Wood Designs by Adiante



Wood Designs by Adiante

About The Artist

Adiante Franszoon • Baltimore , MD
Wood • CUSTOM COMMISSIONS

I learned woodcarving in the Afrodiasporic tradition of my ancestors, growing up in Suriname in a rainforest village established by former slaves in the early 1700s. I incorporate my own interpretations of the Saramacca maroon style of woodcarving into wall art, mirror and picture frames, tabletops, carved doors and apply a free style and love of wood to creating mosaic wood jewelry, charcuterie boards, tables. My work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and elsewhere. If you are interested in learning more about my work you can contact me by phone at (410) 598-2849.



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Q&A with the Artist

Tell us how your work is made.

I use power saws to cut the wood to dimensions and shapes for carving and construction of tables, charcuteries boards and mosaic jewelry. Sanding is done with a power sander and and by hand. I most enjoy creating the designs for the carved wall art.


What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

I grew up in an Amazon basin rainforest, surrounded by beautiful trees. I feel a connection with wood, especially when I am designing and making carvings, I feel a connection to the wood, to my father and uncles who taught me to carve, to the brave African ancestors, who escaped enslavement, and established new homes in a strange land. I am also passionate about trying to create something beautiful, something my customers will love and enjoy.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

Well, even though I am 77 years old, I want to keep on growing,trying different techniques, new designs. I only recently begin creating the earrings for example and I look forward to what I will come up with in the future!