From Both Sides…
Designer/Artisan Fred Puksta creates designs in both the worlds of fine art and industrial design. Fred is currently the new product designer for Crown Point Cabinetry as well as a member of the prestigious New Hampshire Furniture Masters organization. He began his career in art and design with renowned artist/sculptor Wendell Castle and upon graduation served as an artisan in Castle’s studio.
Fred has fulfilled commissions for residential, commercial and public work. An eight-foot-tall sculptural clock at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord was a notable public art commission and a very personal project for him. Puksta also spent many years as an amateur athlete attempting to make the U.S. National/Olympic rowing team with much of that time at Dartmouth College. His ode to rowing took shape in the "Olympic Effort" chair.
The participation in commercial product design, allows Puksta to work in all aspects of the design, manufacturing and marketing. Puksta says he constantly challenges himself to bring something new from the art world into his commercial designs and several of his designs have received honorable mentions and awards at the furniture capital of America in High Point, North Carolina. Some of his successful designs have been offered through leading national retailers such as Crate & Barrel. A cabinetry design was also featured in Country Living Magazine’s “2004 House of the Year” issue.
Puksta values his unique engagement within the different worlds of commercial and artisan craft. Consequently, it is this cross-pollination that continually propels his perspective on design in both venues.