Bill Ferster

Middleburg, VA

Bill’s work is an exploration into what’s possible in functional marquetry: layers of exotic wood veneer glued onto wood to make objects that blend the space between art and functional objects, such as lamps. Bill studied design in college at George Washington and the Corcoran in the 1970s, interested in abstract animation, and began his working life as a graphic designer. He worked as a graphic artist at ABC’s Good Morning America show, before opening up an animation studio. He had a long career of making computer graphics, animation, and editing tools for creative professionals, earning an EMMY award for the first digital nonlinear editing system in 1993. Bill switched careers to academia in his 40’s, getting a PhD from UVA and teaching until retiring in 2021. Bill is the author of 4 books on design, laser marquetry, and history.