DIDZIS JURKOVSKIS

(b. 1981)

Didzis Jurkovskis is a Latvian designer and craftsman based in Liepāja, creating one-of-a-kind furniture and sculptural objects in limited series and bespoke commissions. Guided by time-honored techniques and natural materials, he crafts each piece with care and longevity in mind — works that bridge functionality and art, designed for daily use yet refined as sculptural forms.

A graduate of the Liepāja College of Applied Arts, he later earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Metal Design Department at the Art Academy of Latvia.

In his small workshop — once his grandfather’s garage — every creation is shaped using traditional tools, working exclusively with timber native to Latvia. The process embraces freedom in form and material, allowing the natural character of each piece of wood to guide the outcome.

Didzis’s current practice focuses on the small wooden stool — a humble, slowly forgotten form of functional craft. As countryside traditions fade and modern spaces no longer require traditional milking stools or fireplace benches, his work seeks to keep this scale of woodworking alive, reinterpreting historical utility through contemporary design.

Drawing inspiration from the fluid lines of nature and a minimalist philosophy, his approach strips away the unnecessary to reveal the pure essence of form and the innate beauty of the wood.