Matt Kenney

Matt Kenney is a professional furniture maker that has written dozens of articles and two books about woodworking. As a child growing up in Florida, he made tree forts and skate ramps, but for the last 20 years he has been making furniture. His passion for the craft led to an editorial job at Fine Woodworking magazine, where he wrote articles, was feature in how-to videos, and co-hosted the popular Shop Talk Live podcast. Starting in Spring 2015, Matt made 52 boxes in 52 weeks. That project became the basis for his first book, 52 Boxes in 52 Weeks (Taunton Press). He left the magazine in 2018 to spend more time with his tools. He’s been making furniture, traveling the US and world to teach, and writing since. Matt constantly strives to improve his craftsmanship and design. The result of his efforts is furniture that is modern but grounded in the best of classic design, able to sit harmoniously alongside a wide range of furniture styles, and built to survive generations of daily use.

Matt’s passion for the craft led him to learn the Japanese art of kumiko, which he incorporates into his furniture and uses to create beautiful decorative wall hangings. His love for kumiko pushed him to share the art with others, so he began to teach it and eventually wrote a book about it: The Art of Kumiko (Blue Hills Press, 2020). He has taught kumiko both in the United States and internationally, and believes that its popularity is due to its delicate elegance and stunning geometric patterns. Although kumiko appears complex and difficult to make, Matt’s experience has allowed him to develop techniques that make the art approachable to beginners and seasoned woodworkers, and that produce excellent results even the first time you give it a try.