Hilary Pfeifer

"I love to design things for everyday use that integrate color, texture, and humor. The objects in my home that are handmade, especially when I know a little bit about the maker or the story behind it, mean so much to me and inspire my work."

Hilary Pfeifer's artwork brings together years of study in many media, including woodworking and furniture design, metalsmithing, ceramics, bookbinding, letterpress, photography, fiber arts, and more. Her alter ego is Bunny with a Toolbelt, who creates adorable critters for celebrating the most important days of your life.

Hilary started translating her hand-cut collages into laser cut metal over a decade ago for permanent public commissions. She brought this new practice back to the studio by combining her signature bird silhouettes with her first love: wood. An artist residency that challenged her to create a body of work made entirely with materials gleaned from the local dump brought inlaid colored pencils into her repertoire that adds an element of surprise to every piece. Her one-of-a-kind sculptures often incorporate precious hardwood discards gifted to her from her network of furniture makers, wood turners, and spoon carvers.

Pfeifer graduated from Oregon College of Art and Craft in 1999. Since then, she has been commissioned to create several public artworks, including an installation at the Randall Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Her work can also be found in the permanent collections of the State of Oregon, the White House, the Museum of Art in Wood, and the Museum of Contemporary Craft. She was the subject of a feature article in the December 2013 issue of American Craft Magazine.