Alf Sharp
Born and raised in Nashville, Alf went to MBA and Vanderbilt University. After an abortive episode in law school, he discovered the art of woodworking. Now retired from a 50 year career making museum quality furniture, he spends happy hours turning objects on the wood lathe. His aesthetic features the beautiful natural grain of the wood and mostly classical forms.
Alf is a master of high and low relief carving, inlay, marquetry, and French polishing. Commissions are accepted in most historical styles, as well as contemporary and original design. Alf Sharp has over fifty years in the studio furniture field, and has completed fine commissions for a number of historical homes and museums, as well as many private and corporate clients. He is an officer or board member of several related arts institutions and is well respected inside the ranks of the furniture-making community, as well as among designers, curators, and collectors nationwide.
“Best of Tennessee, 2002” : Tenn Artist Craftsman Assoc., Chattanooga Tn.
WilsonArt Exhibition 2003 : Philadelphia ,Pa.
“Art of Tennessee” 2003 : Tenn. State Museum
Oaklands Mansion, Carnton House, and other fine public and private homes and offices from New York to California.
Fellow – 2004 FAIC/WAG study trip to France
Exhibiter – “Curvitures” sponsored by the Furniture Society, 2004 – 2005;
The Parthenon, Nashville, 2004;
Master Woodworkers Show, Knoxville, Tn., 1998 – 2011President – Cumberland Furniture Guild, 2002 –
Board of directors – Cannon County Art Center
Exhibiter – Contemporary Classics – Selections from the Society for American Period Furniture, Savannah, Ga. – 2006
Board of Trust – The Furniture Society , 2006 –
Instructor – O’more College of Art and Design
Board of Directors – Tennessee Association of Craft Artists
Cartouche Award 2008 from the Society of Period Furnituremakers
Studio Furniture – Today ‘ Leading Woodworkers
Cover article, Woodshop News, Nov. 2006
Cover article, American Period Furniture, 2008
Cartouche Award from the Society of American Period Furnituremakers, 2008
Board of Trust, Furniture Society, 2006 – President, 2011-2012
Presenter – Winterthur Antiques Forum 2012
Presenter – SAPFM summer ’12 conference Museum of Southern Decorative Arts.
Exhibitor – A Tradition of Craft, Connecticut Historical Society 2012
Fellow – AFTAB collaboration, Aiguines, France
