Bill Congdon

Bill’s work pays simple homage to materials, styles, and techniques in building and construction that are no longer employed today but were once considered state of the art. Typically working with wood, he allows the story, condition, and scale of each piece of found material to help determine the role it will play in a final work. A surface textured and re-coloured by weather or extended use, a broken nail, or a worn-out bolt hole can provide a glimpse into a piece’s history and contribute to its defining character. The addition of a new colour or the ability to add a photograph, greenery, or a flame can punctuate the story. He uses current woodworking and finishing techniques to complete each work in a manner that allows for continued utility.

Bill is a long time resident of Ottawa, Ontario Canada, and creator of The Urban Shed Company. He has worked with wood all his life, learning from a classic wood turner grandfather, an engineer father who instilled the philosophy of building it right the first time, and an avid antiquing mother who could work magic with a little steel wool and some Minwax. Inspired by the way that wood builds character over time, Bill creates functional artworks that extend the life of his materials and honour their stories.