, artist, teacher, and master craftsman.