Jenny Ellis
Creative Director, Designer, Artistic Upholstery Mentor
The Artful Chair, Studio and Gallery in Asheville, NC
Welcome to The Artful Chair!
I'm thrilled to share my love for artistic design with upholstery with you!
After landing in Asheville, NC in 2004, I had the unique opportunity to reinvent myself. A perpetual maker, I leaned on my experience in clothing design, window treatments, and selling home furnishings to guide my next venture.
I've always loved the furniture space, and now, in such close proximity to High Point, NC -- "Home Furnishings Capital of the World," I was already drawn to the industry.
A visit to the famed "Market" in High Point rekindled my interest in design and upon my return home I immediately began taking upholstery classes at a nearby technical school.
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I also had a degree with variety of technical skills in fashion design and sewing high end clothing.
I was overcome with creative energy and the desire to make and sell chairs with beauty and flair. I approached chair design similarly to how I would design and make dresses -- with unique fronts, stunning backs, and embellished sides.
Every new chair was an artistic challenge. I loved the transformation process. I loved finding orphaned chairs and giving them a new start, perhaps a metaphor for my own life experience. And most of all I loved the response I was getting from my upholstery teacher, and my fellow classmates.
The final test was to see if the local market would embrace my designs and ultimately put money in my pocket. I reached out to local furniture shopkeepers and did little "Trunk Shows" literally in the back of a rented truck, and that's when I finally saw the potential of what is now known as the Artful Chair.
I still design and hand-craft my own unique chairs from my small studio and gallery storefront in Asheville serving commission clients, selling through my Etsy shop, or creating themed chairs for Biltmore Estate's many gift shops.
In 2023 I added teaching and mentorship to my offerings, and I can't wait to help you discover the joy of artistic upholstery through my beginner upholstery class, or advanced design offers. I can't wait to help you tap into your own creative energy!
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